Oil Pulling 101

Oil Pulling 

I've determined that 2015 is going to be a year of health and wholeness for me, as well as for my little family. Back when I was living in Italy, a friend introduced me to a holistic lifestyle that I absolutely fell in love with. I began researching new and alternative foods, skin care products, home remedies and even music, and I started making little changes to improve my lifestyle. It seemed like whatever culture I was in at the time, there was always something new to learn. So my goal for 2015 is to get back to that....to cultivate this holistic lifestyle that I've grown to love so much, and to keep improving myself. The holistic lifestyle is about the person as a whole; the body, mind and spirit. It's not a weight loss goal, or a diet. It's not a treatment plan or temporary solution, but rather a path to wholeness in every aspect of my life, body mind and spirit. It ranges from food and skin care alternatives to emotional wholeness and stability. It also includes being balanced in the things I plug myself into, such as TV, texting, etc. It includes my faith and being sound and strong in what I believe in. And it means keeping everything balanced, so that everything can run smoothly and evenly. If one aspect of my life is off, chances are it will effect other aspects of my life. My goal is to bring balance and health in every aspect of my life. And it's a path of continual learning and growing, so I am bound to make mistakes from time to time, and that's ok.  I believe that the holistic life, when applied to every aspect of our lives, is the healthiest lifestyle, and it can make us happier and healthier in the long run. So that is my goal for 2015. Health. Healing. Balance.

One thing that is new to me this year, is Oil Pulling. I've heard of people doing it and seeing many health benefits, so I decided to try it. My hubby even hopped on board and is doing it with me.
You can use several oils, such as sesame oil, but we use a cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil from Viva Labs, and the idea is to simply swish the oil around in your mouth for 10-15 minutes each day, ridding yourself of toxins and bacteria. I like how one website describes it,

"First, the oils mix with the saliva, turning it into a thin, white liquid. Lipids in the oils begin to pull out toxins from the saliva. As the oil is swished around the mouth, teeth, gums and tongue, the oil continues to absorb toxins, and usually ends up turning thick and viscous and white. Once the oil has reached this consistency, it is spit out before the toxins are reabsorbed."  (globalhealingcenter.com)

 Most people focus on the oral benefits such as whiter teeth and healthier gums. But there are many health benefits such as detoxification of the body, relief from eczema, sickness avoidance, bad breath and keeping the heart, blood, lungs and kidneys healthy....among countless other benefits. Perhaps the biggest two motivators for me in doing this is allergies. I've been oil pulling for a couple of weeks now and I can definitely tell a difference in my allergies. My allergies got so bad that none of the medications that the doctor gave me would work, and he recommended weekly shots. Needless to say it has been miserable, and I don't want to rely on medication or shots. There have been many times that my allergies have got so bad that I've had migrane-like headaches that last days, and my nose becomes so stuffy and congested that it feels like a constant cold. Since I've been oil pulling, I've noticed that my nose completely clears up right after an oil pull, and I feel relief for at least half of the day. I'm hoping the continued practice of oil pulling will only make it better.

Oil Chews

I ran across a few people who were making 'oil chews', so I decided to try it in an attempt to make it quicker and easier in the morning (oil pulling is best in the morning before breakfast). You can use a small round ice cube tray or any kind of mold. As silly as it is, I happened to have a lego mold so I just used that. I heated my oil in a pan and let it melt, then I transferred 1-1/2 tablespoon to the molds. For added benefit and some flavor, I also stirred in two drops of peppermint essential oil in each slot of the mold and stirred it. And that's it. You stick it in the fridge (or freezer for faster set up) and let it solidify. Once it solidifies, you transfer it to a container and store it in the fridge.  

When I pop one in my mouth in the morning, I love that its cold. I also love the fresh peppermint taste in my mouth. It's much better tasting than plain coconut oil. Some people can't tollerate the taste of coconut oil very well, so this is a good alternative. You can also use other essential oils such as cinnamon, orange or lemon.