Many of you have probably heard about it, some have tried it, but most actually do not have a clue what it is.
Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurveda remedy where oil is swished or held in the mouth. It takes significant amount of time before giving you the desired results though. The time required depends on an individual. Hence, people can’t expect results overnight.
Oil pulling is a simple, completely harmless, and inexpensive natural treatment. The cost is the price of a daily spoonful of vegetable oil. Yet it is one of the most powerful forms of therapy.
Benefits of oil pulling:
- whitens teeth
- strengthens teeth, gums and jaw
- prevents cavities and gingivitis
- banished bad breath
- heals individual cells, lymph nodes and more complex tissues such as internal organs simultaneously
- can help eliminate the following diseases: migraine, headaches, bronchitis, diseased teeth, arterial thrombosis, chronic blood disorders such as leukaemia, arthritis and related illnesses, neuro-physiological paralysis, eczema, gastro enteritis, peritonitis, heart disease, kidney disease, meningitis, and women’s hormonal disorders
- has a detoxifying effect
Which oil to use?
Dr. Karach recommends cold pressed Sunflower Oil or Sesame Oil to use for oil pulling therapy. Should these not be available, use refined Sunflower or Sesame Oil.
You can also try different types of oils to see which one suits the best. You can also experiment with oil pulling for a longer or shorter duration, and doing it more or less often. The limiting factor for many people is palatability.
Sesame oil is more warming than other oils and may be more gently detoxifying than other oils that are “colder” energetically. It has a somewhat strong sesame flavour, which is a familiar food taste for most people. Sunflower oil has a milder taste.
Coconut oil has cooler energy than sesame oil, so it’s good for people who tend to have a warmer constitution or condition of heat. Some people have reported that coconut oil is more strongly detoxifying, which isn’t always a good thing for some people, so it’s best to be cautious and go slowly.
Avoid all toasted and poor quality oils that you wouldn’t want to eat. Those include corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil and soy oil, and those that go rancid very quickly such as flax oil.
The Method of Oil Pulling
STEP 1
First thing in the morning on an empty stomach and before drinking any liquids (including water) or brushing your teeth, pour one tablespoon of sunflower or sesame oil (or whatever oil you have chosen) into your mouth. We don’t recommend doing this process at any other time. Children can also do this with less quantity of oil provided they have control and practice not to swallow the oil.
STEP 2
Swish the oil around in your mouth without swallowing it. Move it around in your mouth and through your teeth, as if it was mouthwash (don’t tilt your head back to gargle though). You’ll find that the oil will start to get watery as your saliva mixes with it. Keep swishing. If your jaw muscles get sore while swishing, you’re putting too much into it. Relax your jaw muscles and use your tongue to help move the liquid around the inside of your mouth. When you do this correctly, you’ll feel very comfortable.
Keep on going for about 20 minutes.
If you have the unbearable urge to swallow, spit it out and start again.
When the oil has become saturated with the toxins it has pulled out, it may become whitish and have a thinner, milky consistency, depending on the type of oil used. Each time you oil pull, it can take a different amount of time to get to that point, so 20 minutes is a general thumb rule.
STEP 3
Spit the oil out, then rinse the mouth with warm salt water.
How often?
You can do the oil pulling every morning or several times a week. As oil pulling method can be detoxifying, you might want to take a break sometimes. One immediate benefit everyone gets is whiter teeth and clean mouth.
When?
Oil pulling works better in the morning. Don’t try to do this at any time of the day. If for some reason it is absolutely impossible to practice it in the morning, you can oil pull on an empty stomach at any time of the day.
How does oil pulling work?
The simplicity of this healing process in which oil is swirled backwards and forwards in the mouth, is due to the stimulating effect it has on the body’s eliminatory system.
The healing occurs because the beneficial micro flora throughout the body is provided with a healthy continuum. Without this natural bodily intrusive element evinced by the micro flora the usual pattern of human health tends to lean towards illness rather than wellness.
by Nele Liivlaid (Nutriplanet)
Sources:
www.oilpulling.com
en.wikipedia.org
Photo: lifestyleinfo.eu