★★★★★
I have a question on oil pulling. I have been suffering from an inner ear infection (or at least that's what I was told) for about 7 months now. I think I've tried everything! Tried the meds the docs/ENTs gave me but they didn't work - my condition is now beyond the acute phase and is chronic. I have two major symptoms: a rocking/imbalanced sensation....and a tightness and suffocated pain in my right ear (the affected ear). I have other mild to moderate symptoms - like tingling and nerve pain but I generally try to ignore them. I had many tests done and all came back normal. However, my upper cervical and lower back are slightly misaligned so this may be causing some compression in terms of healthy nerve flow. I don't feel at a loss - thank God for maintaining faith and hope - but I would like to restore my balance and eliminate the pain in the ear. I feel like the ear is not getting enough blood flow and because the ear houses the balance organs in the body - I surmise this is why I am still dealing with the imbalanced sensation (ie. not enough nutrients and oxygen getting into the area). I've recently seen a nutritionist/ND who is helping me fix my diet and treat other issues but I wanted to know if anyone has experienced a similar issue to mine and saw good results with oil pulling. I actually tried it today for 10 mins w/ coconut oil and it did decrease the pain in the ear - in addition to helping my sinuses drain out (this part really amazed me!) - also important to note - the ND told me he believes the infection may have stemmed from some blockage in my sinuses and that by clearing out this area, I would be in a better position to attack the virus. Well, I did want to say that after immediately doing the OP - and coughing up whatever mucus that came out - I walked around for a bit and did notice that my balance felt a bit more stabilized. Just an observation but definitely worth taking note of. Your thoughts are appreciated. :0)
★★★★☆
At the first I had globs of yellow then green stuff, then clear.
Today when I did the OP I had a lot less drainage, and I noticed I could already breathe some more deeply I was able to do it for about 4min.
With sinus problems I would not do OP in the Evening or before bed, the sinus needs time to drain. I can see problem with drainage getting into inner ear at night, plus drainage back of throat into the lungs. I have the Netti pot and other nasal rinse, these will not stop the flow of drainage for me, I use it after I quit draining so much after OP to rinse the sinus some.
I have suffered much these past few years with allergy and sinus, with little help from Doctors, they tell me they can not help me, that I have allergy to everything...
The sinus pain has been so bad the past 2 years, that I Have tried several things, the latest thing I was trying for sinus pain in my face, nose. Was to use Epson Salt soak, this is not a lie, the pain was stronger than pain meds. I was getting my meds at Pharmacy and I happen to see the Epson Salt and I thought Hey that is good for pain in foot, I might try and soak my face.
Well I worked out a way, I put 1 cup of Epson in Plastic container and fill almost full with warm water and add a couple drops of liquid soap to make the water wetter so it will soak me better. I purchased a small plastic Snorkel and use it when I put my face in the Epson water to soak my sinus. I do this for about 10 minutes and raise up my head out of the soak maybe 2 or 3 times, my first soak was maybe 2 or 3 minutes.
If I want to slow down or try and stop my sinus from draining I splash cold or cool water on my face for awhile, cool water kinda seals the sinus some, where warm water for me seems to increase the drainage, But with OP I want the drainage as I feel my sinus opening up some..
I will watch and see your outcome with coconut oil as I have many friends in the Philippines and Coconut Oil is abundance there.
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
I have been oil pulling with both organic cold pressed sesame oil and organic cold pressed coconut oil.
First thing I noticed was how white my teeth became after about the 3rd or 4th pull. Yesterday I became extremely tired and took a 3 hour nap. I slept extremely hard and woke up very refreshed. I felt like I could breath better. Like there was more room in my chest to breathe. I also noticed last night that my nasal passages shrunk. They opened up, like they had been swollen all along and I hadn't noticed.
But what is really weird is what happened when I went running today. I sweat profusely. I mean I sweat like I did when I was a kid. I was dripping. Even my legs where sweating. Another thing I noticed was that my hair was greasy by the end of the day yesterday and my skin is softer. When I was a kid (am 36 now) my hair would be kind of greasy by the end of the day. But as an adult I have had very dry hair and skin. Also my heels have been cracked and nasty for a long time. Today I noticed that there is a completely different texture to my heels. They are getting soft! It's incredible! I feel like oil pulling unlocked something. Maybe some glands or lymph nodes have been blocked or something. Who knows, but I feel great! Am going to keep doing this!
Oh, and I notice that the coconut oil makes me salivate much more than the sesame. Can't imagine why though. For some reason I am drawn to the coconut more.
★★★★★
Congestion
Dental Issues
★★★★★
Side Effects
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" !
If the detox effects of Coconut Oil is too strong switch oils.
Side Effects
Side Effects
I did a test first with VCO to see how I would react. I made 2 eggs for breakfast one day before work (big mistake). I used about half a teaspoon. Hour 1 I was fine. Hour 2-3 my tummy rumbled and cramped quite painfully but bearable. Hour 4 was a loose bowel movement. After that I was fine. This experiment told me I had some detoxing to do from what was most likely a candida reaction.
From there I took it slow and just used externally, almost daily. I use as all over lotion/moisturizer(even rubbing around eyes--though not at first). I laid off the VCO a day or so if I had symptoms appear such as sinus or acne detox problems. It was around the end of month 1 before I started eating and OP with it. I believe I did another egg test before I tried OP again. My face did get worse before it got better. I also have been using turmeric capsules for acne this whole time--i still broke out--can't imagine how bad it might have been if I wasn't taking turmeric multiple times a day but no more than a teaspoon a day. I am now about 2 months into this routine and acne is gone less one here and there. I hope this helps those new to CO. Take it slow and enjoy its wonderful benefits!
Insights and Theories
★★★★★
Congestion
★★★★★
Dental Issues
Dental Issues
1. One tablespoon of granulated lecithin a day.
2. No oil pulling for now.
3. Take 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda twice a day or three times a day.
An apple cider vinegar should always have 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda added to neutralize the acidity. Otherwise it will cause burning tongue. Usually a burning tongue or acid mouth is caused by the body's need for more potassium bicarbonate or potassium citrate, which usually neutralizes the acidity of mouth quite fast. A baking soda will require more time, but the apple cider vinegar may aggravate it.
If there is any better alternative to oil pulling (O.P.)without any problems then it is alway the P.O. (Pulling Oil) remedy, which usually the use of granulated lecithin to remove the excessive oil accumulation, usually not from oil pulling itself, but from generally high dietary oily and fatty foods. Any addition of any oil may have broke the camel's back. The effects of Pulling Oil reduces excessive fats and congestion in the liver, while baking soda is supportive to liver function.
Ted
Dental Issues
Flu Recovery
★★★★★
Side Effects
04/16/2008: Peter writes: "Coconut oil side effects:
1.In the first few days of using coconut oil as a massage oil, it is often the case that the body develops a "sand type overlay " noticeable around the abdomen.
2.When this first happened the reaction was, "how did that sand get into the clothes?".
3. But when it happened to another person, we wised up and realised that it was a salt extrusion from the body and not sand even if it felt like sand.
4. So its a cleansing side effect that occurs in the first few days. After that period it is not longer noticeable.
5. If somebody is experiencing an itching side effect, I would say that that is a side effect of salt extrusion which will disappear as the amount of the salt extruded becomes less."
Side Effects
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
You are doing a good thing with the oil pulling...so don't stop. I also had amalgams for 1.5 years when I was o-pulling and did not have this reaction so I think you had a deep rooted infection that is surfacing which is good. The o-pulling will also attract and remove some of the mercury in your system.
Hope that helps.
Side Effects
I have been oil pulling for a little over a month now. I have had the SAME reaction as you. My top left gum behind my back molar was under excruciating pain and my top right gum was also under pain (although not as much). I think that the oil pulling for some reason or another caused "trigger points" in the back of my top molars. I went to the bookstore and read everything I could about pressure points and inflammation and came across a book called the "Trigger point therapy workbook" by Clair Davies. The book is based off the studies of Dr. Travell and Dr. Simmons. It has proven to be extremely beneficial in relieving the facial pain. You basically massage the trigger points out. I'm not sure if the trigger points are what caused the pain in your mouth or not... but they definitely were in mine. Check out the book if you get the chance.
Also, I think I am going to switch from Coconut Oil (although it is improving my skin dramatically).. to Sesame or Sunflower
Side Effects
Congestion
★★★★★
However, do not oil pull without at least 3-4 hours after eating and 30mins after drinking anything. This is also mentioned elsewhere. Please follow the instructions meticulously. One thing i noticed is that the amount of time you swish it in mouth depends on how stuffed you are. If you are good, oil takes a while to liquify and if you are stuffed, it liquifies quickly and you can feel it thinning.
This also helps me manage my allergies and I stopped using the sprays and now i am on accupucture treatment to completely get rid of these problems.
If you have that feeling of phlegm stuck in your lower sinuses even with oil pulling, you may want to use netipot. Use kosher salt and warm water. That should give you relief for atleast 24 hours, free of any stuffing what so ever. There are advanced techniques with neti pot (drug stores call it sinus rinse) which can effectively clean every part of sinus over time. Good luck!
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
Hi there, I don't think I read what kind of oil either of you are using, so there is a possibility of a reaction or allergy to the oil being used. I also have lots of head/chest congestion because of allergy, but have no problem with using EV olive oil. Try switching to a different oil and see if that helps with your aches & pains.
I do have the answer to the Lecithin granules. They are taken internally - just stir them up in milk, juice or water & drink them. My preference is buttermilk.
Side Effects
Side Effects
EC: Please read Ted's posts re: lecithin here: https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/lecithin.html
Dental Issues
★★★★★
I'm a smoker and I have several crowns and an inlaid bridge, and these types of porcelain teeth do not respond to typical whitening methods at all.
The first time I tried oil pulling, I could actually see the difference after one 10-minute session and folks have commented on how much whiter my teeth look. In a week I noticed improved gum color. At my last dental check, my dentist wanted to know what toothpaste I was using, because I barely had any tartar (needless to say, he was incredulous when I said I had stopped flossing, which I have never been good at anyway). He also commented that my gums not only looked great, but had actually improved.
I simply can't stand the taste of sesame, so I mix it with either safflower, sunflower, or flavored olive oil. Teeth are then brushed with a good castille soap (soaps made with oils rather than animal fats) which does NOT taste soapy, by the way, then rinse with a little salt water. I am brushing my teeth only slightly more than normal -- twice a day for two minutes after oil pulling, and then a quick scrub with toothpaste just before I go to bed.
Other folks I know who have tried oil pulling have also remarked about the improved appearance of their teeth as well as improved oral health.
Oh....just make sure you don't spit your (now somewhat hydrogenated)oil down the sink drain or toilet or you'll be calling in the plumber or septic guy. And be careful NOT to swallow!
Side Effects
Side Effects
Dental Issues
★★★★★
Dental Issues
Within one month I was in soaring pain with my first Root Canal. Thank God I found a good dentist in Los Angeles because what was soon to come would have been unbearable! In the last four months I have had 3 more root canals! With very little money as a single mother for over 16 years my teeth had been neglected. If your teeth are not in perfect shape: Do Not Oil Pull. You'll be sorry. Instead, find yourself a reasonable dentist and try to get caught up on your dental health.
A friend of mine with perfect teeth and in excellent health tried it for three weeks and saw no results at all.
Good Luck to everyone.
