The Health Benefits of Oil Pulling
What is Oil Pulling?
Oil pulling might seem like a new craze to some, however, the tradition of oil pulling has been around for some time. Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic remedy that has long been used as a cure for many ailments. The practice of oil pulling is simple: oil is swished around in the mouth for a few moments or held in the mouth. The practice is carried out every day for best results, and while there isn’t a lot of medical evidence to back up the health benefits of oil pulling – or oil swishing as it is sometimes called – many people will testify to the beneficial effects on health.
It is believed that oil pulling helps to rid the body of toxins, and ridding the body of toxins is essential for maintaining good health. According to Ayuverdic medicine, oil pulling can also reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Detailed below are just some of the health benefits of oil pulling
Oral Health
People who use oil pulling regularly state that they have better dental health. The practice leaves the teeth looking whiter and it is said to reduce plaque and oral bacteria. One study has shown that swishing sesame oil around the mouth can indeed be beneficial to oral health, preventing the built up of plaque and killing bacteria.
Migraines
Anyone who has ever had a migraine will know just how debilitating that they are. Millions of people throughout the world suffer from migraines and while there is no cure for them, there are several treatments that usually involve taking medication of some form or another.
For people that don’t like to take medication regularly and that are looking for an alternative remedy, then oil pulling might be worth a try as it believed to be beneficial for migraine sufferers, however, the reason for this is unknown.
Headaches
Headaches are extremely common, and while most people suffer from them from time to time, some people have to live with constant pain. Modern medicine doesn’t offer much of a solution apart from pain killing medication or other types of medical intervention to reduce pain; however, oil pulling might be the answer for some people.
Some headache patients testify that oil pulling has helped them to alleviate their headaches after regular practice.
Acne
Many of us will know what it is like to suffer from acne. Unfortunately, treatments are limited for this skin condition and usually involve skin creams, regular cleansing, and sometimes antibiotics might be used to help clear up an acne breakout.
However, many of the acne treatments available are far too harsh on the skin and while they might work initially, after a while they begin to take their toll on the delicate facial skin, drying it out and causing the skin to produce more oil to compensate, thus the cycle begins all over again.
Oil pulling has been suggested as a remedy for acne, perhaps due to its purported powers to detoxify the body. Acne is often a sign of internal imbalance and sometimes the body needs cleansing from the inside out, under these circumstances, some people with acne might find oil pulling beneficial.
Hormonal Imbalance
Other people testify that oil pulling has helped to cure them of their hormonal imbalance. These types of imbalances are common these days, largely due to the stressful lifestyles that many people lead and people’s dependence on high sugar foods.
A hormone imbalance can cause a multitude of problems including poor skin, anxiety, depression and low moods. The treatment for this will often involve prescription pills for rebalancing the hormones, however, oil pulling is believed by some to alleviate a hormonal imbalance.
Diabetes
With medical experts declaring that the nation is in the grips of an obesity epidemic, many people are now much more vulnerable to the health problems that come with being overweight. Type 2 diabetes is common in people that are overweight, however, oil pulling is believed to be beneficial for patients with diabetes and could help improve the health of a diabetic.
Asthma
Oil pulling is also indicated for use in asthma. The Internet is full of testimonies from people that say that oil pulling has help to alleviate their asthma. It is also said to be helpful for other respiratory conditions including bronchitis.
Pain
Painful joints might also be relieved by practicing oil pulling. Oil pulling is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects, which would account for its ability to reduce pain in conditions like arthritis.
Allergies
Summer will be here soon, and it’s it a time a lot of people dread because of hay fever. However, it is believed that oil pulling can help to prevent allergies, which means that it could be prove to be an effective treatment for reducing common allergies such as hay fever.
How to Start Oil Pulling
You can begin Oil Pulling today for better oral health by simply using coconut oil – one of the best oils for oil pulling!
Just swish about a teaspoon to a tablespoon of cold-pressed coconut oil in your mouth, like you would with regular mouth wash. You can start out doing this for about 5 minutes, and work your way up to the ideal amount of time – 20 minutes. Go ahead and brush your teeth afterwards.
You don’t have to do this daily, but it will help if you do! I think you should at least consider Oil Pulling on a regular basis to enjoy the many benefits of it – perhaps weekly?
So who has already tried Oil Pulling, and who’s willing to give it a try?
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