Evidence supporting the use of: Lauric acid
For the health condition: Ulcerations (external)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid found abundantly in coconut oil and palm kernel oil, has a long history of traditional use in various cultures for supporting wound healing and treating external ulcerations. In folk medicine, topical applications of coconut oil—rich in lauric acid—have been used to soothe skin, promote healing, and protect wounds from infection. The rationale for this traditional use is largely based on the antimicrobial properties of lauric acid, which can help prevent secondary infection in ulcerated skin. Some small laboratory studies have shown that lauric acid can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, fungi, and viruses, potentially reducing the risk of infection in wounds. However, these findings are mostly from in vitro experiments, and there is a lack of robust clinical trials evaluating the direct effectiveness of lauric acid or coconut oil in the treatment of external ulcerations in humans. Thus, while the use of lauric acid for this purpose is rooted in tradition and supported by some preliminary scientific rationale, it is not strongly validated by modern clinical research. For these reasons, the evidence rating is modest, reflecting a combination of historical use and limited laboratory data, but not high-level clinical evidence.

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