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Lily (Pasadena, Ca) on 09/14/2009
0 out of 5 stars

oil pulling and migraine side effect

I am middle-aged woman who has been oil pulling with 1 TBSP organic sesame oil for a little more than 3 weeks - 20 minutes in the mornings only. My teeth are whitening and that's nice. But, for about the same amount of time, I've been getting severe headaches that debilitate me. If I am detoxing, that's terrific, but I can't take much more of the pain. It starts about 2 hours after I finish all my morning routines - which are not different except for the OP. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions? The headache seems to start at the back of my neck and then move to the left side and grow in throbbing intensity. I've tried white willow and feverfew - and a Gaia combo called Migra-Profen, and a homeopathic remedy called sinusalia and even tylenol, aspirin, and ibuprofen - (not together!). Nothing touches this headache. It goes on for hours and hours and finally wears off around 8 at night. I guess I will have to give up the OP because I have to function.

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Replied By Rin (London, Uk) on 09/14/2009

Lily, I had the very same problem with sesame oil and oil pulling. Headache at the back of the head that then moved to the bottom left of my head. I too have stopped as I couldnt function with the pain. I hope someone can help us both with an answer.
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Replied By Dan (New York, Ny) on 10/30/2009

Response to Lily and Rin: Have you tried a different type of oil such as sunflower oil? Perhaps it has something to do with the sesame. You may have to leave the seed family altogether and try a different oil.

 

Some others have also speculated that severe headaches after OP can be due to detoxification. Toxins may become dislodged and may cause symptoms such as yours (also including joint pain and fatigue).

Lastly, try not to clench your jaw while swishing the oil around. Relax and let your cheeks and tongue do the work. Hope this helps!

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Replied By Jesse (Richmond Hill, On, Canada) on 12/06/2009

Lily, it sounds that you have the same symptom of headache as I had two years ago. My life was so blighted by this problem then. And it took me almost 10 years to find out that the real culprit of my headaches was chronic sinusitis. And I believe many people who were suffering from unknown headaches are caused by the the same problem. My solution is to take probiotics. Try it and see how it goes. It is possible that oil pulling could be used as a long term therapy in treating the chronic sinusitis problem, however, there is no convincing evidence found on this site and that is what I am trying to find out.
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