If you have never heard of oil pulling, you are about to get really skeptical of me. But just follow along.
Oil pulling is basically using oil as mouthwash and swishing. The most ancient forms (it’s a very, very old practice) use sesame oil. However, I don’t like the taste. So I use coconut oil. Get a good quality oil. Find it here.
You have to do it when you first wake up. Before brushing your teeth, before coffee, before water and on an empty stomach. Get a spoonful of coconut oil and swish for up to 10-20 minutes. I aim for the 10-15 minute mark. I do it while I’m getting my son’s food ready for the day (measuring his supplements, thawing out his solid food, making bottles, etc.).
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Spit out in the trash. Very important not to spit down the sink (it will clog your drain). Also very important not to swallow the oil. It will be very toxic.
After 15 minutes, I spit in the trash, rinse with water, then swish with warm salt water (regular table salt will do). The salt water helps with any irritations caused from the oil pulling. I actually really like the salt water after oil pulling, it’s very soothing.
It will be toxic because you are pulling toxins out of your body. It is a crazy detox that works. I oil pull 2-3 times per week.
I cannot do the full 10 minutes on one spoonful. I have to spit it out about every 4-6 minutes and get a new spoonful. It’s just a gag reflex I can’t get past. And I push through this reflex because I see great results.
Results I have experienced:
- Reduced bloating/water weight. When I first started this, I did do it daily for about 3 weeks. By the end of the first week, Ryan asked me if I was loosing weight.
- Clear skin. When I go a full week without oil pulling, my face breaks out. Every time.
- A lot less tooth and gum sensitivity. This is GREAT for gum health. So if you have any gum disease, cavities, or oral health problems in general, give this a try.
- More hydrated. I feel more hydrated. Less thirsty. Even in this hot Texas summer.
- Whiter teeth.
- Great hangover cure.
That’s what I have experienced. Here is a list of many symptoms oil pulling can help:
- Mouth & Gum Disease
- Stiff Joints
- Allergies
- Asthma
- High Blood Sugar
- Constipation
- Migraines
- Bronchitis
- Eczema
- Heart
- Kidney
- Lung Diseases
- Leukemia
- Arthritis
- Meningitis
- Insomnia
- Menopause (hormonal issues)
- Cancer
- AIDS
- Chronic Infections
- Varicose Veins
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Polio
- Cracked Heels
- PMS Symptoms
Crazy, right?!?! Honestly, I fully 100% believe it can help on some level with everything on that list. I’ve seen great results. Good luck with it!
After I oil pull, I drink my morning detox drink.
Hello everyone! I’m Ashlee from The Crunchy Moose, a blog about naturally living. I am a stay at home mom who is passionate about whole food and the local environment. I started my natural journey several years ago after 3 years of back surgeries. Making some simple changes in my life stopped the seemingly endless back surgery cycle immediately and I’m now stronger and healthier than the doctors said was possible. I recently sold my retail store to spend time with my growing family. My son was adopted last year and is now 15 months old. I am also a volunteer at a local, organic farm. I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and now live with my husband & son in the suburbs of Dallas.
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Anya Vien says
I do oil pulling every day! I can really tell the difference!
Leo Sigh says
I’ve been doing it for several years and can’t imagine not doing it. My teeth are incredibly white, I never go to a dentist, and my health is great. Before oil pulling, I always seemed to have minor health problems that just would not go away. Not any more :)
Katherine Natalia @ Green Thickies says
That’s great Leo – I’m so glad you have noticed the benefits. I noticed the same happen for me.
Ana says
Does the oil have to melted or just straight from the jar… Bcuz it looks white like grease… One spoonfuls?
Editor says
It should be melted first, I’ve heard of people doing it with the solid stuff and melting it in their mouths but when I tried it was absolutely disgusting and I wouldn’t recommend it! Melted is fine, not horrible at all.
Elizabeth says
How do you melt it other then warming it in the microwave (which I don’t have) or stove top?
Editor says
Hi Elizabeth, I just put what I need into a cup and then leave on the radiator or sunny window-ledge for about 5 minutes.
Marianne says
What sort of society do we live in that people think that it is possible to alleviate abnormal cell growth (cancer) by putting oil in our mouths? It does not make any physiological sense whatsoever that oil pulling can help with conditions involving joint swelling or a hypersensitivity of the immune system. This health trend is seriously misguided and should not be accepted without proper scientific evidence.
Editor says
Hi Marianne, if a person has cancer then they must of course see a doctor and hospital. However, there is circumstantial evidence that oil pulling does help with a variety of health complaints. Just because something doesn’t make sense to you, doesn’t make it “made-up”. For example, would you deny that there is a link between gum disease and heart disease? http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/dentalhealth/Pages/gum-disease-and-overall-health.aspx Does it not stand to reason that if brushing your teeth can help you stay healthier, then oil pulling may well do too. We would never, ever claim natural remedies should be used in place of chemotherapy or surgery – however, what harm would preventative oral health measures do?
Honey says
Marianne I don’t see the harm in it. Plus do you know the side effects from chemotherapy and radiation?! Those are poisons pumped into the body in order to kill cancer cells. One gentleman I know quit chemo as the horrors he described as side effects seemed worse than the disease itself. Mother nature was here long before science, plus why be negative and such? For attention? Just because you don’t agree with it doesn’t mean you need to put it down.
Just started it a few days ago and my mouth pain has went away. I put some coconut oil in a jar in my bathroom so I can still use the rest for something else. Yes it looks like grease but the brand I have had no strong coconut smell. I thought it would bother me but so far I’m up to 5 mins, going to try for longer. Can’t wait to see what other benefits I’m going to get. Going to add turmeric to my diet, rather try natural then chemicals. Don’t want to be preserved from the inside. Lol Thanks for the great article!
Mo says
To find a way to overcome my hunger pain between 1-3 am. I am on a bean recipe diet for a few days due to high cholesterol. This hunger pain badly affects my sleep pattern and I’m very drowsy during the day! My blood sugar is in normal range.
Rony says
It would not hurt to check if you might have Candida. Follow a Candida diet. It is hard for the first week, but you just stick to the allowed foods, and those hunger pangs will stop waking you up.
Dawn says
A woman I knew had high cholesterol but the medicine made her too sick to take it. She would eat one avocado a week and her cholesterol returned to normal. Doctor told her to keep it up.