Oil Pulling
Health Benefits

Oil Pulling: Unlock Natural Oral Health & Detox Benefits

Side Effects

73 User Reviews
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Posted by Jen (New York City, Ny) on 03/27/2010

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I have been oil pulling for about three weeks now, 1 tablespoon daily, alternating between expeller pressed organic sesame oil and coconut oil. I have had some significant improvements (dark circles under eyes fading, gums stopped bleeding), but am greatly dismayed by the fact that my skin (especially my face and hands) have become wildly oily.

I had normal skin before starting, and now I cannot go more than half an hour after cleansing without oil sliding down my face. I wear makeup to work and it becomes blotchy after a few minutes. Halfway through the day the hair around my face has been saturated with oil (my scalp itself doesn't seem particularly oily - yet). I have to constantly wipe my hands as it is coming out from my fingertips. I also notice that my feet seem to be coated in oil, creating a film on my skin and causing foot odor that has ruined a pair of shoes.

I understand that the oil getting into the skin should be beneficial, but is there anything I can do to prevent this horrible side effect? I cannot go out socially after work, or unless I have recently showered because I am so greasy from this. I am worried the excess oil is going to cause acne/blackheads.

I've tried taking a few days off and that seems to help a little, but the second I go back to it the oil fountain kicks up again. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Replied by Gus
(Missoula, Montana)
03/28/2010

I would not pull with coconut oil.....the other one should not be a problem.


Side Effects
Posted by San (Delhi, India) on 03/12/2010

I started OPing 3 weeks back. Within 3 days of oil pulling with sesame oil I had severe reactions as in my Blood Pressure dropped considerably, had a feeling of extreme fatigue and felt some pain in my chest. I took it as healing crisis and thought of continuing with OPing but because of lowering of BP i had to stop it. Within a week i was recovered of the symptoms and felt comparatively fresh and energetic. Now, since last 5 days I have started OPing again with saseme oil I can notice whiter teeth, but now I have started gaining weight. Believe it or not in last 4 days I have gained around 2 kgs. I am sure its because of OPing as my entire lifestyle is same as before. Has anyone else experienced this side effect?


Side Effects
Posted by a37 (Los Angeles, California) on 03/11/2010

I have been oil pulling for a month. Started with sesame oil, than sunflower oil. It reduced my appetite. Yesterday I purchased Coconut oil. The results were unpleasant. I think I am allergic. My eyes puffed. My head felt dizzy. Nausea, and disorient. I used one tablespoon, with each oil. I did not experience discomfort with the other oils I used. Has anyone else felt this way with VCO?

Replied by V
(Portland, Oregon, Us)
09/24/2010

Allergy to coconut is extremely rare; hardly any cases have ever been reported. Your reaction, esp. dizziness you mention, may have to do with the antifungal properties of the oil, with yeast and possibly toxic metals. Yeast "helps" the body by ingesting toxic metals and storing them out of sight of your body. Check out http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com for more info on yeast and mercury. I know the dizziness well - have been detoxing since April and have just learned about OP. Will try soon and start with Sesame. Hope this helps - good luck :-)


Side Effects
Posted by Claudia (Skania, Sweden) on 03/05/2010

Hi, am hoping you can help me. Started oil pulling with extra virgin olive oil - and, horror of horrors one of my very old silver fillings fell out. I have not had a cavity in years; I do however, still have silver fillings in some teeth. Should I still continue oil pulling? Or possibly wait until I replace my silver fillings? This may take me some time as the procedure is quite expensive. Can anyone advise me? Is it perhaps the EVOO usage? Should i use sesame oil instead (as prescribed in Ayurvedic medicine)? HELP!! THANX SO MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WEBSITE..

Replied by Cag3db1rd
(Tulsa, Oklahoma)
06/13/2012

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.


Side Effects
Posted by Mira (Oshawa, On) on 12/11/2009

Oil pulling and Celiac/IBS

Hi there,

I am glad I have found this site last spring. I started oil pulling in February March this year and I stopped doing it when I became gluten intolerant in late spring. I was overwhelmed with all my symptoms and what to do about them. Anyway, I am now back to oil pulling for the last 5-6 days. I do it in the morning for 20 minutes sometimes more and sometimes twice a day. I love how my mouth feels after oil pulling.

But I am a little worried because I started having soft stools and diarrhea for the last 2 days. I wonder if my oil pulling wasn't what triggered my IBS this spring too. I don't know if that's because the oil is pushing my system to get rid of the last bits of gluten too. Anyway, after going gluten free in the summer, I was getting back to normal and having between 2-3 bowel movements but this morning by 12am, I already had 3 and around 1:00pm it was about 4 BM! I don't know if it is because of the cosmetics I use too.

I would appreciate feedback from anyone and specially those with gluten intolerance.

I use sesame oil and it says unrefined, organic and traditionally pressed and filtered. When I was researching on oil pulling and found this site, sesame was the oil that most people recommended.

EC: Hi Mira, would you kindly tell us what oil you are using? Thanks!


Side Effects
Posted by Simon (Guildford, Surrey) on 11/27/2009

I have been OP for 11 MONTHS now hoping for some relief from severe coeliac disease problems. I am at present crippled over with stomach pain and feeling as though I need the toilet all the time but it brings no relief. My hope is that OP will clear my system and maybe let my body start to heal itself, as I have been suffering severely with coeliac disease for years now.

I am 20 years old, and this is blighting my life and I am desperate for help.

Could this be OP? Im a bit frightened.

Simon

EC: Can you please tell us what oil you are using?

Replied by Mira
(Oshawa, On, Ca)
12/11/2009

@Simon from Guildford

Simon, I don't think oil pulling can give us relief from going back and forth to the washroom! I am pretty sure it has the opposite effect but I think maybe that's how it cleanses the system. Read my post from today. I am back to oil pulling after I stopped during the peak of my gluten intolerance problems. I remember when I started having IBS in the spring it was just after (maybe one month maybe less) starting oil pulling. I was very diligent with oil pulling as I find that it is a very easy technique to incorporate into my schedule. And now after a few days of oil pulling, I am having some symptoms back like itchy skin and I am having difficulty to fall asleep.

My guess is that oil pulling precipitates the process of cleansing gluten from our system. In the spring, maybe it was the trigger to something that was already there but that I had no symptoms for. Let's not forget 50% of celiac people have 0 symptoms, others have less than the typical celiac.

I am no doctor but maybe you should interrupt oil pulling until you at least get rid of all gluten in your food and get back to oil pulling 2-3 months later. I am back after 5 months. It is just a suggestion.

Replied by Kitkat
(Macon, Georgia, Usa)
12/21/2009

Simon, try deleting all breads/sugar and milk from your diet, all refined foods, basically for a while stick with vegetables, fruits and meats. give it a few weeks to see if it gives you some relief. Kathy


Side Effects
Posted by Tonytz123 (Granite City, Il Usa) on 11/05/2009

I tried doing the oil pulling but it made my gums on my front lower teeth hurt and got real sore, its been over 10 days and my gums still hurt, I have never had gum problems before, what could have went wrong.. Tony


Side Effects
Posted by Elvira (Cairns, Qld, Australia) on 10/28/2009

hi, i have been doing OP for about three months now. And when i have a one or two day break i've noticed that i get blind pimples on my face. why is this?


Side Effects
Posted by Vishwapurna (Kalpakkam, Tamilnadu, India) on 10/25/2009

I was doing oil pulling from May, 2009 and I did not have any problem till the midnight of September, 26th. I felt my bed room is whirling. Since then I have been diognised the following problem : Left maxillary sinusities, cervical spondylosis and hypothyroid (TSH:6.25). As soon as I get up there will be palpitations.Once I take coffee, it will increase. While walking there will be an unbalance and I feel I am about to fall. There is a terrific mental depression. While lying on the bed on the left side there will be whirling feeling. My left knee joint developed a pain. My doctor advised me to stop oil pulling. After oil pulling for five months, I have stopped oil pulling from October 1st. Now I am taking medicines for hypothyroid and sinuousities. Can anyone tell me the symptoms are the side effect of oil pulling (after five months). Any body got the same symptoms after five months of pulling?

Anybody's hyphothyroid, sinusities and cervical spondylosis with the same symptoms got cured after oil pulling?

EC: Hi Vishwapurna, can you tell us what type of oil you were using to oil pull with? Thanks!

Replied by Charles
(Jacksonville, Fl)
10/25/2009

I got the same symptoms from an inner ear infection, called otitus media. I laid on my back and hung my head over the side of the bed, and filled up my sinuses with 50% H2O2 and Distilled Water. When sinuses are filled the rest will go to the inner ear. was cured in two days...

Replied by Ted
(Bangkok, Thailand)
11/01/2009
392 posts

Side effects of oil pulling... I don't believe in regular oil pulling. I believe in a balance between oil pulling and pulling oil. The pulling oil is the taking of granulated lecithin to reduce excessive oil buildup in the body. The other thing is some people with hypothyroid may have low iodine levels, in which case 1-2 drops of lugols solution and 1-2 drops of SSKI (potassium iodide), in a cup of warm water or even a liter of water should resolve some hypothyroid in about month. It helps to take 1000 mg of vitamin C for the body to better utilize the iodine, and vice versa.

Replied by Tashimoto
(Vancouver, British Columbia)
12/11/2009

I don't know if this is mentioned in any of the many oil pulling entries here, but it just might be very important. The site: http://www.curezone.org/forums/am.asp?i=110881 states: Dr. Karach has recommended only refined oil. This has been used by millions of people with wonderful cures and accepted in practice. Regarding unrefined oil there may be ingredients injurious to the body and its taste, color and smell may not be agreeable. It may cause or induce vomiting sensation in some people. Since pesticides and insecticides are used in crops, it is possible that trace elements of such poisonous chemicals are not only harmful to health but also carcinogenic. Since refined oil is colorless, odorless and tasteless, such a situation would not arise. I therefore suggest do not use unrefined oils for OP.

Replied by Lavender
(Seattle, Usa)
01/05/2010

Tashimoto,

using organic unrefined oils should eliminate the concern of pesticides and insecticides.


Side Effects
Posted by Mi (Solana Beach, Ca) on 10/17/2009

Hi...i thought while doing op you can't do other things...however, in this article it said people are doing op while taking shower or shaving...so I am really confused..

Another thing is that while I am doing op every time, after 15' or 20', the oil in my mouth got very thick, not watery like it's described in your article. I am a dialysis patient also and my kidneys failed right after my 2 major surgeries in 2007 & 2009. I also has problem w/ high blood pressure.

The sad thing is, I am only 39 years old, happy, active, eat healthy food, exercise regularly but still got all these problems. Please help me. Thank you.

EC: Mi is referring to the instructions on OP found here: https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/oil_pulling.html#INSTRUCTIONS

Replied by Lisa
(Thousand Oaks, Ca, usa)
10/18/2009

Hi Mi,

I read the instructions but don't really see where it says not to do anything else. I know you aren't supposed to eat before you do it. I have been oil pulling successfully now for almost 3 months on a daily basis. I can't do it without some other activity to keep my mind off it. I find if I focus on the oil it makes me want to gag and sometimes I have to run to spit it out! I know that's a little crazy but, if I distract myself with reading earth clinic while doing it or reading email or gardening, etc. I'm absolutely fine and even find myself at 1/2 hour when I'm really concentrated on something. I have not had any negative side effects from this only positive. Also, I noticed in the beginning my oil didn't thin out that much but now it does. Perhaps, it's part of the process. Not sure, just a thought. Give it a try again if you can and let us know if you see a change. You sound like you have it very together outside of the kidney issue. Good luck...

Replied by Summerhaunt
(Licking, Mo, United States)
10/15/2010

When you first start oil pulling the oil may start out a little thin, then it will get thick as you swish it around (it varies each time as to how thick... Sometimes not much, sometimes alarmingly thick), then it may thin out. When it starts to thin out is when you want to spit it out. Many people believe that when it's getting thick is when it's "pulling" the bad stuff out, and when the thick oil then goes thin is when it's full of the bad stuff so it's time to stop swishing. I have noticed the days when I do have it get thicker is when I'm feeling more yucky and toxic, and I feel much better after my swishing and spitting it out.


Side Effects
Posted by Julie (Leverett, Ma Usa) on 09/01/2009

I started OP about ten days ago with 1 tblsp of Safflower Oil for twenty minutes in the AM. I had no side effects except for a mild tummy ache after every pull. Within a week, I noticed that I was sleeping so much better. This is huge since I am always battling with sleep issues.

After reading testimonies from this site and talking with my friend who OP, I decided to try Coconut Oil. I did this one time, before bed, with 1 tsp. of VCO and I had a huge reaction! I woke up at 3AM with great pain in my neck, back , arms and feet, and my stomach was hurting. I also felt very anxious. It's hard to believe that I would have such a reaction, but there is no other explanation.. I have stopped OP for a few days, because I feel so terrible still. I even feel slight nerve pain around my face. It makes me think that I was triggering a heavy metal detox with the OP.

Has anyone else experienced such a strong reaction? I really want to get back to pulling with the Safflower oil, since this felt so healthful to me, but am afraid to start again with this pain in my body.

Thanks!

Replied by Sue
(Greenville, Nc)
09/04/2009

I have been OP with 1 T. sesame oil and also taking coconut oil - 2 teas/ 3 x day as a supplement (not OP with coconut). The OP has been fantastic, however, ingesting the coconut oil has caused some pretty intense detox reactions. Since it has such excellent antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties, I suspect your symptoms are related to the release of toxins from these organisms as they die off. I've experienced heavy metal detox symptoms with the sesame oil OP, but they've been manageable with the addition of a oral chelator or metal binder like charcoal, zeolite, etc. My brain feels much clearer, I have more energy and the mercury staining on my gums has decreased greatly. Try using a different oil, like organic unrefined sesame for a while before using coconut.

Replied by Becky
(Springer, Oklahoma)
12/16/2009

In response to a possible heavy metal detox, which sounds very plausable, chlorella is one of the top ones for metal detox. When you start with high doses, one can actually see/feel the metals leave one's body in b.m.'s You can also have your hair tested for metal toxicity.


Side Effects
Posted by Sarah (Hackensack, NJ) on 07/01/2009
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Hi, My hubby's been Oil Pulling for the past one week and now his Uveitis seems to be getting worse. He hasn't had this kind of pain in the past 5 years. His eyes look red, inflamed and he is in pain and discomfort. Does Oil Pulling trigger Uveitis flare ups?

We started oil pulling around a week back, I am feeling really good, active and my complexion has also improved but my hubby's facing this problem. Please help.


Side Effects
Posted by Emma (Budapest, Hungary) on 06/21/2009

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I've been oil pulling every morning for a couple of weeks and my sinus problems have totally cleared up. However, for the past 4 days, I've had a bloated, painful abdomen. I've eaten nothing out of the ordinary. Could this be an effect of the oil pulling? I swallow a couple of times while I'm doing the pulling, but only from the back of the throat.


Side Effects
Posted by Helena (Nashville, TN) on 05/27/2009

Help! Has anyone had bad tongue reactions to oil pulling or other types of cleansing? I've been using OP for more than a week, and I have these red, raised, sore bumps on the back of my tongue. Is this cleansing?

EC: What type of oil are you using? Possible that it's rancid?


Side Effects
Posted by Mary (Edgewood, Kentucky) on 05/22/2009

I tried this today - but could not get past the gag reflex - I did not gargle - but merely put in the mouth and swished around the teeth. I gagged - and threw up - any advise?

Replied by Joy
(Sydney, Australia)
06/06/2009

I had the same problem and found just breathing deeply and keeping the oil away from the back of your tongue in the first few minutes is important. Also the oil used - I tried Extra Virgin Olive Oil and couldn't even smell it. I found a good Organic Coconut Oil and since the smell isn't bad or 'oily' it's better. After a couple of minutes it's easier as it's not so thick and is more watery. I think with me anyway the 'thick' oil made me gag.

Replied by KL
(Omaha, NE)
06/07/2009

I had the same problem when I first OPed. I found that if I just let the oil rest for a min or two and found something to do and didnt think about it I did much better. I would do dishes, read, watch tv. The time goes by much quicker and you forget about it. It gets easier each time.
Dont give up it is definatly worth the benefits you will get from it.



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