Doctor who used coconut oil to treat patients dies at 88

Manila: Conrado Dayrit, 88, a Filipino cardiologist who was called "Dr Coconut", for promoting virgin coconut oil as a perfect medicine and a miraculous life saver, died of old age at the Victor Potenciano Medical Centre in suburban Quezon City last Saturday, the Inquirer said.

In 1980, Dayrit wrote a book titled The Truth about Coconut Oil which promoted the 300 million coconut trees in the Philippines as a national treasure, because it is better than antibiotics with its capability to destroy bacteria and viruses.

Pioneer

Dayrit, a pharmacologist, scientist and former president of the National Academy of Science and Technology, pioneered a clinical study showing that coconut oil could cure patients with HIV-Aids.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the former National Basketball Association (NBA) most valuable player, now with Globetrotters, once said on TV that a coconut diet significantly reduced the effects of his HIV. There were other anecdotal reports on the effect of coconut oil on HIV positive patients.

Dayrit also tested coconut oil on the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, because SARS virus has the same lipid-coated membrane as the HIV.

Protection

Dayrit said the virgin coconut oil could effectively protect against heart disease. Like omega-3 oil, it reduces blood coagulation. Like palm oil, it does not form dangerous trans-fatty acids that are toxic to the body.

It can cure arteriosclerosis, precancerous skin lesions, flu, bladder infections, ulcers, lung infections, and herpes, among others, Dayrit said in his book.

Dayrit became curious about the value of the coconut oil because of anecdotes that doctors used it to treat critically ill patients.

Dayrit's studies gave the coconut industry in southern Luzon a much-needed shot in the arm.