Oil Pulling-An Ayurvedic Boon(How To Do,When To Do And Why.)
- Moumita C.
- May 14, 2020
- 6 min read
Updated: May 24, 2020
What is Oil Pulling?
Ancient History:
The “Charak Samhita”, a several thousand years old (way back around 300 BC) Ayurvedic medical journal written in India by Maharishi Charak, states a technique called Kavala Graha or Gandusha. Today, it is known in English as “Oil Pulling” or “Oil Swishing”. Oil pulling is an easy and cheap way to not only balance the oral microbiome and improve oral health, but also helps you fight a plethora of other uncomfortable health conditions. It is an ancient remedy that has been researched, and while not all of the claims of people who swear by oil pulling are proven, oil pulling has had its magical effects on people. This obviously won’t act as a substitute for healthy food and quality healthcare, but it will definitely impact your overall physical and mental health.
Charak Samhita Ch V -78 to 80 states:
“It is beneficial for strength of jaws, depth of voice, flabbiness of face, improving gustatory sensation and good taste for food. One used to this practice never gets dryness of throat, nor do his lips ever get cracked; his teeth will never be carious and will be deep rooted; he will not have any toothache nor will his teeth set on edge by sour intake; his teeth can chew even the hardest eatables.”
Recent history:
The leading modern day proponent of this technique is a physician named Dr. F. Karach(not sure about his nationality) who saved this technique from oblivion. He treated several of his own medical conditions successfully using this technique before recommending it as a therapy to his patients.It is said that Karach has successfully treated a number of serious medical conditions with it.
He said: “most different diseases could be totally cured without medicines or surgery. With pulling oil treatment I have cured my chronic blood disease with which I suffered for 15 years. It healed in 3 days an acute arthritis which made me lay in bed. Pulling Oil heals head-aches, bronchitis, tooth pain, thrombosis, eczema, ulcers and diseases of stomach, intestines, heart, blood, kidney, liver, lungs and woman’s diseases. It heals diseases of nerves, paralysis, encephalitis and chronic sleeplessness. It prevents the growth of malignant tumors, cuts and heals them”.
Interesting right? Read on!
How is it done?
It is performed by swishing or holding a tablespoon full of vegetable oil in one’s mouth vigorously for about 15 to 20 minutes daily to produce health benefits. Slowly swish the oil around inside the mouth and then drawn it in through the teeth. The oil gradually gets thinner and then turns white. Make sure to spit out the oil and not swallow any part of it because it is said to contain toxins. Thoroughly rinse the mouth several times with warm water and then brush as you would normally. The oil may clog your pipes if you come from a place with very low temperature, hence it is advisable to spit it out in a trash basket.
Did you know?
Dr. Karach had performed a microscopic examination of the mixture of oil and saliva after a session of Oil Pulling and found numerous micro-organisms that he mentioned as ‘bacteria embryos’ swimming around in it. Hence it is important carefully spit it all out once oil pulling is done.
How does it work?
The entire purpose of oil pulling is to get rid of the oil-soluble toxins in the body.
Studies claim that toxins and bad bacteria in the body build up in the mouth and swishing or holding oil in the mouth for a prolonged amount of time will draw out these impurities or wash them from the mouth.
When to Oil Pull?
Pulling is suggested be done in the morning before breakfast on an empty stomach. If you have more severe conditions,you can oil pull upto 3 times daily on an empty stomach.
The therapy may cause an exacerbation(increased intensity) of symptoms of illness as the body detoxifies. But that is usually a positive sign.
What oils to use for OP?
Original Ayurvedic practitioners of oil pulling mainly used sunflower and sesame oils as a way to prevent bleeding gums, decay, dry throat, bad breath, cracked lips and for strengthening teeth, gums and the jaw.
If your body naturally maintains a high temperature, you can opt for Sunflower seed oil.
If you naturally maintain a comparatively lesser body temperature, you can opt for Sesame oil(I personally use this.)
Coconut oil has also been a hot favorite for oil pulling in modern times because it is available easily and is cheap but Ayurveda does not mention using coconut oil for OP anywhere. (Just for your information). Although coconut oil is one of the most popular pulling oils, it tends to solidify below 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23.9 Celsius), creating a chunk that is hard to move around in the mouth, but if blended in correct proportion with sesame and sunflower oil for detox, the mixture will not harden. Coconut oil attacks the harmful bacteria in the mouth, reduces plaque buildup, prevents tooth decay and fights gum disease. So, oil pulling or brushing your teeth with coconut oil can significantly improve oral health.
Olive oil is also said to be a good substance for oil pulling because its ingredients have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties (Ayurveda does not mention olive oil use for OP).
Make sure all oils used are organic(Virgin/Extra Virgin) and cold pressed.
Benefits:
1.It is a proven immunity booster as it protects you from certain diseases and helps improve already existing health conditions.
2. Oil pulling removes bacteria and stimulates saliva production, hence reducing bad breath. It also prevents cavities, strengthens gums and jaws, heals bleeding gums and removes any sort of infection within the mouth.
3. Oil Pulling removes scales on the teeth and makes them look comparatively brighter after about 2 weeks, it removes sensitivity and toothache. It is also said to fix loose teeth on continued practice.
4. The author of the book ‘Oil Pulling Therapy’, Bruce Fife, says OP can help with allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue, diabetes and migraine headaches. (I personally have experienced relief from chronic migraine, so I can vouch for it.)
5. A more extreme use for oil pulling is the treatment of diseases. In fact, oil pulling is cited as a cure for 30 different diseases. An oft quoted listed of illnesses oil pulling has purportedly cured is: High Blood Sugar; High Blood Pressure; Varicose Veins; Mouth & Gum Disease; Stiff Joints; Arthritis; Asthma; Constipation; Migraines; Bronchitis; Allergies; Eczema; Psoriasis; Heart, Kidney, Lung Diseases; Leukemia; Meningitis; Insomnia; Menopause (hormonal issues); Chronic Infections; Cracked Heels and cracked lips. Some say that oil pulling cures cancer and other diseases by pulling toxins out of the body.
6. It has been proven to improve Sinus related disorders.
7. It is said to improve sleep pattern (Insomnia)
8. Some say it can improve acne too! :)
Oil Pulling Side Effects:
There are NO known physical side effects from oil pulling. However, you may develop a slight headache or slightly sore jaw the first time, from the rigorous motion of oil pulling. If you swallow the oil, it could cause an upset stomach or diarrhea as it is full of toxins.
Brushing and flossing cannot be replaced by Oil Pulling.
Disclaimer:
Although these and other small-scale studies draw positive conclusions about oil pulling, the American Dental Association (ADA) does not consider oil pulling to be a reliable dental hygiene practice or a replacement for brushing and flossing.
You can always keep your mouth healthy by following a few simple steps:
1.Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
2.Use a toothpaste with fluoride.
3.Keep a mouth wash at all times just to be sure.(Mint/fennel can temporarily control bad breath too)
4.Most importantly, brush twice daily.
References:
1. Fife B N D . Oil pulling therapy: detoxifying and healing the body through oral cleansing. US: Piccadilly Books, 2008.
2. Gbinigie O, Onakpoya I, Spencer E, McCall MacBain M, Heneghan C . Effect of oil pulling in promoting oro dental hygiene: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.
3. Mythri H . Oil pulling: A traditional method on the edge of evidence. Dent Hypotheses 2017.
If you liked what you read, please comment below and let me know! Also, share it with your friends/family/anyone in need who can benefit from this article. Leave a like if you want more such content. :)
Image Courtesy:
Maharishi Charak:Alokprasad,Balajijagadesh / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Oil Pulling Lady: Flickr:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Whiter Teeth: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-qdxcf
Spoonful of oil: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Coconut Oil: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/space">Space photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com</a>
Sesame oIl:<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background">Background photo created by dashu83 - www.freepik.com</a>
Sunflower oil:<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food">Food photo created by natalystep - www.freepik.com</a>
Eczema:The original uploader was Eisfelder at German Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
Arthritis:User:Phoenix119 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
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