Yep, you read right.
I’m lucky enough to have a group of friends who are into trying new things. The newest thing circulating is oil pulling. After a quick search I find this is not a new thing at all, but from Ayurvedic teachings tweaked by western doctors and health practitioners.
Here it is, incredibly simple and from what my friends are saying energy building and mind de-fogging. First thing you do in the morning on an empty stomach is pop a tablespoon of sesame or sunflower oil in your mouth and gently swish it over, under, around and through your teeth for 15-20 minutes. Then spit it out, rinse your mouth out with water and (the directions get murky here) brush your teeth but not with toothpaste, perhaps baking soda. I need to do more research, but I wanted you to get the information so you could start. The oil turns from golden to milky white, and is quite a surprise on the first spit out.
Why would you do this? Well, to say you oil pulled for one - what a bizarre thing to talk about! Other more serious reasons are it’s supposed to help/cure an impressive array of conditions that, if you care to follow the links, can be explained better than I.
I’m doing it right now, as a matter of fact. I find I need to distract myself rather than just swish. It’s not uncomfortable, and it’s getting me in touch with my salivary glands. I can feel them squirting away, and my mouth is getting fuller and fuller. Oops, I just swallowed, the urge just snuck up on me. Not good, but I don’t think any of the toxic oil went down. That’s the deal, the oil pulls out the toxins in your body, hence the name.
I have one minute and 34 seconds until I spit. I read I should spit into the toilet as eventually the oil will clog the drains. It’s also badly contaminated with germs so you don’t want it hanging around anything it could effect. …be right back.
Now there, not so bad at all. I rinsed my mouth out with tap water and took a couple of swipes around my teeth with a toothpaste-less brush.
Yes, it’s night and not first thing in the morning, but I haven’t turned into a toad or anything. I also didn’t have a completely empty stomach and nothings happened. I read you can do it up to three times a day, and if you are anything like me my tummy’s rarely empty except when I bound out of bed in the morning - I’m a muncher and snacker.
Happy swishing!
More links - here, here, an oil pulling support forum, another forum dealing with Keratosis Pilaris and how oil pulling helps this condition. Amazing how many people know about this!
8 responses so far ↓
1 andrea // Jul 10, 2008 at 10:41 am
The 1st time I tried the oil pulling, I was suffering from a 2 week long sinus infection. Refusing to go to the Dr., I swooshed the oil around in my mouth for the 20 min. Within @ 2 hrs., I had the worst migraine EVER, complete with vomiting, crying and withering pain. I was in bed for the next 20 hours or so. When I got up the next day, my sinus infection symptoms were 90% better. I had very low energy, but enough to go to work and function. That was two days ago and though I don’t know if that was some sort of oil pulling coincidence or what, I just ‘op’ed again. My sinus head ached felt as though it was sneaking up on me, so I decided, what the heck…who knows - if it is a ‘placebo’ - that’s fine too - ‘SINUS INFECTION AWAY…’
2 Leah // Jul 10, 2008 at 7:12 pm
So Andrea, let us know how you are doing. Folks around here who are still doing the oil pulling (not myself, unfortunately) really do swear by it. Good Luck!
3 V S Sudhaker // Jul 14, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Hello
I am diabatic and I have severe gastirc track problems - I am doing oil pulling for the last 40 days with sunflower oil and results are simply owesome I have reduced my pills dosage and also feel much better - if any of you want more info you can call me I am in Hyderbad 9849005827
V S Sudhaker
4 Leah // Jul 15, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I was so inspired by your comments, I oil pulled tonight for the first time since I posted about it! Thank you.
Have any of you thought about the benefits as far as facial exercising while oil pulling? I was doing some pretty weird movements, and maybe that helped exercise my facial muscles - in a good way. What do you think?
5 Stephanie // Jul 22, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Hi, I have been oil pulling for over 6 months. I had a thickening, painful area around my achilles heal and started pulling. After 5 days the pain and thickness went away. I find the most amazing thing is when I stop for a few days. I don’t feel as well or sleep as well.
It’s such a simple thing to add to my heal routine. I don’t think it hurts anything to try it.
I do 1 T. of Sesame oil every morning for 20 minutes. I swish while I read my email. It now goes amazingly fast. I agree with Leah, it should have some benefits for facial muscles, too!
6 Anthony // Sep 6, 2008 at 3:26 am
I just tried oil pulling for the first time about an hour ago. I noticed a sinus infection creeping up on me this morning so instead of visiting the doc, I decided to do a little research on home remedies. Everywhere I read people were recommending oil pulling. I was skeptical at first, trying to understand how sunflower oil could really cure anything. Well I tried it anyway, and although the 20 minutes were long and it was pretty uncomfortable towards the end, the moment I spit it out, my sinuses start clearing up. I was shocked at how quick this stuff actually works!
7 cari // Nov 3, 2008 at 11:07 am
i am doing the oil pulling therapy. i use sesame oil and its isnt bad at all. one gets used to it. if you feel the urge to swallow as i do, i do it from the back of my throat to insure that no oil goes down. its easy and i seem to be seeing a difference in the whiteness of my teeth as well as the nice pink gums. i have gum problems so this is why i initially began this regimen. i dont see any real change in my energy level as promised, but my skin looks healthy. i hope that if you have any mouth problems you will give this a try. i dont know if it is a cure all for what ails you, but i can attest to a nicer smile.. if it takes bacteria out of your mouth and prevents it from entering your body thats a plus right there..it doesnt take a week or even a month so you must be patient as with this program as you would with all other programs. everyone wants instant results, but you wont get them with oil pulling. get up an extra 15 minutes early to do this and i think you will be glad that you did..
8 Julie // Jan 4, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I’ve been reading on a off for two days about OP but no one has mentioned Type 1 diabetes or psoriasis. Has anyone had any experience with these issues and OP? I would love to hear!
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