Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is part of the Ayuvedic tradition of holistic medicine. These ancient remedies created in India provide simple solutions to numerous maladies both physical and psychological.

How does oil pulling work?

There are a few theories on the way that oil pulling works. Some say that the movement massages and stimulates the sublingual muscles to excrete toxins stored up in the body. Others report that the production of saliva is the catalyst for the draw out of bodily toxins.

How do I oil pull?

The procedure is quite straightforward; take 1 tablespoon of oil into the mouth on an empty stomach. Swish the oil in your mouth much as you would mouthwash being careful not to swallow the oil. If you swallow a minuet amount this is fine.

Pull the oil through your teeth as well as chomping and moving your jaws in a biting motion. The oil will change in consistency from thick and yellow to thin and foamy. This is due to the fact that your saliva is mixing with the oil bringing with it toxins being excreted sublingually through the tongue.

Swirl and pull the oil through your teeth for 15-20 minutes. At the end of the session spit the pulled oil into the sink or toilet. If you discard the oil in the sink be sure to clean the sink with an antibacterial wipe or soap.

Rinse your mouth with water 2 to 3 times and then brush your teeth as normal. You will notice that after a few weeks of this your tongue will become pinker and healthier looking. Your teeth will be whiter and your breath will improve.

Some say that tilting your head back while oil pulling will ensure that oil is getting all the way to the back of the molars. This is an advanced technique and not recommended for those just beginning. Remember to slowly swish and pull the oil in your mouth, this is not a race and you will not get any more benefit from rushing things.

It is recommended that you wait an additional 10 minutes before you have breakfast. You may practice oil pulling 3 to 4 times a day if desired making sure to do so on an empty stomach each time.

Are there any precautions to take while oil pulling?

The main precaution involved in oil pulling is to practice it on an empty stomach. You run the risk of vomiting if you oil pull after eating. The best time to oil pull is in the morning, after you brush your teeth, but before breakfast.

Being careful not to swallow the oil after pulling is another precaution. After the oil is pulled through it will contain toxins extracted from the body. If you do happen to swallow the oil it will be passed through the system.

The type of oil is also something to keep in mind. Sunflower and sesame seed are the recommended oils to use. Cold press oils are the highly desirable, refined oils are required.

Make sure to clean the sink with antibacterial soap after each session. The toxins pulled into the oil are concentrated and this precaution will keep from getting anyone sick who happens to use the sink after you.

If symptoms worsen discontinue oil pulling for a week or two and then resume the practice. Some people have very sensitive systems and because of individual physiology may not be able to oil pull. If you notice that symptoms are not subsiding then discontinue permanently.

How can oil pulling help?

Oil pulling has been purported to effectively treat gingivitis and whiten teeth. Skin conditions such as eczema, and acne have been reported to improve after sustained use. Lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and even diminished migraines have been attributed to the practice of oil pulling.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

You have choices when it comes to your medical care in this day and age. No longer do you have to settle for conventional medicine and its predictability, nor do you need to worry any longer about all the side effects of prescription drugs. There are different approaches that you may be unaware of, and they are called complimentary and alternative medicine.

Complementary and Alternative medicine (also known by the abbreviation CAM) has been around for a long time. Many of their practices come from other parts of the world. These two techniques each use the same types of treatments to bring you back to robust good health. But, there are differences in how they are used. Generally, alternative medicine is practiced in lieu of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine uses the many types of alternative medicine along with conventional medicine.

In a way, you can think of this as “covering all the bases”. Although complimentary and alternative medicine is normally thought of as a group of practices that are not taught to conventional doctors, it is quite common for a patient to take matters into his own hands and add a complementary medicine treatment or two to whatever regime his doctor has prescribed for him.

Here is an example of complementary medicine that probably everyone has tried at least once. The mere act of taking a daily multivitamin can be considered as a form of complementary medicine, as you use it along with whatever standard treatments you receive from your doctor. This is a rather mild form of complementary medicine that would almost always meet with your doctor’s approval. It is a comforting thought to know that by using complementary and conventional medicine, you have chosen to do something to safeguard your health, all on your own.

An example of alternative medicine would be when a cancer patient decides to forego all chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and instead follow a regimen of diet and food supplements such as laetrile for their only treatment. Alternative medicine is more respected by conventional doctors when treatments like this work better than the usual standard cancer fighting arsenal. This proves that even though conventional medicine is based on years of scientific study, complementary and alternative medicine can be just as effective at treating an illness or disease.

Complementary and alternative medicine is thus thought to be any kind of medical treatment such as vitamins or special food that is not generally though to be the usual treatment for a disease. There is still a lot to learn about both complementary and alternative medicine and its role in helping people have an alternate to conventional health care. You can be in charge of your own health decisions, yet still heed the advice of your doctor when you decide to go the complementary and alternative medicine route.