Oil Pulling with Olive Oil - A Healthy Choice!

OP First Time--Surprising Results. While doing a little research on activated charcoal, happened upon your OP info today 2-25-08. Thought I was getting the flu today due to appetite loss and diarrhea. Took 2 charcoal capsules which cured the latter, then found your articles and tried with 1 tbsp. olive oil. Since I had slight gag reflex initially, I calmed myself and was careful about rinsing my mouth after spitting out (tea tree oil w/mouthwash then brushing). My headache and stomachache are gone and my mouth has never felt so clean. My mood is definitely lighter and could it be that my teeth look brighter?? Speaking of which, would you please clarify the effect on tooth enamel? My teeth are rather porous, stain easily and the dentist says the enamel is eroding. Many thanks for all your hard work and inspiration. /M

Hola! My name is Tina. I've been a fashion model for years, a smoking fashion model, that has quit drinking alcohol but hasn't dropped the cigs. I did the oil pulling for the first time with E.Virgin Olive Oil and whoever came up with this technique is a genius! I did it for 20 minutes no problem (tasted the nicotine and the toxins emerging) It is imposible to take one drag off a cig all day. I keep tasting the nicotine coming out! I think i've found the ultimate solution! Can't wait to share it with my family and friends ! Thank you ARYUVEDA and DEIRDRE! GREAT SITE *MY FAVORITE! T.

WOW! I was just reading about the oil pulling. I have severe sinus problems, as well as a host of other ailments, which I will relate at another time. I woke up this morning severely congested, with thick green mucuous. I searched the computer under sinus treatments and found this website. I decided to try it although I was scared. I didnt have sesame or sunflower oil, I only had extra virgin olive oil, so I tried it. I just tried right now for the first time. Within 2 minutes....yes!! 2 minutes! my nose opened up, and I could breathe!!! I started feeling more alert in my mind, and I was so shocked. I just spit out the solution a few minutes ago...... and I brushed my teeth, and Im going to drink the 2 to 3 glasses of water. I will post again soon. I will do it again tonight. Thanks!!!

I have been doing oil pulling since June 1st. I have used extra virgin olive oil but today bought some sunflower oil to try. I cleaned my mouth before and after oil pulling but read today that you do it after. Anyway, I have lost 12 pounds so metabolism has increased. My mouth feels healthier. I have more energy. I plan to do it for a very long time. Let me know about cleaning mouth before and after. Thanks

hi, i am a newby here, just found out about oil pulling yesterday. Based on all the positive reviews, i just had to try it. I used ordinary budget brand olive oil i had on hand. I was able to do it for 20 minutes without any problem. last night and this morning. This morning, i had hardly any undereye puffiness. usually i have quite a lot and my eyes look sore and tired and sad looking and tear up quite a bit. today my eyes were bright and as the day has gone by i think i can see better.Also noticed was a heightened sense of well being. It's not imagination, i look younger feel and look bright and alert. This is something i plan on continuing forever. Almost forgot, my teeth look whiter, already. I purchased Hain sunflower oil today, organic apple cider vinegar and local raw honey for under 20 bucks.Took some ACV this afternoon. went for a long walk after supper, usually my fingers swell, none tonight and the pain in my hands is reduced.( i don't know why my fingers swell when i walk in the woods, but it's happened since i was in my 20's, now 60.) I can't thank you enough. Sincerely Jackie

I''ve been oil pulling now for 3 mths with olive oil with amazing results. I used to wake up with joint soreness every morning.That ended after the first day for me and I also noticed that I sleep great and can get right out of the bed and function in the morning. my teeth are whiter, and skin is clear. I never had a problem with arthritis in my hands but pulling brought it to the surface and got rid of it I ached for two weeks and it's gone and hasn't been back. I quickly advised my family to start and now 4 of them are with favorable results. It definately does get worse before getting better, but stick with it. My Aunt is in her worsening stages of her ailments but looking forward to getting better.

The same tiredness and heart racing happened to me too with the oil pulling. After a couple of days of pulling and I realized what was doing it, I stopped oil pulling completely....... Haven't done it in months. I miss it but the increased heart rate scared me. I used olive, sesame, and coconut oil. All organic and it happened with all of them. Oil pulling should not be taken lightly for some people. MHO

As stated by Steve in Vegas, "sounds like you both are experiencing some detox symptoms"... In this case it's best to dial back and approach this gently. I would trial (*EVOO) pulling for 4 minutes and see how your body tolerates that for one week. When well tolerated proceed incrementally, adding 4 minutes each week g.e.n.t.l.y. Slowly increasing to 15-20 minutes. Additionally, I would also recommend adding 1-2 Activated Charcoal capsules with a full glass of clean water while you're body is detoxing. Charcoal is an excellent aid in assisting our bodies eliminate toxins and reduce the detoxing symptoms. It can cause constipation so be sure to drink extra water. The combo of reducing the pulling time while including the activated charcoal maybe necessary & supporting approach.

*EVOO - Many olive oils have been found to be badly adulterated now, mixed with other cheap, garbage, even rotten olives and non-olive oils. Problems plaguing the olive oil market has become a huge issue. I highly recommend knowing that your oil is pure. One that has been tested clean is found at Costco. Kirkland Signature organic extra-virgin olive oil is a very secure & reliable as pure.

Val and TinyDancer: When starting oil-pulling you are using muscles that haven't been used in this way maybe ever. Altho we use our mouth muscles for eating and talking, oil-pulling is a whole new area. The tiredness and heart racing might possibly be the overuse of powerful muscles that haven't been conditioned to such movements. Jaw muscles are very powerful: witness people who can balance a heavy bench on their lower teeth!

For this reason I did not start the full 20 minutes as recommended. I barely made it to 3 minutes at first. Working up slowly, the muscles get stronger and can do more.

Just oil pull for 10 minutes, that's all you need.

I finally decided to stop after day 4. I pulled in the mornings and only did it for 10 minutes or so. The heart racing continued and got worse; I even had an episode where I felt short of breath. The fatigue also got worse-I would come home for work & sleep for hours. I started on a Monday, stopped on a Thursday, and was so tired I basically slept the weekend away. My bottom lip also cracked & bleed-I'm guessing from the oil seeping out while I swished. The symptoms remind me of when I was severly anemic a few years ago & had to have a blood transfusion. In a few weeks I'll try again-probably with a different oil and do it every other day.

@ Vee and Tinydancer: You should be checked by your Doctor for the racing heart and fatigue. Could be an underlying heart condition. Do not just assume that it is from the OPing.

I saw news reports about cheaper oils being used to dilute OO and even EVOO. These cheaper oils go rancid and destroy vitamin K which is needed for blood to clot. I used a lot of EVOO and had become anemic due to internal hemorrhaging because I was not aware until I saw the news briefs. We are on our own to research and protect ourselves.

Thank you Dr. M from Planet Earth. I have a scheduled appointment with my doctor soon and I will bring it up to her. I know that I am going to get the big eye roll for trying anything alternative for my health. Nothing alternative computes with her. Namaste

It is likely Myctotoxin Release Dye off from Canadia Abysisns, A Fungai commonly found in the mouth. Oil Pulling can kill some of these fungai and make you feel worse for a few days then after you usually feel better. Killing some bacteria and other microbes also releases "Alot" of toxins but resides after some use.

If you continue to feel bad long term it could be an allergic response and you should either stop or try different oils until you do not get one with the side effects.

Side effects of the toxic release from bacterial or fungal die off usually last 3-5 days when you first start, And only when you first start doing the oil pulling. This is because your killing off alot of toxic microbes. With most natural health as it works on the cause not the symptoms you feel worse before you feel better.

If it happens long term there is definately a problem. Should it be an allergy try choosing an oil from "Foods" you have no allergic response to. Many Oils can be used!

I've heard of people using Cocoanut oil, grapeseed oil, linseed oil-Flax oil, walnut oil, just about any "organic oil works" so I'd try a few more different kinds before stopping, and go for those derived from foods you have no allergic or otherwise response too. About 3 days and the infection dyeoff symptoms should start to reside if no improvement than likely its not the dieoff its an allergy or other response.

I hope that helps-[Not medical Advice; If you choose to use anything mentioned here do so solely at your own Risk]I am not a medical doctor, you should see your doctor before using any natural or man made medicine that affects your health.

Good luck, and Happy Oil Pulling!

Have been oil pulling for four days now with extra virgin olive oil cold pressed. Today went as usual then started to get a metal taste when I drank a glass of water. I was fine after oil pulling. Later I ate two marshmallows and after that is when I got the metal taste. Have looked all over but have not read anything similar. Has anyone experienced this? How long does it last?

"Y" from Chicago--please be advised that your olive oil has probably been diluted with a cheaper oil. I used to get brand named EVOO but it seemed to be going rancid in a very short period of time. My husband could not detect the odor but I could detect a very subtle one. Then I saw a report on the World News that many foods are being diluted to cut costs. Two of the products they reported on were tea and olive oil. I started using CO and am pleased with the results. I've only been doing it for a couple/few weeks. (I dunno exactly! ) I haven't read anymore replies here so I don't know if anyone else addressed your issue.

Add 1 - 250 or 350mg BHT to a newly opened bottle of any vegetable oil to prevent rancidity.

Hi Timh--I wouldn't be afraid to try the BHT but I haven't used vegetable oil for years because it is probably from corn. We were using olive oil until I coverted to the CO. We don't know where the cheaper oils to dilute the olive oil are coming from but I think it may be corn because it used to be cheaper. I had been informed that citric acid and citrate were processed from corn because it was cheaper than citrus fruit. I became aware of this when I started using magnesium citrate because it was supposed to be more readily absorbed (information from a neurosurgeon) and I started having palpitations so bad I was referred to a cardiologist. I was diagnosed with premature ventricular contractions (PVC). The person who advised me about the "citrate" was not a doctor but had been involved in having foods tested for hidden sources of MSG due to his severe sensitivity. I immediately stopped the mag citrate and went back to plain magnesium and the palpitations went away.

Because of my difficulty in processing information I am on SSD. I had been a drafting tech for fifteen years and the head trauma I had four years prior to my termination was the straw that broke the camel's back. I had multiple injuries (thrown from horses and kicked in the head twice) then thrown out of a car (coma for a month). That injury was prior to the one that prompted my termination.

First time oil pulling although been winning the battle with other detox methods I figured why not try another along with them it couldn't hurt alternating. Just tried olive oil, and let me say olive oil doesn't taste bad however that being said after swooshing it through my teeth and around my tongue I started vomiting and nasal drainage was pouring out so fast I had to blow my my nose and cough much mucous up. After vomiting a few times I felt better so I went another round hoping to make it more than 15 seconds and I did for near a minute although I hit that point again and when spitting out the oil it was foamy with still a yellow tinge although this was my limit for the day.

I noticed instant results and will keep you updated as I feel over the next couple weeks, btw I had to mouthwash afterward from vomiting and to get the oil residue out and using listerine was more painful than I have ever experienced the past 40 years. I'm winning the fight of having a brain tumor, abdomen tumor, and foot tumor, along with lead and mercury poisoning over the years that left dense metaphesial lines on bones in my wrist. I'm still waiting to see doctors for treatment after diagnosed last February. I'd be dead if I hadn't taken matters in my own hands. Since my several month on off detox regimen with pectosol, chlorella, selenium, ALA, and a couple others I have felt abdomen gummed getting smaller by 60% and look like I'm 27 and not 38 in this short time. Winning as Sheen would say!

I don't think it's a good idea to use Listerine.

Right, do not use listerine. Use water w/ baking soda and rinse out and then brush the teeth with baking soda.

Hi, I'm very new to this..... What type of olive oil to use for oil pulling (from supermarket shelf for cooking/salad)? When brushing teeth, do you use the same type baking soda as for making breads/dough (the type in small bottle) in the confectionery ingredient shelf of the supermarket? Thanks a lot!

Lynn, just in case you didn't get an answer yet... I've been using "extra light" olive oil which has virtually no flavor. I find it's easier to do the oil pulling with something flavorless--makes me much less likely to gag. I can just put my mind on something else and not think about what's in my mouth.

Baking soda is also called bicarbonate of soda and is normally used in baking.

To Lynn from Singapore: I recommend extra virgin olive oil, organic if possible but at least extra virgin. For the baking soda/sodium bicarb yes you are thinking of the same thing. In addition to the supermarkets and wholesale shops, I also have seen bicarb soda in bags at my local Asian market in my US city. Get as big a bag or box as you can, you will use a lot of it and it is better value than lots of little boxes. I am new to olive oil pulling just like you. Hope this helps. Let us know how it goes. Citygirl from Richardson, TX USA

Oil Pulling - From what I have read online, people with crowns and/or false teeth cannot use this method as it will loosen the teeth or come out completely. Is there any other method for a detox? I'm really upset that I cannot utilize this method because I do have crowns.

Annie, many of us who are oil pulling have fillings, crowns etc. and oil pull with no problem.

Vitamin C, garlic, and other things can thin your blood and make gums that normally don't bleed start to bleed when you floss.

I understand you oil pulled with EV olive oil, and it was still yellow after your session of 10 minutes. Well, in my experience, olive oil is the one type of oil for oil pulling that very rarely becomes white. Do not worry about it: You still get the positive effects.
After many years of oil pulling with sesame oil, sun flower oil and peanut oil, I have now added EV olive oil and coconut oil. The oils are all slightly different, but I like them all.

Hi Carolyn, I'm sure the OP will have great effect. For cheap and incredibly good probiotics, google kombucha tea. You can make it at home for a few cents/L. Very good against candida albicans as the yeasts that will also grow in the tea are not spore producers like candida and will help muscle that bad yeast from your system. It is also loaded with enzymes, B vitamins and beneficial acids. I take Kombucha after OP and it's a great daily treatment for health.

Also try Capryl for your yeast problem. 1000mg a day can cure Candida. good luck.

I've been OPing for at least four days with extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil, about 15 - 20 min in the morning after I wake up. I noticed an immediate difference after the first OP, just in my teeth being slightly whiter and the clean feeling all over my teeth. Each day, my teeth have gotten whiter and stayed white throughout the day. I've been having some MINOR sinus drainage, but it also seems my face has gotten clearer (I'm pregnant, so I've been having facial issues with pimples and dry, itchy, red splotchy areas). After a full 30 days I will post again my results.

I am a 66 year old overweight person. I got root canal and tooth implant done on 10 teeth. Two questions:

What impact will OP have on my tooth implants?

Will it help lose weight?

Guddi; One never knows until one tries.

There is many sites in this forum on losing weight, I have found so many great messages on losing weight, but be sure to take things slow and easy, when we get over anxious too lose weight we could get sick in other area's. Good luck

Unfortunately OP didn't seem to do anything for my dry eyes. What makes my eyes feel a lot better is putting a few cold slices of cucumber on them every day. I discovered that by coincidence when I decided to try the cucumber slices to get rid of the bags under my eyes! I have been doing OP for quite a while and to be honest I don't notice a thing!

Betty, the ammonia smell could be some kind of chemical reaction w/ your tooth brush formula as I have never read any report of this as result of O.P. so do your brushing at another time but do a post-clean w/ H2O2 gargle; then monitor for the A smell.

I decided to try olive oil for pulling, because I had it in the cupboard. I am a mouth breather and sometimes it's hard to get my roof and tongue in my mouth clean. I figured that I used baby oil to clean up tar once, I bet olive oil might be able to get the real sticky stuff. VOILA! My tongue looks and feels so much better- also I can tell a difference in my gums. So far this is a great experience. I am not sold 100% on the claims to heal everything, but it has helped my mouth!

I started oil pulling with coconut oil 2.5 months ago with great results. Plaque disappeared from teeth, gums stopped bleeding after 2nd day, intestinal health improved, much better digestion, etc. The only die off symptoms I experienced were a mild candida die off in my throat and tongue, which wasn't severe at all. The other day I decided to try Olive oil. I read that by most accounts, coconut oil seemed to have the most die off reactions so I expected the olive oil to be mild in its effect. Well, after pulling with EV organic olive oil I had a healing reaction with the most die off I've had in years! The symptoms were intense intestinal duress, swollen glands and throat, body aches, extreme fatigue, severe flu, fever. This was hiding in my body and remained unaffected by the coconut oil. I will continue pulling with olive oil until the toxicity is gone. It seems that in my case, switching to another oil flushed out some unhealthy life forms living with me that the coconut oil did not affect. After these symptoms disappear, I will test out another oil to see if there is anything else lurking there. If you are interested in cleansing your body of toxicity, I highly recommend trying different oils after any die off symptoms subside. Also, for those new to cleansing, make sure your organs of elimination are working properly and assist them with herbal formulas so the toxins that are stirred out of hiding do not get reabsorbed. Three areas of focus that come to mind are the liver (coffee enemas help dramatically), kidneys, and colon.

Oil pulling for headaches

I wanted to try oil pulling just for laugh and giggles. It seemed to be such a cheap and effective detox. I always wake up with headaches. I have insomnia and I grind my teeth terribly, all contributing factors Im sure. Usually they subside after waking, sometimes they stay with me through the day. Oil pulling with Virgin Olive Oil for 2-4 minutes(yes white and thin already) eliminated these headaches after a minute or two. In fact, I felt great after doing it. It was only after reading about the sideffects of OP on tooth fillings did I quit. I only did it for a few days. I really, REALLy hate that I had to stop. But I have metal fillings and am in need of 8 new more and cannot risk them being harmed by OP. I do, HIGHLY recommend oil pulling.

Why does OP hurt your fillings? It's only oil.

I am also wondering what the effect of OP is on fillings in the teeth....

I started o.ping last week and broke out with hives and some itchy so I stopped doing it. Hope it gets over soon. PS I used pure olive one TBL. Spoon in morning. Jerry

It might be a good thing that your silver fillings are coming out. Silver fillings are often full of mercury. I might suggest seeing if they can be replaced with acrylic.

It's amazing how our modern lifestyle has caused us all these health problems, and the only thing we can do to repair the damage is go back to the old ways of healing. Western medicine just doesn't seem adequate anymore to me.

Olive oil typically does not turn white after 15-20 minutes of oil pulling - as almost all other oils do - yet, I have noticed that we still get the benefits.

I would try rinsing with wild oregano oil several times a day in addition to the oil pulling.

On 02/19/2009 Fran Block from Pittsburgh, PA. USA recommended wild oregano oil as the most effective remedy for tooth pain and infection. Someone else on this earthclinic site suggested 3 or 4 drops of wild oregano oil in a quarter cup of water as a periodic rinse - unquestionably the best remedy for tooth issues and pain.

These recommendations saved me after a week of excruciating pain, and probably also from extensive dental drilling and fixing - maybe even tooth pulling. Now at any sign of tooth pain or infection - I mix wild oregano oil in a quarter cup or so of water and rinse with a little bit several times a day, nighttime too if I awaken.

I've been cured from what I suspect would have been more extensive work at the dental office after several cavities were filled by my dentist. He questioned at the time - about 6 weeks earlier - whether the infected teeth would in fact be saved, since the cavities had reached so close to the nerve. But the wild oregano oil saved the day and the pains slowly dissipated over 4 to 5 days, and I've needed no further dental professional attention afterward!

Hi Deborah and Cured from Niceville...I had candida three years ago. My symptoms were psoriasis, eczma, BM and toilet only once every 4 days if I was lucky, tired and sluggish all day, severe grogginess and brainfog in the mornings, jock itch(tinea cruris) and overweight. I also regularly caught colds, flu etc many times a year on a regular basis.

This is what I took to cure candida:

* Ted's alkalizing remedies using either whole squeezed lemon/lime or 2 tbspns ACV plus 1/2 tspn baking soda(Arm & Hammer brand) two or three times a day. This is Ted's Alkalizing Remedy and this is THE NUMBER ONE CURE for Candida in my book.

* One tablespoons of virgin coconut oil stirred into my coffee at least 3 times a day.

* Blackstrap molasses in my coffee, no refined sugar or aspartame sweetener allowed in my diet.

When I started this remedy at the beginning, I got fairly severe flu-like symptoms -- it almost seemed as if the remedy was making me worse. But this die off or Herxheimer Effect always happens when you get the fungal toxins in your blood from microbes and fungus, so think of it as a good sign. Your liver and kidneys are overworked initially, until your immune system can get on top of it. After this die-off it was easy. All my skin problems just disappeared slowly (except the jock itch -- but that's another story) and I haven't had a cold or flu in 2 years.

Mind you, it took me a full year to completely get rid of my candida. And even though I'm clear of candida now, and since it is very difficult to eat non-acidic foods these days, I still always alkalize and take coconut oil a couple of times a week as a preventative even now (plus supplementing borax, magnesium, natural sea salt etc as recommended by Ted on this site).

I tried oil pulling with 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and I felt very good after it. I will continue to do it till my teeth become white. thanks. You have a great webside. This is one of my favourite sites. God bless you.

I have used oil-pulling for only 1 day now (1 TBS Olive oil) in hopes of helping my chronic sinusitus....(i am willing to try anything at this point). First i cleaned out my nasal passage's (using 1/2 tsp baking soda to 8oz filtered water) which i have been doing for about 3 week's, when i combined the oil pulling with the nasal cleaning i had so much mucus that i nearly choked on it......AMAZING!!!!! I would never have believed it had i not tried it for myself.

Also i have had some chronic upper back pain which i believe has been due to a severe bout of pluracy a few years back....I had it in my back and chest but it never really went away completely. I have seen doctor's and evern went to the emergency room. Still I have found no relief until the following morning of my first oil-pulling. The pain seems to have moved into my shoulders.....could this be the inflammation working it's way out?

Thanks,
Melisa

I've just started oil pulling with olive oil. It's only day 3 but I am just amazed .What I do is I oil pull for 20 or more minutes then I wash my mouth out and then brush my teeth with a mix of turmeric and bicarbonate soda (this I was already doing before I started oil pulling). After a few seconds juices start seeping out endlessly from inside my mouth, nose continously runs and eyes keep watering. I presume this is a detox and built up toxins seep out.Then I cough up masses of phlgem from my lungs. It's white, thick and this morning there must have been about half a glass or more . These effects come when I brush my teeth afterwards with the turmeric and bicarbonate of soda and not with the oil pulling alone nor was this happening when I was brushing my teeth with the turmeric mix before I started oil pulling. So this must be the effect of the two combined. Thanks earth clinic because I can breathe much more easily now.