25/12/2025
During World War II, particularly in remote Pacific island campaigns where medical supplies were limited or cut off, coconut water was occasionally used as an emergency intravenous (IV) fluid because its electrolyte composition—containing potassium, sodium, magnesium, and glucose—is broadly similar to that of human plasma. Fresh coconut water drawn directly from unopened green coconuts was naturally sterile, making it safer than untreated local water in crisis situations. Although it was never a true replacement for blood plasma or saline and carried risks if used improperly, wartime medical reports document that it was sometimes administered as a short-term hydration measure to stabilize severely dehydrated or wounded soldiers until proper IV fluids became available.
