★★★★★
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
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!
Side Effects
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.
Broad Benefits
★★★★★
I've worn nail polish most of my adult life and, therefore, have yellow nails. After oil pulling for several months, the yellow disappeared. Now that's amazing. Additionally, without prompting, my dental hygienest asked if I was doing anything different. She said I know you drink red wine but you hardly have any stains whatsoever. I go every 6 months for cleanings. I also believe the dark circles under my eyes are much less noticeable. No one ever says... "you look tired." like they did before.
Lastly, to those of you who have asthma, I did too for about 15 years. Chiropractic fixed that. I had an x-ray which showed an old back fracture and my alignment was terrible. After about 9 months of treatment several times a week, I decided to stop my daily inhaler. Very nervous doing so. CURED. Chiropractic cured me. That's all I can say.
Hope this helps.
Sinus Infections
★★★★★
Detoxification
★★★★★
I mostly use sesame oil, peanut oil, and sunflower oil: Once per day, one table spoon in the morning, before breakfast, 5-7 days a week. I have found that it's very important to rinse the oral cavity and tonge with baking soda/salt in warm water, and brush all of the same area - including the tongue, after applying just a little baking soda and salt on the toothbrush.
Basically, my opinion is that oil pulling is one of the very best ways to stimulate the body's natural healing abilities, and that includes detoxification. 15-20 minutes in the morning of oil pulling regularly, while taking a shower or shaving or ... - is one of the wisest things we could to, healthwise.
★★★★★
I started oil-pulling with Sesame oil about 3 months ago. It took a little while to get used to 1 whole Tablespoon of oil for 15-20 minutes, but I just did my normal morning routine while oil-pulling. I have not had to take any prescription allergy medications that I usually took at least a few times per month or when pollen counts were very high in my area. I oil-pull every morning when I wake up without fail and find that I have increased energy and no allergies.
Side Effects
