ECM (Concord, NH, USA) on 05/07/2009:
Oil Pulling (w/ coconut oil)
Honest to God, this stuff would be considered a miracle cure if I believed in miracles!
I started taking a TBSP of this about 10 days ago just to experiment with it because I'd read so many good things about it. At first, the only thing I noticed was that, after each 20 minute pulling session, I'd be coughing up stunning amounts of phlegm (mainly coming from the back of my throat where the nasal cavity empties into your throat. I also noticed, immediately, that I was having an easier time breathing all day long.
Anyway, that was a nice benefit: clearing out the pipes and easier to breathe, can't complain but hardly shocking stuff.
Then, about 5 days ago, I was checking out my teeth after brushing one morning. (During the last few years I've had some trouble with gum recession and nothing really seemed to work and I had resigned myself to, at some point, having some serious dental work done.) However, looking at the upper right side of my mouth I noticed something shocking: a gap between two teeth that had widened substantially for the past several years was CLOSING. In fact, I started probing the gap with my tongue and was shocked to discover I couldn't get my tongue very far up into the gap where, not too long ago, I could pretty much touch the gum tissue between the teeth. At first I didn't believe it: I mean, I'd only been doing this for five days and I started to question whether I was remembering correctly, so I just sort of made a note of it and then went about my day.
Now, over the last five days, the gap has grown so small that the two teeth in question are virtually touching one another again--I can't get my tongue into the gap at all anymore and, at this rate, it'll be gone by tomorrow morning! In all seriousness, each subsequent day it has improved, almost in real-time! I am now dying to go to my next dental appointment and see what the good dentist has to say about the state of my teeth now!
I also want to note again that I went into this not expecting some of the amazing things I've read on here and on the internet but, really, this stuff is the real deal and I can only imagine if it's having this much of an effect on my gums (and this quickly!) what it's doing internally. Talk about a 'miracle'!
Jennie (Fort Wayne, IN) on 04/05/2009:
For several weeks now i have been oil pulling in the evening with a teaspoonful of organic coconut oil followed with a tooth brushing of sea salt and baking soda. Immediately, my teeth were several shades lighter, and my tongue is now pink instead of white - and much hairier than it used to be. As a result, I found that my taste sensation is heightened: sweets now taste *really* sweet to me, and any kind of processed food tastes even worse than before - canned soups, boxed mixes, and especially awful are artificial sweeteners. I have lost 7 or 8 pounds over the last month or so as a result of refining my eating habits.
Brenda (Alexandria, VA) on 02/07/2009:
Coconut Oil is an anti-fungal oil. The detox effect from using this oil can be pretty strong. I did oil pulling two years ago, then I let life get in the way. Lets just say I am back to where I started (so, tip . . . keep it up. Anyway, I used coconut oil after swishing with Olive Oil for a few months. Within a few hours I was coughing up lots of mucous. I remember searching all over my purse while waiting for a train to blow my nose. the Needless to say, I started oiling pulling again this morning. My oil of choice is Coconut Oil (1TB). I will post the detox effects if I have any. If the detox effects of Coconut Oil is too strong switch oils.
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JD (Anchorage, Alaska) on 02/01/2009:
Greetings from Alaska !
Have been reading your post on O.P., and decided to give it a try. Last night I used approx. 1 tbsp of organic C.O. I followed the basic directions, but was only able to 'swish' for 11 minutes. The oil became extremely runny, as if a ton of saliva had mixed with it. My throat felt heavy with phlegm and I had to hold back gagging. I rinsed very well & went to sleep. I woke up 3 times in the night, needing a drink of water (unusual for me). This morning when I woke up, I had severe angio edema around both eyes bilaterally. The edema had even weeped into lower pockets on my cheeks below, looking like little water balloons. Under my right eye, my skin felt crusty, as if something had leaked around the area. When I looked closer, the edema under my right eye appeared to have little pin head size pebbles in it and when I attempted to wash it, it was extremely painful. I had my partner look for some kind of puncture wound (unlikely a spider bite up here). As the day wares on, the puffiness is decreasing. Ironically, my skin tone was aglow, my teeth much whiter and I coughed up copious amounts of phlegm. I have searched this web site for a similar reaction, without luck. Any thoughts or advice; I am remain hopeful that OP is a healthy move for me. Thanks for creating such a wonderful space for "collective healing" !
Susan (Stroudsburg, Pa) on 01/25/2009:
Oil pulling got rid of my tooth pain in just 3 days. I had a very painful toothache, my whole jaw and ear hurt from the pain. I could not get into see a dentist for two weeks. For several nights I could not sleep due to the pain. I tried several things first like splitting raw garlic and applying to both sides of tooth and gum area, it relieved it somewhat. I also tried rubbing with oregano oil I had in the medicine chest. I then found info on oil pulling on earth clinic. I was disparate, and tried it. I'm not sure if the garlic kicked in or the oregano....but soon I drifted off to sleep in much less pain. I used organic pure extra virgin coconut oil, unrefined, unbleached. I remember reading that this oil has antibacterial properties somewhere. I woke up the next morning and did it again. I also rubbed raw honey on he area, as I have read that has antibacterial properties as well. It was still hard to chew food for two days...but the pain was subsiding dramatically. By the fourth day I stopped oil pulling. And the pain continued to diminish and go away. I can chew good now and absolutely no pain. I am amazed! I'm curious as to what the dentist will find when I go to see him next week. Now today I did oil pulling again...going to do everyday to see if it whitens my teeth. Will keep you posted!
Shinta (Jakarta, DKI Jakarta Indonesia) on 01/08/2009:
Coconut Oil: I've been doing oil pulling for 4 days now, and i start to have pimples too on my hands & my back. Also feels to start itchy everywhere! around the face, hands, my back, tights and feet. But mostly it's the face, hands and back. Wondering did anyone had any side effects like i do? I'll write as soonest the side effect dissapears..
Doris (Orange County, CA USA) on 01/06/2009:
VERY thorough water rinsing permanently ended my terrible worse-before-better flare ups. Once I realized OP pulled years of concentrated toxins from ALL my health issues, if ANY of that was re-absorbed, recovery was stalled with a bad flare up. To stop the cycle of taking 2 steps backward to take 3 forward with OP, I rinsed more carefully. Cautiously, I also weaned into OP, for a week or 2 only toothbrushed with a dab of oil, rinsing well. Immediate whiter teeth, better health, no flare ups. Terrific health results encouraged my focus to work up to full OP process (not as disgusting as I thought it would be). All-over health gained, energy like a 20 year old, cleaner internal feeling and body function, more mobility and agility, vigour - all are from OP. My dental amalgam pain was horrible. Now being fixed. Read, http://www.holisticmed.com/dental/amalgam/. View Entire Thread
Genia (Madison, WI) on 12/22/2008:
I've been oil pulling with Coconut Oil for about 10 days now & was recommended this by an instructor in a holistic health class I'm taking. I didn't do a lot of research before I began, which could be a mistake. I was told it was a general detox, which I've done before so I'm familiar with feeling slightly under the weather, tired, etc. However, about a week into the oil pulling I woke to find my top left gum tissue around the molar really swollen and painful. It was so painful it woke me out of sleep. Also, my lymph node on the the same side is very swollen and painful to light touch. My cheek on the same side is tender to the touch...I assume sinus. My gum in the area I described is still swollen and painful and so is the lymph node...it's been four days!! and am generally feeling under the weather.
I was told that my body is just getting worse before it gets better, but I'm tempted to stop due to the discomfort level. I do have amalgam fillings in the area that is swollen...could this be the problem? Should I stop the oil pulling? Or is there a modified way to continue?
On one good note, my skin has never looked better! It's the dead of winter in Wisconsin which usually causes severe dry skin for me, but my skin is softer than it's ever been and I barely have to put on moisturizers!
Looking forward to hearding your feedback,
Genia
Debi (Riverside, CA) on 11/18/2008:
I have been having gum problems, sinus problems, and enamel disappearing from my teeth. I occasionally look at EarthClinic,have some organic coconut oil, so since I was up early I decided to try it. I did it for a little over 10 minutes and had to spit, my mouth was full! As soon as I spit it out I had so much very thick mucus also that I was throwing up a little. I can't believe how thick the mucus was! After about 5 minutes I got the baking soda and brushed and rinsed and my morning headache is gone and I can breath clearly. I will do this every day and will report back later.
Rilma (Baytown, Tx) on 10/21/2008:
I need suggestions for bad OP detox
I have been trying OP with cold pressed coconut oil for three days and the results have been fantastic--decreased hunger and amazingly increased energy. My mother has several things wrong with her-diabetes, and arthritis being the primary ones. She has tried the OP for two days and her arthritis has flamed up so bad that she can hardly get out of bed. Is there anything that she can do to speed up this detox? Anything that will help ease her some.
Also, I wanted her to try the ACV first but she is allergic to apples--is there anything else that has the same effects, or has anyone else been allergic to apples and gotten around it to use the ACV. This web site is wonderful and I hope I posted this in the right place.
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