Oil Pulling

Another practice that I have gotten into is Oil Pulling. Sounds strange doesn't it? It's really not, once you get used to it, it is very simple! Oil Pulling is done by swishing oil around your mouth, for about 5 minutes. Why would we want to do that? This Ayurvedic practice is thousands of years old, and is believed to help heal a wide variety of ailments. As we have learnt from the blog on tongue scraping, toxins and bacteria in the body can build up in the mouth. It is known that oil has an chelating (or pulling effect) which helps draws any impurities from the mouth and also from the body. Oil pulling is extremely beneficial for oral health. Studies have shown oil pulling to be as effective as medical-grade anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis treatments. It is believed that it will prevent cavities, improve breath, and whiten teeth. It removes the bad bacteria, but keeps the good, unlike some commercial mouthwashes. As for the rest of your body, it helps remove oil-soluble toxins, improving both digestive and immune systems. Some believe it can even help reverse heart disease and cure cancer as well as 30 other diseases.

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What kind of oil should you use? The best oil for oil pulling is high quality sesame oil. (organic, cold-pressed, unrefined) Start with as much oil as you can manage and work up to 1 - 2 tablespoons. Aim to do this at least 5 times per week, if not daily. Swish the oil gently for approx 5 minutes, while you are getting ready for the day. When you are done, spit out the oil, DO NOT SWALLOW, as the oil will be full of bacteria and toxins. Spit into your garbage can, as you don't want the oil to clog your drains. Rinse your mouth out with warm water, brush your teeth, scrape your tongue and then drink your cup of Warm Water! Pre-Breakfast Stewed Apple comes next!