Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is said to be a powerful means of maintaining good health as well as an effective cure for a variety of ills. This is an ancient technique, first described in 5,000-year-old Ayurvedic texts.

The practice is simple. Soon after waking, before eating or brushing your teeth, swish your mouth with a spoonful of high quality oil in order to "pull" bacteria, parasites and other toxins from your teeth and mucus membranes.

Deepak Chopra promotes the practice in his 2001 book, Perfect Health. Chopra notes that oil pulling is one of many Ayurvedic techniques valuable for purifying and strengthening the body. According to Ayurveda, organ meridians are present in the tongue just as they are in key points such as the hands, feet and ears. That makes the tongue integral for diagnosis, and care of the tongue important in preventing and treating illness.

The ancient practice of oil pulling makes sense in another way. As oil is swished back and forth before being spit out, the mouth`s mucous membranes and large veins on the underside of the tongue are likely to absorb vital nutrients from the oil. Sesame oil, one of the oils traditionally recommended for this practice, has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Plus it offers iron, calcium, magnesium, copper and phosphorus and vitamins A, B and E.

The practice of oil pulling has been shown effective at removing bacteria in the mouth. A two-week study at Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital in Chennai, India found that two weeks of oil pulling caused a significant reduction in Streptococcus mutans count, reduced plaque and modified gingival index scores.

Adherents of oil pulling claim that the practice does more than improve dental health. There's anecdotal evidence for improvements in joint pain and arthritis, migraines and sinus infections, skin disorders such as eczema and persistent rashes, allergies, digestive problems, and more.

Oil Pulling Instructions:

Soon after waking (before eating, drinking or brushing your teeth) take up to a tablespoon of oil. Tradition prescribes cold pressed sesame or sunflower oil. Many people have found good results with other high quality cold pressed oils such as coconut oil, flaxseed oil, walnut oil, olive oil or grapeseed oil. You may want to experiment to find the right one for you.

Swish the oil back and forth, pulling it through your teeth and around all surfaces of your mouth. Ideally you should do this for 10 to 20 minutes. Chances are good that it will take a few days to adjust to this procedure. You may need to spit the oil out after only a few minutes when you start.

The oil will mix with your saliva, becoming thin and white. It`s said that when it becomes white, this is an indicator that it has "pulled" toxins, and you can spit it out.

Don`t swallow the oil. It`s best to avoid spitting the oil in your sink on a regular basis. Flush it down the toilet. Or you might develop the habit of spitting in a container where you collect compost.

After spitting, some say it`s best to rinse your mouth well with warm salt water. Others suggest brushing your teeth with baking soda or natural toothpaste. It`s generally agreed that you need to drink a glass or two of water after clearing your mouth by one or other of these methods.