Oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic practice first documented in the ancient Ayurvedic textbook, the Charaka Samhita. It states: “Oil gargling provides strength in jaws and voice, development of the face, and maximum taste and relish of food.
One does not suffer from throat dryness, lip cracking, or teeth becoming firmly rooted. The teeth do not ache or become sensitive, and one can chew the hardest food items.”
The process of oil pulling is quite simple, harmless, and very inexpensive. There are also different opinions and scenarios for its use. I recommend: After brushing the teeth, drink a cup of water or two (which informs the body it is time to go). Then, put one tablespoon of medicated oil in the mouth, pull it through the teeth, and swish it around the mouth for 1-3 minutes; spit it out, and do not swallow it. The properties of the oil and medicinal in specific swishing oil will permeate the gums and tissues.
The oil mixes with the saliva, creating a thin, white liquid. Swishing activates the enzymes, which draw toxins out of the blood. More specifically, lipids in the oil help extract toxins from the mouth's saliva. As you swish the oil around your mouth, teeth, gums, and tongue, the oil continues absorbing toxins while turning thick and white later. The oil becomes toxic at this point, so spitting it out instead of swallowing it is an essential last step, as you don’t want to reabsorb the toxins. While you can do this process anytime during the day, it is most beneficial when you are rising before eating or brushing your teeth.
The benefits of using sesame, coconut, or medicinal oil include balancing hormones, lowering blood pressure, promoting healthy skin, relieving constipation, boosting oral health, preventing cavities, and removing dental plaque. It also removes internal parasites, detoxifies the body, kills candida, improves digestion, moisturizes skin, reduces cellulite, balances blood sugar, enhances energy, benefits immune and nervous systems, and lowers LDL cholesterol.
Three Seasons Ayurveda Swishing Oil
