• New? Start Here!
  • Products I Love
  • My Books
    • Milkies In The Morning
    • Coconut Oil For Your Skin
    • Winter Soups
    • Naturally Sweetened Treats
    • Gluten Free Snacks
    • I Will Breastfeed Anywhere
  • About
    • Who Is Hybrid Rasta Mama?
    • About This Website
    • Subscribe To My Newsletter
    • Policies
      • Disclaimer
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Work With Me
  • Contact Me
  • Home
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Hybrid Rasta Mama

DIY Natural Living - Simplified

  • Toxic Mold Resources
  • Mold And Your Health
  • Coconut Oil
  • Holistic Health
    • Natural Health For Everyone
    • Women’s Health
    • Men’s Health
    • Child Health
    • Natural Remedies
    • Herbs and Essential Oils
    • Everyone Poops
    • Natural Skin, Hair, and Teeth Care
  • Recipes
    • All Things Pumpkin
    • Sweets, Treats, and Baked Goods Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Main Course Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Beverages
    • Sauces and Condiments
    • Fermentation and Lacto-Fermented Food Recipes
  • DIY Natural Body Care
  • Non-Toxic Cleaning
  • Natural Pest Control
You are here: Home / Coconut Oil / Coconut Oil for Constipation

Coconut Oil for Constipation

By Jennifer Updated: January 19, 2020. First published: January 13, 2016. This post may contain affiliate links. 19 Comments  

1.1K shares
  • Facebook7
  • X

Backups happen. Sometimes they are within our control and other times they are not. Either way, constipation sure isn’t fun! I mean, who wants to be stuck on the throne for hours and hours, red-faced, bored to tears, pushing with all you’ve got, just to see a pea sized nugget of nothing at the bottom of the bowl.

Not me thank-you-very-much. In fact, I can think of 1,000 different things I would rather be doing than trying to force out something the size of a lentil while there is still something the size of a basketball waiting for the right exit strategy.

There are a myriad of reasons why we humans get so dang constipated these days. Most of it is related to our food and toxins, both in our home and environmental. Stress certainly doesn’t help the matter (pun intended) and it seems like we are all stressed beyond belief these days.

Quick disclaimer – I am required to clearly state that I am not a licensed medical professional nor do I pretend to be one on this site. Take what I write as a launching off point to do your own research. My advice, experience, and suggestions are not to be considered medical advice.

Coconut Oil For Constipation

Coconut oil is known for its ability to move things along smoothly and swiftly. I know from experience as coconut oil took me from the “grrrrrrrr uuuuuuumph arrrrrrr” stage to the “finished already, I just sat down” stage in record time.

Coconut oil can help constipation because it is fibrous and it cleanses the colon very effectively. It also increases your metabolism rate letting your system break down food faster and more effectively which may lead to an increase in the frequency of bowel movements. (Which means smaller, softer poops).

Starting from your mouth all the way to your rectum, coconut oil purges, repairs and strengthens your entire digestive system, particularly your colon. It balances your stomach pH and assists to improve the tone of your intestinal muscles. All of these are “anti-constipation” activities.

If you want to get a little more technical…. Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, which work to stimulate the cells that line your colon and digestive tracts, increasing the energy and metabolic efficiency of these cells. This can improve your digestive rate and absorb more nutrients, while also moving stool through your digestive system at a normal (or faster) rate.

*Fair warning – I am about to talk about lubricating the poop chute.*

Constipation isn’t just about the pushing and grunting.

No, it is also about those lovely little friends called hemorrhoids. Seems like constipation and hemorrhoids like to wreak havoc together. The more you strain, the more those hemorrhoids come out to play. The more hemorrhoids that come to the party, the less likely you are to want to poop. Just sayin’. No one celebrates the arrival of a hemorrhoid by hopping aboard the porcelain throne and pushing for a few hours.

Anyhoo – if you want to prevent those nasty little buggers from ripping you a new one (seriously – can you tell I am having fun with this post???), then you might want to use some coconut oil internally. You know, lubricate the poop chute a bit. That way, whatever little marble you do manage to pass, has a better chance of sliding out without waking up the hemorrhoid brigade. And if you need some relief from those little demons of destruction, try rubbing some coconut oil on them. It helps. I promise.

Moving things along… I am about to write something important. (I wrote that so you would pay attention in case you zoned out a bit after the last section of info).

Coconut oil CAN in some cases cause constipation or even severe diarrhea. Read my post Can You Overdose On Coconut Oil for more information on that.

I can’t end this post without mentioning one of my favorite pooping apparatuses. Seriously, I would be lost without it. The Squatty Potty has truly revolutionized my bathroom posture. The reason I mention it now is because it truly helps to have a good pooping position. A lot of constipation related issues can be resolved simply by changing how you physically position yourself to poop.

A woman holding an illustrated xray of her intestines with a poop emoji depicting constipation

Sources for this article include:

  • http://msphere.asm.org/content/1/1/e00020-15
  • http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/home/ovc-20252671
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2794454/

Visit My Amazon Storefront

A screenshot of the Hybrid Rasta Mama Amazon Influencer Storefront

About The Author

Jennifer, author of Hybrid Rasta Mama, is a former government recruiter turned work-at-home mama to a daughter brought earthside in early 2009. She is passionate about and writes about holistic health and wellness, natural/green living, toxic mold awareness, and the benefits of coconut oil. She frequently shares allergy friendly recipes on her site as well as DIY herbal remedies, DIY natural body care, and natural cleaning recipes.

Jennifer graduated with honors with a Bachelor's Degree in Ethnic Studies. In January 2019 she became a certified mold and moisture intrusion inspector. She has completed coursework in the naturopathic series offered by the Avicenna Institute and accredited through the Board of Natural Medicine Certification Council.

Jennifer is a member of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors as well as the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness.

Stuff I Have To Tell You

Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and/or information are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Readers are advised to do their own research and make decisions in partnership with your health care provider. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking any medication, please consult your physician. Nothing you read here should be relied upon to determine dietary changes, a medical diagnosis or courses of treatment.

I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post.

Hybrid Rasta Mama is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliates sites. For additional information, please visit my Terms & Conditions page and/or my Affiliate Disclosure page page.

« Easy Squash Bread Recipe (Allergen Free)
DIY Mucus Buster Chest Rub and Cough Steam »

Comments

  1. Leigh J. says

    June 5, 2013 at 10:28 PM

    Jennifer,

    My daughter is going to be 5 in August and she has some issues from time to time with constipation. Her Pediatricians always want us to use the medicine route, you know, giving her Miralax until she poops like a crazy person, but I HATE giving her all of that yucky medicine. I also hate how embarrassed she gets after because she has a lot of accidents. I use coconut oil for just about everything, do I just continue to do that or is there something else you recommend? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      June 6, 2013 at 6:23 PM

      Hi Leigh! Check out this post that I wrote which addresses constipation in children. I think you will find it really helpful! https://hybridrastamama.com/constipation-in-children-and-what-you-can-do-to-help

      Reply
  2. ashley says

    July 10, 2013 at 11:53 AM

    How much coconut oil do you intake to help with this?

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      July 21, 2013 at 8:35 PM

      Well, that really depends. It truly varies person to person. My advice is to start at one tablespoon per day for a few days. If nothing happens, add in a second tablespoon. Keep doing this until you find the right amount. You will know when you got it right!

      Reply
  3. S. Dom says

    September 24, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    This is great information! I’m going to definitely try some of these tips. Just for clarification, when you say “take one to two teaspoons” do you mean via mouth or otherwise?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      September 27, 2013 at 8:09 PM

      Either! 🙂 Via mouth or otherwise. But “eating” coconut oil will give you the most benefit.

      Reply
  4. Colon Cleanse Complete says

    September 28, 2013 at 1:36 AM

    This information is worth everyone’s attention. Where can I find
    out more?

    Reply
  5. Liz says

    December 8, 2013 at 11:04 AM

    Thank you for sharing this! I’m currently pregnant and had issues with constipation during my first trimester (I believe due to altered diet and having to stop my daily probiotic thanks to nausea). I am fairly new to coconut oil, so far using it only externally. I did however discover on my own the ‘lubricating’ method you described and can attest it helps with hemroids and associated irritability. I will definitely remember to take some if I have future issues. It’s also GREAT for stretch marks- which I’m sure you already knew.

    Reply
  6. Blythe says

    January 25, 2014 at 3:38 PM

    Hilarious post!! It cracked me up so much I had tears rolling down my cheeks! Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Alena M says

    November 26, 2014 at 6:47 AM

    A quick (or not so quick) question. You mentioned in your post that in some cases, coconut oil can cause constipation. Can you elaborate on this a little? I recently started taking coconut oil, have been eating a real food diet for about 3 years, and generally have 1 poop per day. About a week after starting to take coconut oil (1/2-1 tsp, 3 x per day, before meals), I got constipated. I didn’t poop for 2 days, pooped once, didn’t poop for 2 days again. I was also taking potato starch, but have taken it before, and have never had a reaction to it. Wondering if it could be the coconut oil, and why, and what I can do about it…Thanks so much for your input.

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      November 30, 2014 at 8:46 PM

      Hi Alena! Well, the short version is that in some people new to coconut oil, it can cause a detox reaction that plugs things up. Basically, it is so busy absorbing and flushing out the yuck in your system that is clogs things up. Now it is possible that the potato starch is the culprit so my advice is to take both out, then wait a few days. Add coconut oil back in and see what happens. If you get backed up, you know you have some flushing out to do. I highly recommend this product for gently keeping things moving: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPUY3W0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BPUY3W0&linkCode=as2&tag=hybrasmam-20&linkId=CJHCAXQZE3EEHKI7. It is simply magnesium. Start with a teaspoon before bed and increase until you are getting easy-to-move poops daily. You can stay on this product as long as you need to. There is no true reason why some people react one way while others react another way. it really just depends on what is going on in your body. So try to help keep things moving for a while as the coconut oil does its work. Good luck!

      Reply
  8. Jason says

    April 7, 2016 at 12:11 PM

    Hi Jennifer,

    I ran across your article here, and it might be exactly what I am looking for with regard to the lubricating method for the “poop chute” (I haven’t heard of that phrase before, but I would imagine it refers to the anal canal).

    Some background: guy, 47, with regular and healthy BMs (1-2 a day). However, when I’m traveling for work I’m gone for about a week and the break from normal routine and large meals leads to 3-4 days of constipation. When I finally do go, it is almost always in the hotel room bathroom where I can have the privacy to push and grunt without others hearing. I know what it means to poop a brick (being polite here), and sometimes the hotel staff know too as I usually have to have them come up to fix a clogged toilet (how fun). I was actually thinking that putting some type of lubricant around (and inside, gross) of the anus might help me pass a hard/thick poop. But I wasn’t sure what type of lubricant would work for that. I’ll give the coconut oil and try the next time I am in a constipation situation like that.

    Reply
  9. Ann says

    August 7, 2016 at 1:39 PM

    Good article overall. However, coconut oil is not “fibrous”. Fats don’t contain any fiber, and coconut oil is no exception.

    Reply
  10. Bernadette Winn says

    August 16, 2016 at 8:01 AM

    Hi, I just found your website and find it very interesting and chocked full of information. My question is: How do you feel about paleo diets. My daugher and her husband or into fitness. They do crossfit and try to eat super healthy. I live with them and it is hard for me to eat the way they do. I am in my sixties and have a lot of health issues. I was wondering what your thought are on the subject of paleo lifestyle? Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      August 23, 2016 at 1:46 PM

      Hi there! I like the paleo diet but it is not for everyone! There is no one-size fits all approach to health and nutrition. I would suggest trying to cut back sugar and grains and see how you feel. You might also look into eliminating foods one at a time and then slowly adding them back in after a few weeks to see what your body does. That is sometimes the best way to see if your body is rejecting a particular food.

      Reply
  11. Delia says

    November 19, 2016 at 1:37 AM

    Hi Jennifer: Just came across your article on Coconut oil, and found it very helpful. Who would’ve thunk it!!! When growing up near the Caribbean I had access to and drank what I refer to as coconut juice…whole coconuts were available just about every where; you buy one, they open it up at the top, you stick a straw in it and drink it cold. Great for kidney problems, and also as a refreshing drink on a hot day. Besides that, I always liked tanning oils with coconut oils in it. It smells sooo good.
    I might not have caught WHERE you can buy this magnificent oil. I, myself can think of several reasons I could use it for.

    Reply
  12. PUNKINPIE says

    February 8, 2019 at 7:38 PM

    Hello I have really enjoyed all the things about coconut oil that I didn’t know.. Thank u!!!…so my question is could u in light me on the benefits of using it on a stage 4 bed sore.

    Reply
    • Jennifer says

      February 13, 2019 at 11:17 AM

      That’s a painful one! Well, coconut oil is antibacterial and antimicrobial so that would be a huge benefit to a bed sore at that stage. It would help prevent infection. Then of course coconut oil has a lot of healing powers as well as skin repair powers. It would keep it moist without being too wet. A bed sore at that level would take time to heal but coconut oil would likely help. Here is some more info: https://hybridrastamama.com/coconut-oil-natures-perfect-healer/

      Reply
  13. JOHN says

    October 30, 2021 at 7:45 AM

    I AM GOING TO TRY COCONUT FOR MY TROUBLESOME SHUTE SOLDIERS…..CHECK YOUR POST EAGERLYYYY

    PLEASE ENLIST ME ON YOUR POSTS

    THANKKKKKKKYOUUUUUUUUUUUU
    JOHN

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Your Free Gifts Here!

Copyright © 2025 · Divine theme by Restored 316

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. | By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions, Full Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Affiliate Disclosure, and Comment Policy. | We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. | Please do not use my words or pictures without my permission. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. |