ABOUT OIL PULLING

There’s been a “booming” craze in this oil pulling business. I told my friend about it and she looked at me and said, “That sounds painful.”

I told my mom I was doing it and she asked me to send her an article on it. Lovingly, she text, “Don’t forget to send me an article on this oil spilling.”

Pulling, mother. I’m not BP or Exxon.

So...what is oil pulling?

Oil pulling is an Ayurveda method in which one uses unrefined oil to swish and hold or gargle in their mouth for 15-20 minutes. Most will use sesame oil, as it yields for best results. Doing this pulls toxins that cause bad breath, headaches, certain allergies, and any kind of skin issues out of the body. The idea is to keep the toxins out of your body, so you do not, under any circumstances, want to swallow it.

If you can’t stomach sesame oil, coconut oil is the next best choice, along with sunflower oil and olive oil. There’s also oil pulling kits but really, don’t bother. Go to the store and get some oil.

Bonus: discount stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx have oil a few dollars cheaper than a lot of grocery stores, so keep an eye out next time you’re there.

Does it work?

After watching HeyFranHey’s video on different suggestions (see below), I opted for coconut oil in lieu of sesame seed and sunflower oil (I hear the tastes takes a lot of adjusting to). After the oil melted (do not attempt to do swish coconut oil without letting your body temperature melt it or you’ll gag), I alternated between gargling and swishing for 15-20 minutes as suggested. In the meantime, I washed my face, did my hair, checked my email, danced to Beyoncé, you know the other parts of my daily ritual, until time was up. I get rid of it in a cup with warm water then flush it down the toilet, but I avoid the sink because I don’t want to clog the drain.



I will say, even before I brush my teeth (please still brush your teeth), I notice my breath is much cleaner than brushing and flossing alone.  Also? My morning breath was a lot less morning breath-y. Let’s be real, no matter how much you gargle and spit the night before, those 8 hours can still wreak havoc. I also notice less plaque on my teeth and they’re a bit brighter. It’s my belief it takes about six months to experience weight loss or any “cure” to allergies, but if it’s pulling toxins and aiding in your better healthy habits, I can see it happening.

Besides, if you’re pulling the toxins out of your body, you’re probably not putting them back in there, right? RIGHT?

Give it a try and let me know what you think!