If you've been reading up on the latest health trends you may have come across the cryptically named, Oil Pulling. But it's not just the latest on a long list of fads. Oil Pulling has been practiced for over 3,000 years but it has only just found its way properly into western culture over the past year.
Essentially, oil pulling entails putting a tablespoon of oil (such as virgin, olive or coconut) into your mouth and swirling it around for 15-20 minutes. Yes, you read that right, minutes, not seconds. It may sound crazy but there's an undeniable body of proof that supports the practice and its health benefits.
How does it work?
Your mouth contains an extremely high concentration of harmful bacteria that will eventually find their way down into the digestive tract where, depending on the condition of the person's immune system, may cause serious problems. The theory of oil pulling is that the bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue get stuck or trapped in the oil and then ejected when you spit out the contents of your mouth.
Benefits
People who do oil pulling claim to experience many benefits, including:
whiter teeth
fresher breath
fewer headaches
healthier gums
general feeling of better wellbeing
better sleeping patterns
improved digestion
clearer facial skin
brighter eyes
less trouble with sinuses
more regular menstrual cycles
fewer symptoms of PMS
How do I do it?
- Source a high quality, cold-pressed, organic, extra virgin oil (e.g. coconut, olive, sesame, etc). My personal favourite is coconut as I find it more bearable than the other oils.
- In the morning, before breakfast on an empty stomach, place about a tablespoon of oil into the mouth.
- Once it mixes with the saliva it will liquefy and you can swirl it around the inside of the mouth.
- Set timer for 10-15 minutes.
- The first couple of times you try oil pulling it might be a bit challenging. But the more you persist the easier it will get. Try to distract yourself with TV, a book or your copy of S&P Weddings.
- Once the timer runs out, spit the contents of your mouth down the sink - under no circumstances should you swallow the liquid in your mouth as it will be highly concentrated with bacteria and toxins leached from your mouth
- Please be sure to clean the sink properly as the liquid you've just spat out is extremely toxic.
- This procedure can be performed 1-3 times per day. The length of time it takes to see noticeable results varies from person to person and can take from days to weeks.
- Paul O'Callaghan from evofitness.ie