Natural remedies are making a name for themselves with their alluring appeal of having minimal side-effects, without breaking the bank.
Big-pharma has pushed many people, many of whom are new to the world of home-brew aids, towards looking into alternative answers to common health issues.
Unfortunately, not all “natural” or eastern medicine has its roots grounded in any scientific framework. On the other hand, some remedies do.
You may have heard of oil pulling from a friend, or have seen a before and after picture highlighting its effects and have wondered if it lives up to the hype.
Simply put, yes it does. Oil pulling has been used for centuries and has recently gained popularity in the empirical realm, with lots of research proving its validity.
Oil pulling is where you put a tablespoon of oil in your mouth and swish it around for 20 minutes or so. This is most effectively done in the morning before you have eaten or drank anything.
It is best to do this in a calm, and quiet environment, such as before your kids wake up because you shouldn’t attempt to talk for fear of aspiration.
In children, it is recommended to only use a teaspoon of oil. If your child does not like it or is beginning to cry have them spit it out immediately to prevent aspiration.
Positive effects begin to take place after the first 5 minutes of swishing, so if your child can only last that long, or you have to answer a phone call shortly into the process, it is better than nothing.
While the oil is being “pulled” around the teeth it is cleaning where traditional brushing can’t reach and is taking toxins from your gums and mouth.
After you are finished, the oil will have become a milky color and much thinner in consistency.
At this point, spit it out into a disposable cup or trash bag, because it will eventually cause an issue for your piping if you spit it down the drain.
Continue with your oral hygiene protocol after your oil pulling is finished. This should not replace traditional brushing.
This medicinal art has its roots in ancient Indian treatments. Web Md reported:
“This oral therapy is a type of Ayurvedic medicine that dates back 3,000 years,” says Jessica T. Emery, DMD, owner of Sugar Fix Dental Loft in Chicago.”
The human mouth is notorious for having billions of microorganisms that can hinder healthy organ function throughout the body if not kept in check.
Keeping strong oral hygiene practices can prevent, and aid in correcting, ailments such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to the National Institute Of Health.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) released an article titled, “Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene” by Vagish Kumar L. Shanbhag that reports on how oil pulling is so healing:
“Ayurveda hypothesizes that tongue is connected to various organs such as kidneys, heart, lungs, small intestine, spine, etc. Oil pulling is believed to help in the excretion of toxic heavy metals by saliva. Oil pulling activates salivary enzymes which absorb toxins such as chemical toxins, bacterial toxins and environmental toxins from the blood and removed from the body through the tongue. Thus oil pulling detoxifies and purifies the entire human body.”
Sesame oil is preferred, Shanbhag reports, because:
“Root of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) contains chlorosesamone which has antifungal activity. Also polyunsaturated fatty acids present in sesame oil reduces free radical injury occurring in oral cavity.”
While oil pulling, antioxidants are being made that kill the harmful microorganisms in your mouth, while simultaneously stopping bacteria and plaque from forming.
These are the common culprits of gingivitis and bad breath. It’s not a bad side-effect that your chapped lips from the dry air are nourished as well.
Lauric acid, which is found in coconut oil, is a natural anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. These properties fight Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, which lead to tooth decay and yeast buildup.
There are dozens of additional peer-reviewed journals to corroborate the findings in the NCIB article we discussed.
Benefits of oil pulling are generally seen (it is a natural teeth whitener) and felt after a short two weeks.
Verdict is in, if you haven’t tried oil pulling for yourself, now is the time to begin this useful remedy nature has made readily available and affordable.
Please let us know in the comments section if you have tried oil pulling, and if you have seen results.