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It’s time.
I mentioned this about a month ago when I shared my recipe for an all purpose healing ointment, and now it is time to share: my recipe for coconut oil lubricant.
If you are related to me please don’t read this post.
There are many reasons why a couple (or individual) may need to use a personal lubricant. Excessive vaginal dryness can be caused by a myriad of things and without a good lube, sex HURTS. For those suffering from vaginismus, those with a small vaginal opening, or any other condition that can cause painful sex, a good lube is a must if there is any hope for sex being successful.
Trust me, I know.
So what makes a good personal lubricant?
1. Something that will not dry out. This is the main problem I always had with water-based lubes: they evaporate, and you are left with stick, gummy junk that really does not feel good.
2. A good lube contains no funky chemicals. Here is the ingredients label on my old bottle of KY:
Water, glycerin, hydroxyethylcellulose, gluconolactone, chlorhexidine, gluconate, methyparaben, sodium hydroxide
The warning label says, “Keep out of reach of children and away from eyes and ears.” Sounds advice, but here’s the thing: If you can’t eat it, don’t put it inside a different mucous membrane. The vagina is incredibly sensitive and will readily absorb whatever you put in it. This is how you get Toxic Shock Syndrome: toxins being absorbed into the blood from the vagina (banish the risk with menstrual cups). Keep your vagina healthy by avoiding sticking anything you wouldn’t swallow up there (sorry, I just had to use the word swallow).
3. Keep your fauna safe. The vagina is teaming with life! It is full of all sorts of friendly bacteria that keep you safe from infection. Have you ever gotten a yeast infection while on antibiotics? Yuck. The antibiotics killed all the good bacteria, which allowed the yeast in the vagina to get out of control. That’s why you need to eat your yogurt!
In terms of a lubricant, this means something that will neither feed the bad bacteria/yeasts nor kill the good ones.
4. Keep it compatible. The most important feature of a personal lubricant is that it works for you. You want something that meets all of your needs, and doesn’t give you a hassle during your quality time. It is also critical that your lube is compatible with your method of contraception. This means no oil for latex condoms and no silicone for diaphragms and cervical caps. When you use Fertility Awareness or are trying to conceive, all lubricants are compatible!
Why I Love Coconut Oil Lubricant
If you use latex condoms DO NOT use coconut oil lubricant with them! Some people say it is okay, but I would not be comfortable taking that risk.
Coconut oil lubricant fits all of the above criteria, and more. Whether you use coconut oil straight or doctor it up a bit, you know exactly what you are putting on your skin and into your body. It is really versatile; I’ve been known to reach into our lube jar to moisturize my hands. It is simple and cheap. Have you ever actually looked at how much store bought lube costs? Expensive! And the more natural stuff is even more! It is anti-fungal and anti-microbial, so it will not put you at risk for yeast infections. It will soak into dry skin, but it leaves no sticky residue and in general will keep you lubricated enough. If not it is easy to apply more.
In the winter, it is easy to just keep a small jar by the bedside table (don’t use the same container you use to eating…that’s not sanitary). Simply scoop out your desired amount, warm it between your hands, and go to town. However, when it is warm out, liquid coconut oil can turn into a huge mess. To avoid this, I enjoy taking my all-purpose ointment to create a more solid personal lubricant.
Adding essential oils
I consider the vagina to be internal use of essential oils. After all, it is a mucous membrane and it is very sensitive. You want to be careful. I only use pure, therapeutic grade oils that are listed as safe for internal use; that is they have a supplement facts label. Always start with less of an oil and add more if you feel necessary. The last thing you want is too much peppermint oil up in your vagina. Talk about a really cold mood killer!
My favorite oil to add is is ylang ylang. This is a relaxing oil that has been used to support normal hormone and promote libido. I add this to every batch of lube I make – 5 drops per batch of lubricant (about 1/2 cup).
Many people enjoy using peppermint essential oil to create a tingly lube – just 2 drops per batch in this case! Peppermint oil is much stronger than ylang ylang.
Have you tried using coconut oil as a lube? Would you?
More Resources:
The Sexy Secret in Your Kitchen
Your Vagina’s Health
Coconut Oil for Intimate Uses
Shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday and Simple Lives Thursday.
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I love it Chloe! Yeah for FAM and natural lube! Today is my 1 year FAMiversary! So glad that FAM made us friends! So glad we can share what we have learned with others!
Congrats on your FAMiversary! That’s so exciting for you! I’m glad we’re friends, too, and there is one more person sharing FAM with the world.
That’s funny that you don’t want family members reading this. We love coconut oil for back rubs and lube!
I know my dad reads my blog…I don’t think he wants to read this particular post.
Great article. It is important to talk about these things like lubs, etc. There are so many lubs out there with many chemicals, so I think yours is a clear winner.
Thanks!
I have a question , I have coconut oil in my bathroom bought in the cosmetic section on f my local health food store and I have some in my kitchen. The one on the kitchen becomes solid the other doesn’t but the only ingredient in both is coconut oil. Which one should I use? Thanks
I’m not sure why that would be. It may have to do with the temperature of the rooms, or with how the coconut oil was processed. Without knowing more about the oil bought in the cosmetic section, I would favor on the side of caution and use the kitchen coconut oil, as it is being used internally.
I’m thinking the coconut oil in your bathroom is fractionated coconut oil which has just been processed to have certain fatty-acids removed so that it does not solidify at room temperature. Either that, or it’s much warmer in your bathroom than in your kitchen 🙂
Nope, my coconut oil is regular. I have to melt it between my hands unless it is summer. I prefer it that way – less messy.
What do you use to get the liquid coconut oil up inside the vagina?
You can either apply it to the outside of the vagina, or to your partner’s penis. Use it as you would any other lube.
I want to use it as a treatment to heal vaginal tissue by adding chamomile essential oil to the coconut oil but not sure what the best method of application would be. Would putting it in a veggie capsule and inserting it work? Or is there a better method
Never thought about it. I use coconut oil on my face–why not the other place?
Exactly! I love it!
It’s nice to have a natural + safe alternative if it’s needed. I haven’t needed this with my husband. However, we did use it during the end of my pregnancy since I had tested GBS+ … not as a needed lube, but for it’s antiviral + antibacterial properties {keeping things “cleaner” if you will}, my midwives recommended this to help keep things a bit safer.
Great article. May it reach many who need this simple solution. 🙂
Thank you!
I have thoguth about using it but was afraid of what it would do to the sheets!
Good point, Linda. I love coconut oil but yes, it WILL stain and you’ll have to wash the sheets immediately (well, next day) to get that stain out. I use a great, organic lube called Aloe Cadabra. (www.aloecadabra.com) Moisturizer AND lube in one product. 95% aloe-based and no staining!
Thank you for the recommendation. If it is completely oil based, this would be great for those who choose to use condoms or are worried about staining. I personally haven’t found any lube that works for me that isn’t coconut oil and I haven’t had issues with staining.
I would have loved to have known this years ago! Since healing a myriad of hormone issues I no longer struggle with dryness so it isn’t an issue – but this is great info to have out there!
Thanks for sharing that! It gives me hope that I won’t need some much once I heal my hormonal issues!
Been Using coconut oil for years as a lubricant. Works for me! 🙂
Great to hear!
Hi, Chloe! It’s so helpful to see someone willing to talk about and recommend a natural lubricant. Thank you so much for sharing. I had never thought to add an essential oil to coconut oil. I appreciate your suggestions and this post. And guess what, I will unembarrassedly (is that a word) share it via social media too! 🙂
Thanks so much!
LOL’ed at the comment about family members not reading this!
Great post. Congrats on being chosen as a featured post on this week’s Wildcrafting Wednesdays! I hope you’ll join us again and share more of your awesome posts.
http://www.herbanmomma.com
Really?! That’s awesome! Thank you so much!
I am curious if using coconut oil as a lube has caused you or anyone vaginal problems? Never thought of using it that way. I love using it as a carrier oil n such and so much more. But seriously never thought as a lube. Definetly interested in the idea.
I have never heard of that, unless you already have a coconut sensitivity. It is anti-fungal, so it doesn’t encourage yeast, and used for so many natural skin care products. And of course it is edible, which makes it safe for internal use. It is great for the skin, including the vagina!
Coconut oil gives me problems every time I use it. The very night I use it, I get urinary tract problems. I end up having to get up to pee 4 times a night. I get a slight dull back ache, and the urinary frequency problem goes on and on if I don’t do anything to treat it (i use homeopathic kidney and bladder remedies which work in a day or two.) It also leads to me being very fatigued. It is frustrating. It took me several months to figure out it was the coconut oil to blame. I can use olive oil but it has no antibacterial properties.
That is very strange. I have never heard of issues like that, unless the person had an allergy or something. Do you have problems when you use coconut oil in other ways? But I am glad to hear that you have found something that works for you.
Why can’t you use coconut oil as a lubricant if you use latex condoms ?
Latex condoms are weakened by oil, so any oil-based lubricant cannot be used with them.
Dear Chloe,
Great article! Have you tried grapefruit essential like other coconut. I would like to try something that could add a little taste and good smell to my lady parts. Thank you!
I have never tried that or done research on it. A high quality grapefruit essential oil should be safe to use (particularly if it is labeled as safe to use internally), so if you want to try, I would just start at a high dilution to make sure you don’t have a sensitivity reaction.
Hi there, Thanks for this post! I’ve been searching everywhere to find info on oils and internal use. Until now I felt like I was the only one. So good to know I’m not alone. Question? Have you or do you recommend adding clary sage to coconut oil and massaging both male and female genitals?
Thanks for your input here.
T
It is not something I have ever done, so I cannot answer from personal experience. But from my research it would be safe and may help with libido.
Can I use fractionated coconut oil? Or which coconut oil is best?
You certainly could, but I find regular coconut oil to be a lot less messy since it starts out solid.
Just found your page and Love Love Love 🙂 Thanks for sharing your excellent natural diy ideas in such a fun and encouraging way.
Thank you so much! <3
I just got the ok from my dr after having endometriosis excision to have sex and it was still painful. Do you have any recommendations? I’m desperate.
I’m sorry, I don’t know anything about endometriosis and sex. I don’t know why it may be painful if using more lubrication doesn’t help, so I can’t offer suggestions.
Hi! Read your blog with great interest…I’ve had lichen sclerosis for about a decade (I’m 60). I gave up on penetration because it was so unbelievably painful, during sex as well as about 4 days after. I’m going to give coconut oil a shot – I have a new life now and I’d like it to be truly full lol! Thank you so much – something safe and edible was what I was looking for!
A couple drops of lavender oil added to coconut oil will help with lichen sclerosis also.
I have vaginal dryness issues and sex really hurts. To use the cocoanut oil do you simply take 1/2 cup of cocoanut oil and add 5ndrops of ylang ylang to it? I do have that essential oil on hand. Could you use it to help moisturize the vagina in addition to as a lube?
Yes, that’s how I make it. You certainly could use it to moisturize in addition.
Can u use sensation oil and peppermint together? In the coconut oil. With the Lub ?
You certainly could try it. Just cut the amounts of each in half so that the oils are dilute enough.
Any suggestions on flavoring this oil?
Thanks for your post! What natural DIY lubes are good to use with a silicone diaphragm?
Coconut oil should be fine with a silicone diaphragm.
Does adding essential oil will affect your chance to pregnancy?