The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Jerry (Florida) on 08/01/2009
★★★★☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Hi. I recently started Oilpulling, (EVOO) before breakfast. For the first 2 weeks it was fine, I felt, more energetic, my skin started looking new, dewy, soft to the touch. Plaque started falling off my teeth, which looks whiter, gums healthier. I started to sweat, (which I havent done in years, no matter how much outdoor work I did.) I wasnt aware the sweet cravings had gone away, untill I went to my snack pantry and saw it filled.
After that I started getting chest pains, (I do have a mitral valve prolapse, which I was told, will repair itself after a period of time.) The first night with chestpains, I just laid down and waited to die, the pain being so severe. I stopped the OP because I was scared to try it again. I do want it to work because of all the positive results Ive seen so far.
Do you think that the pain was part of the detox process, or should I switch oils, or do you think its not for me.
Insights and Theories
Posted by Chris (Paris, On) on 01/31/2011
UUUH... Rape seed oil and canola oil are the same thing... They just changed the name to please the masses... Rape seed oil sounds wrong apparently... PS, almost everything you eat, drink, and see is genetically modified... Even yourselves... Sleep tight
Insights and Theories
Posted by Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 01/27/2013
Canola is a modified version of rape. I don't know if it was done by cross breeding or by GMO but it was done to reduce the acidity of the oil as the acidic rapeseed oil was considered to be unhealthy. I use grape seed oil for all my cooking as it has zero cholesterol. I am 54 and have "the blood pressure of a healthy 150 pound 18 year old" at 330 lbs.. Has anyone used grape seed oil for oil pulling?
Canola Oil
Posted by Louise (Utah) on 10/16/2016
It is my understanding that genetically modified means roundup is infused into the seeds to kill insects to protect the plant. This is the reason bees are dying. And this is the reason that wheat and corn are so dangerous to eat. And this is the reason some countries have outlawed Roundup. Farmers flood their wheat fields with roundup to create a stronger crop to make more money which is wiping out the bee population. Without bees, we have no food. It's a scary situation. Genetically modified is a misnomer.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Audrey (Larnaca, Cyprus) on 04/20/2009
★★★★★
Olive Oil Pulling Remedy improves my tooth and jaw discomfort within hours.
I discovered this site a few hours ago seeking a remedy for my white coated tongue. As today is a public holiday in Cyprus I could not rush out and get some coconut oil which is what I wanted to do after reading the recommendations. So I opened the cupboard and took a shot of olive oil instead. (No mediterranean kitchen is ever without olive oil!). I managed to swish for about 12 minutes before I felt as if I was going to choke. I spat it out and rinsed thoroughly.
That was about 3 hours ago. I am so excited that I had to come back to the site to share my results. The sensitive tooth and jaw pain I have had for months, has almost completely disappeared. I coughed up a lot of phlegm and now feel so much clearer in my ears and throat.
I am stunned! I thought I was familiar with most of the well-known natural remedies but this is a new (and extremely effective) one on me. Thanks so much Earth Clinic and all it's users. I'm converted!
Skin
Posted by Michele (Wolcott, Connecticut) on 04/03/2009
★★★★★
I oil pull with Cod Liver Oil. It is a popular brand that has lemon and mint added. I can't taste the fish at all. I love oil pulling with the cod liver oil. My mouth is clean and healthy. And it is great for my skin. I don't injest any cod liver oil. I do take Omega 3 fish oil caps though. I feel that plenty of the vitamin A gets into my blood stream with the oil pulling. I also oil pull with Avacado oil, and extra virgin coconut oil. The avacado oil is great for your hair. Makes it healthy and shiny. And they are all good for your skin.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Francesca (Merseyside, UK) on 03/03/2009
★★★★★
hi everyone came about your site by accident. Began op about 5 days ago. I used ordinary extra virgin olive oil pulled for 20mins in the morning yet oil still remained yellow when i spat out yet the next morning when i woke up the first thing i noticed was i felt energised, a totally different person who is normally lethargic upon waking. I had a lot more mental clarity . On the second day my cracked heels which were sore every time i walked were healed and soft. My hair which was dry felt softer and my skin feels softer too. I have stopped coughing as well. I have suffered from bad chest infections since i was a child yet op has stopped the wheeze and the cough dead in its tracks. Every morning - wake now i feel i am being propelled in the right way towards super health thankyou so much for this site i will report back with more news
Broad Benefits
Posted by Anne (Los Angeles, CA) on 02/24/2009
★★★★★
I've been pulling about two months, using various oils but most frequently coconut and sesame. The main benefit I've noticed is that my teeth feel wonderful! The first time I pulled I noticed my teeth felt as if they had been individually polished! It was delightful! The first few days of OPing I kept running my tongue over my teeth just to enjoy the sensation!
Now I'm accustomed to the polished feeling but it's still great!
The first two weeks of OPing I tried several different oils and noticed each had different effects on me. Unfortunately, they don't have those effects any more but I'll list them here in case anyone else has the same reaction.
Sesame seed (cold-pressed): this oil made my teeth the "happiest" and smoothest.
Coconut oil (extra virgin, cold-pressed): I felt resonance with this oil. It was as if my personal vibration and the vibration of the oil were the same. Using that oil just felt correct for me. I know that sounds ridiculous but there it is, I cannot explain it better than that. Also, the coconut oil did not make my teeth as polished-feeling as the sesame.
Flax seed (cold-pressed): I loved this one. After pulling I felt very, very calm and peaceful. It was like taking a dose of Zen.
Olive oil (EVO): this gave me a mood boost. After pulling I felt joyous and buoyant.
For the last two weeks I've been exclusively using coconut oil. I'm going to switch next week and see if the olive oil still gives me an emotional boost.
Good luck to you oil pullers!
Dental Issues
Posted by Louise (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) on 01/15/2009
★★★★★
hello, i staretd oil pulling 3 days ago,all i can say is WOW, my teeth are whiter already and the black streaks on them disipated, by the way i still drink coffe,presently i use Siberian cedar nut oil (cold pressed)and only use a sip of it for pulling and 1Tsp, internally for tonifyng the organs. amazing !!!
Chronic Sinusitis
Posted by Melisa (Grove City, Ohio) on 12/11/2008
★★★★★
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
Side Effects
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 12/14/2008 392 posts
An alternate oil pulling is possible without use of Oil Pulling, which is Granulated Lecithin, which is a more effective form of oil pulling. Since Granulated lecithin is a fat emulsifier, it virtually pulls the oil out of the system my literally solubilizing them and is excreted via the stool, as well as free heavy metals too, which are oil soluble because they are hydrophobic. It's taken at least 1 tablespoon a day. It is the literal method of oil puling where the oil gets pulled from the body, instead of using the oil to pull out the toxins, while the body accumulates more vegetable oils.
Some people have low tolerance to any oily foods, including oil pulling. What is not mentioned is the enormous effects of health it has on eating foods with vegetable oils. While oil pulling do in few cases cause a person to be sick, if a person has low tolerance to oils in general. This happens sometimes for certain oils or an entire range of oils, including olive oil. Although I report the least problems from olive oil use, however current oil pulling use is sunflower oil. In case it doesn't work, for sunflower oil, it might work for olive oil. However, some people get a skin allergy response just applying olive oil to their skin or the use on their hair. Certain imbalances in higher chain oil is possible and a condition might be reduced by eating a small amount of beeswax, or another form, octacosanol where these very long chain fatty alcohols reduces LDL, low density lipoprotein, and other substances responsible for the negative reaction from vegetable oil use. It seems to help reduce cholesterol too. If an alternative oil pulling is used without the resultant side effects, adding some peppermint oil may reduce the problem, or if the liver has low tolerance to oil, it also helps if granulated lecithin is used instead. Granulated lecithin taken at one tablespoon per day preferably before meal. It should be noted that oil soluble compounds, including benzene, and toxic chemicals that are oil soluble recirculates in our body for the rest of our life and accumulates in the liver. There's no way out, except granulated lecithin which are a fat emulsifer, that helps the fat become water soluble so the body can rid of them much easier. It's the same thing when we take too much vitamin A or vitamin E and is stored by the liver. I have seen instances where long term used of ANY oils, whether they be aloe vera oil, olive oil, causes allergic and body's negative response. The cause is that the liver simply can't hold any more oils that's being accumulated and has to find a way out. One here I mentioned is granulated lecithin, but there's a limited extend of possible removal with the use of drinking ACV apple cider vinegar, which is also solubilizes the oil, as well as borax remedy, and alkalization remedy. They are all surfactants. The French Paradox where they consume more cholesterol then the U.S, but had less maybe due to the fact that a small amount of alcohol in wine may have helped the liver remove excessive oils and fats. However, other avenues in reducing other oils, such as triglycerides exists in drinking unsugared no artificial flavoring, no artificial sweetners such as green tea also. However, I always add a tiny pinch of borax, as some green tea may have fluoride and this aids in the removal.
While I can't say oil pulling using vegetable oil is the best, the one with the least problem is the use of oil pulling by literally pulling the accumulate oils (and bad oils) out of the system using granulated lecithin. In fish pathology, using rancid oils is about the worse things you can do to cause teh fish to be sick, but rancid oils exists in human diets to much greater extent owing to their being long on the shelf, and cooing of vegetable oils further worsen the oil tolerances, whenever the liver can no longer take any more oils from the system.
Ted
P.S. This second form of oil pulling might be named Pulling Oil instead of Oil Pulling. It's the second type of detoxification using lecithin.
Broad Benefits
Posted by 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.
Dental Issues
Posted by Peggy (Marengo, IL) on 08/22/2008
★★★★★
I had a cavity in my wisdom tooth when eventually the tooth began to loosen and caused me pain. I started oil pulling in an effort to stabalize the tooth. The OP had eliminated the pain. After a month the tooth did not stabalize. But the tooth loosened up enough for a family member to yank it out of my mouth. The gums did not bleed and the gums closed up with out complications. When I examined the tooth I noticed that the OP had created a natural filling in the cavity. This amazing proof is why I continued to oil pull besides the other results of whitening of the teeth, stronger enamel and knowing I will never have to see a Dentist again to remove tarter, teeth or fill cavities, etc. I have been Oil pulling for 1 over 1 year and could not be happier with my over all mouth health.
Bloating
Posted by Liana (Mississauga, Canada) on 03/31/2008
★★★★★
I have practised oil pulling for about 6 months. I did this only once a day: in the morning before brushing my teeth.
The immediate benefit I enjoyed was that the bloating of my stomach stopped. My teeth has not become whiter as many people on this website reported. But my breath has become very pleasant in the morning. When I ran out of sesame oil and did not do my oil pulling, I did notice my breath becoming slightly smelly in the morning. This condition instantly reversed itself as soon as I started oil pulling in the morning again.
I use only 3/4 tbsp. of organic sesame oil and brush my teeth afterwards.
After reading Ted's and other people's entries. I will now definitely try brushing my teeth first BEFORE oil pulling. I find the reasons given totally credible.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Deirdre, Ted in Bangkok and all those who write in for this website! I will report back.
Insights and Theories
Posted by Ann (Upstate NY) on 04/20/2022
Some people are allergic to coconut, so I wonder if the tingling isn't an allergic reaction.
Have you been diagnosed with periodontal disease? I wonder if your gums aren't bleeding...
Broad Benefits
Posted by Marci (Tucson, Arizona) on 02/25/2008
★★★★★
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
Whitens Teeth
Posted by Barbara (El Paso, Texas) on 01/19/2008
★★★★★
All I can say is Wow! Oil Pulling really works. My dentist wanted to whiten my teeth,to the tune of $600.00, I refused and told him I had just started oil pulling (he didn't know what it was) and it is suppose to whiten teeth so I would wait to see the results. My husband and I were both amazed. After only 3 days my teeth had whitened at least 4 shades, and my tongue was pink and healthy, the coating disappeared! Along with the ACV treatment for my rheu. arthritis and the oil pull, I feel better and have more energy than I've had in years. When I went to the store to buy the oil I bought Sesame oil (could only find the toasted)and Organic Virgin Olive Oil. When I tried to open the sesame oil it flew out of my hands and broke all over my kitchen floor. So, I used the olive oil and have had all these wonderful results from using it. I am a "new person" thanks to this wonderful site!! Thank you!
Sinus Infections
Posted by Michael (Bowling Green, Kentucky) on 11/13/2007
★★★★★
Oil Pulling, Ok so it got so bad I turned to the internet. I was sitting at home suffering from the worst sinus infection I have ever had. So I thought I would google my problem and this website poped up first. This was the first time that I had ever heard of oil pulling. Honestly I have to say I thought it would be disgusting. However I was at the point of no return, I had to do something. So I was willing to give it a shot. At first I could not notice any effects of the oil and by the second time I tried it my symptoms were worse. But as the website said I continued and by my third time I was feeling 10X's better. It not only cured by sinus problems but made me feel more relaxed all around. Thank you so much for the info.
General Feedback
Posted by Melissa (San Diego, CA) on 10/02/2007
★★★★★
In response to Rebecca from Bronx NY: I also wondered about oil pulling. I did it for two months with no evidence of it helping with anything. I was hoping it would alleviate pain from exposed nerves due to receding gums as well as with acne and general detox. I stopped the oil pulling for a couple of months but was desperate for some sinus relief with a cold one afternoon. I pulled two afternoons in a row and had really great results. Help with sinuses, no tooth pain, and major colon cleanse! I figured out what I must have been doing wrong for two months when I saw no results. I was pulling in the mornings while getting ready for work and getting my daughter ready for school so it didn't really have my full attention. Sometimes I would be distracted and would stop swishing or swallow a little (not the actual oil, but just whatever mucus or saliva was rising up in the back of my throat). When I pulled in the afternoons, it was a time I could just focus on the pulling. I don't pull very often now since it is rare for me to have an empty stomach anytime besides morning (I'm a grazer) and I'm not willing to get up at 4:30am to have enough time to focus on pulling before I start my day. Hope this helps.
Sinus Infections
Posted by Valerie Wright (Toronto, Ontario Canada) on 09/17/2007
★★★★★
Have been oil pulling for 12 days and taking coconut oil for 10. Am thrilled with the results. On the 2nd day of OP my sinuses started to drain (didn't know they were congested) and two days later my lungs started to expel mucuus. Also found that I was sleeping much better and had more energy.Of course, the mouth and teeth felt great. I am taking coconut oil about 3 times a day. It is all absolutely astounding. I just love your site. Aren't we lucky?
Skin
Posted by Candy (Riverdale, NY) on 09/06/2007
★★★★★
I started oil pulling with unrefined sesame oil 2 months ago, the inital results were great. My skin glowed exceptionally well. Then I read Ted's opinion on which oils work best, one of them being refined sunflower oil. I switched to sunflower oil and the results were unfavorable, my skin did not glow at all, as a matter of fact it looked quite dull. I stopped used sunflower oil and switched back to unrefined sesame oil. And my skin is glowing once more. I have been acne free since oil pulling and I've been sleeping soundingly too. I have recommended oil pulling to my sister who's had a loose tooth and the oil pulling has since reinforced her loose molar.
