By now, most of us have heard of oil pulling. It stems from the ancient Ayurvedic practice of
Kavala Graha or
Gandusha - swishing or holding oil in the mouth each day in order
to detoxify.
It is suddenly a new trend, perhaps it has something to do
with the recent popularity of coconut oil, but the practice of oil pulling has
been around for over 3,000 years.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine. The word comes from the Sanskrit terms Ayur (life)
and Veda (knowledge). Ayurvedic
treatments aspire to enhance the functionality of the human body and reduce imbalances.
Oil pulling is said to remove bacteria from the mouth and
toxins from the body. This assists with gingivitis,
inflamed or sensitive gums, halitosis (bad breath), it even helps to reduce
cavities through the reduction of plaque and whitens teeth. It’s known to reduce dryness of the throat, mouth,
and lips.
The bacteria in the mouth which cause these problems are lipophilic,
they have a surface fatty membrane and they are therefore drawn to the oil and
adhere to it. Traditionally, sesame oil was
used, but pretty much any edible oil can be used, such as coconut, sunflower,
olive, and sweet almond. The oil should
be plant-based and preferably organic.
Normally our body deals with the bacteria in our mouths with
saliva. Our saliva contains lysozyme,
which is an enzyme that destroys bacteria.
However, the production of saliva is decreased when we sleep, resulting
in an increase of bacteria in the mouth (a cause of morning breath). This is why it is best to practice oil
pulling when you first get up in the morning.
–And before eating or drinking when you can swallow the bacteria that
has built up overnight.
To start, take about 1 tablespoon (17 ml) of oil each day and
gently swish it all through your mouth for up to 20 minutes. You might want to start with 5-10 minutes and
work up to 20. It’s best to do while
getting ready in the morning, even while showering. Or, why not do it while
sitting and relaxing, being mindful of the experience. You don’t have to vigorously
swish, and don’t swallow the oil. It
will be full of bacteria. When finished
the oil will be white, spit it out in a trash bin as it might clog the drain of
your sink.
After, you can rinse your mouth with warm water and floss
and brush as usual. I find that my mouth
feels very clean and my teeth are smooth throughout the day after a bout of oil
pulling.
We know that the mouth is the gateway to the body and bad
oral health can lead to diseases and illness.
If oil pulling reduces the bacteria that causes these illnesses, why not
give it a try? It’s another way we can
help our bodies work efficiently, naturally.
