Oil Pulling, Its Benefits, and How To Do It Right
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A gift from India and brought back from the dead by a Ukrainian physician, Dr. Karach, oil pulling is nothing short of a miracle. It is so effective against various ailments that it is rightfully considered as an alternate medicinal treatment in itself. The best thing about this 5,000 year old practice is that it is neither esoteric nor expensive. Anybody and everybody can use it if they want to. To use it, you need only two things: 10 ml of oil you like and 15-20 minutes of time. You can use:
What Is Oil Pulling?
Oil pulling is an age-old remedy that uses natural oil to help clean and detoxify teeth and gums. It has the added effect of whitening teeth naturally and evidence even shows that it is beneficial in improving gums and removing harmful bacteria!
This simple home remedy can also speed up recovery from various diseases ranging from common colds to acute allergic conditions, bronchitis, indigestion to stomach ulcers, and headaches to migraine. The treatment involves rinsing your mouth with 10 ml of oil of your preference for about 15-20 minutes.
During oil pulling, the oils (especially oils with naturally antibacterial properties like coconut oil) bind to the biofilm, or plaque, on the teeth and reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth.
This treatment has its roots in ancient Indian traditional medicine system Ayurveda, considered by most Eastern and Western scholars as the oldest form of health care. The avatar of oil pulling popularized by Dr. Karach is slightly different from the original one, listed in the Ayurvedic textbook Charaka Samhita.
Nowadays, people have been using different types of oil and are seeing effective results.
Sesame oil is more warming and may be more gently detoxifying than other oils that are “colder” energetically. It has a somewhat strong sesame flavor, which is a familiar food taste for most people. Sunflower oil has a milder taste if you prefer that.
You can also use organic coconut or olive oil as well.
Ayurveda’s oil pulling Vs Dr. Karach’s oil pulling
There are two differences between the aforementioned two versions. These are:
- Ayurveda recommends the use of sesame oil, while Dr. Karach propagates sunflower oil
- Ayurveda recommends oil pulling first thing in the morning (on empty stomach) right after brushing teeth. Dr Karach, however, advises oil pulling just before breakfast on an empty stomach
Which oil is more effective?
All 4 suggested oils are equally effective. Quite a few people prefer organic coconut oil these days not only due to its taste but also anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
What are the benefits of oil pulling?
Oil pulling is known to be useful in the treatment of the following conditions:
- Common diseases such as cold, cough, allergies, headaches, etc
- Skin problems such as itching, pigmentation, eczema, scars, rashes, etc
- Respiratory problems such as bronchitis, asthma, etc
- Headache and migraine
- Tooth pain, gum diseases, dental caries
- Back pain, neck pain, joint pains, and arthritis
- Constipation and other conditions arising due to some problem in digestive system
- Blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes
- Piles
In addition to the aforementioned conditions, which studies confirm can be treated, prevented, or controlled by oil pulling, other conditions in which oil pulling might be useful include:
- Chronic sleepiness
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Cancer
A survey conducted by Indian daily newspaper, Andhra Jyoti, confirms the healing properties of oil pulling
Approximately 2 ½ years after publishing an article on oil pulling and its several benefits, Andhra Jyoti conducted a survey to understand the following:
- The kind of health conditions the procedure cured
- The degree of its effectiveness
1041 readers responded to the advertisement sharing their experience with oil pulling. Among the respondents, 927 (about 87%) stated that oil pulling cured one or more disease. 114 respondents (approx. 11 %) reported that oil pulling did not provide relief from the ailment(s) they were suffering from.
An analysis of the testimonies of people who found oil pulling useful revealed that it successfully cured the following diseases: allergies, cough and common cold, gum diseases, dental caries, infections in the ear, nose, mouth, eyes, and throat, tooth pain, headache, neck pain, migraine, back pain, lip cracking, allergic sneezing, and fever.
Recently people started using organic coconut oil as it tastes better. It has a 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.
How to do oil pulling
To use oil pulling, follow these steps:
- After brushing your teeth, and while on empty stomach, take 10 ml of preferred oil (1 tablespoon or 2 teaspoons) and put it into your mouth
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly for about 15-20 minutes
- Spit the oil after 15-20 minutes
- Wash your mouth thoroughly with water
- Drink a glass or two of water
Note: If you have had a cup of tea or coffee after brushing, wait for at least 60 mins before doing oil pulling. If you have had a breakfast, wait for at least 4 hrs before doing oil pulling.
Precautions
- Oil pulling is not recommended for children under 5 years of age
- Use only 5 ml of oil for children above 5 years of age
- Do not gargle and do not swallow. More importantly, do not worry if you swallow the oil. Sunflower, or sesame oil, is edible oil. When swallowed, it is either digested or excreted naturally.
- If the color of the solution you spit is yellow, it means that you have not rinsed the oil long enough or have used it in amounts greater than the recommended dosage. A white spit indicates that you have done the procedure correctly.
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