Oil pulling has its origins in Ayurvedic holistic medicine dating from 3000 to 5000 years ago. In those days it wasn't just used for its physical benefits. It was also a way to align doshas, bodily energies which determined a person's mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Factors such as stress and a bad diet all had an effect on the balance between the body’s doshas, leaving it vulnerable to disease, so oil pulling corrected these miss-alignments.
Oral health benefits were also anticipated, with sunflower and sesame oils commonly being used as a way to prevent bleeding gums, decay and throat dryness, as well as strengthening teeth, gums and the jaw.
How Is It Used Today
In today’s day, people still swill oil in their mouths for numerous holistic benefits. The big emphasis is on oral health and detoxing the body. Popular oils include sesame, olive, palm, and coconut. These oils are sometimes blended with turmeric or other herbs to enhance the effects. One tablespoon of oil is swished in the mouth and sucked or pulled through the teeth for 10-20 minutes before spitting it out into a sink. It is believed that holding oil in the mouth for a prolonged amount of time will draw out impurities, including bacteria that have been building up inside the body. It is claimed that the technique can reduce inflammation and have a beneficial effect in terms of headaches, hangovers, skin conditions and asthma. The main beauty benefits seem to be whitening your teeth and improving your skin as a result of the internal cleansing oil pulling promotes.