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.
Insights and Theories
Posted by Alice (Stonewall, MS) on 05/03/2009
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Canola Oil Should not be used for Oil Pulling. Canola Oil is not a natural oil. It is a genetically modified version of Rape Seed Oil. I would not recommend using it for oil pulling or cooking. Research shows it has a tendency to leave scaring on your heart after continued use.
Also, do not use peanut oil. I was told when I first started pulling not to use it because of the mold it develops after it is picked.
Insights and Theories
Posted by Kittycat (Livermore, Ca) on 04/30/2012
★☆☆☆☆
I would not suggest using canola oil for op or anything period! I was getting constant headaches and congestion and awakening sick and sore and finally pin pointed it to ingesting canola oil, (not OP). In fact, OP with sesame oil was the only thing that would help with the headache. If your feeling icky and dont know why, try eliminating canola oil. This is not easy as they put it in near everything, including so called health food. But once I stopped ingesting it I felt sooo much better. Its one nasty oil, not meant for man nor beast!
Castor Oil
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 03/19/2009 488 posts
Hello Susan, Most castor oil I have seen comes in 2, 4 or 6 ounce bottles which are clearly labeled for oral ingestion, so why would you need one that states food grade when it is clearly labeled to be taken orally for a laxative effect. I agree with the one who stated that the only adverse effect you would likely have with OP with castor oil would be a laxative effect and since you would be expectorating the castor oil it wouldn't be passing through the intestines whereby it causes the laxative action, therefore there should be no laxative effect as long as you don't swallow it.
For me the worst side effect would be smelling and tasting the castor oil because I despise both the smell and taste, even the ones sold as tasteless & odorless. I had too much of the castor oil forced down in childhood, because this was my parents answer to whatever ailed us. Must have been beneficial because most of my siblings are still alive and I am #8 of 10 children and the youngest who is 6 years my junior is now 70 years old. So if you can tolerate the smell & taste, just be sure to spit the used oil out and be sure to let us know what your opinion of it is. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
Agent Orange Poisoning
Posted by Kendra Rose (Haiku, Hawaii) on 08/24/2007
★★★★★
I have now been oil pulling for two months both morning and night. Twenty-eight years ago I was exposed to agent orange here in Hawaii from the pineapple fields. It had gotten into the water supply. I have been ill ever since, I especially suffered from migraines. To make things worse I have heavy metal poisoning that is off the charts.
Two friends put their grandmother's rosaries on me and prayed for me by my request... as I had been feeling so terrible.. kept telling my friends that my blood feels poisoned. That night I found EarthClinic and my prayer was answered. My life has been restored to me. Glory be to Buddha, Marys, Christ, angels and all the Saints! HO!
I have consistent energy. I no longer feel poisoned, my blood feels joyous! I am sleeping so deeply from the very first day I tried it. Now that I feel so good, I understand how deeply sick I've been all this time. My body feels so relieved not to start the day with a toxic overload. A new acquaintance of mine said that since she's known me she can't believe the quality of my skin...
I have tried for over 28 years many modalities, herbal medicines, prescription medicines.. nothing helped me.. I began to feel I was the only person on earth who could not heal... and I'm a healer... I am healing and everyday I am amazed, startled, surprised, delighted that I wake up feeling grrreat! Blessed Be!
Asthma
Posted by Shakti (Chicago, IL) on 11/06/2006
★★★★★
Please post this where asthma sufferers can view it, this is important because I had a hard time finding a cure for asthma on your site but thank God I did. I began a regimen of oil pulling shortly after a lingering cold went to my lungs, I just couldn't get rid of the mucus. I prayed for relief. It got even worse after a chemical pesticide was sprayed in my home for pest control. The next day after the extermination I had the worst attack of my life, I couldn't stand it anymore, so after 10 years of not having to put any poison into my lungs I had to once again use an inhaler to control the attacks. After the second night of waking up feeling side effects of nervousness anxiety and panic I decided enough was enough. I went to the computer in the middle of the night and began hours of research to find a natural cure. That's how I found this miracle of a web site. The next day I went out a purchased some sesame oil and took one table spoon 3x a day at the onset of my asthma attack and Immediately after the very first dose the mucus expelled out of my longs, and within 10 minutes what had plagued me for over 10 years was no more. Since then If I have any tightening in my chest or shortness of breath I IMMEDIATELY do the oil pulling and the problem subsides in 10 minutes or less. ~~~Oh I'd be remiss if I did not mention the side effect, I took oil pulling for Bronchial Asthma but as a result I got a dazzling white smile, sinus relief, not to mention it remarkably helped to subside my symptoms PMS all unexpected but welcomed side effects. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! P.S. thanks my husband thanks you too, lol.
Insights and Theories
Posted by Pamela (Asheville) on 02/02/2020
★★★★★
I've read that it's better to do a sequence of 5 minute oil pulling sessions totaling 20 minutes instead of a single 20 minute session. Reason being that doing shorter “pulls” and spitting avoids the potential re-absorption of toxins one might get from the long pulling session. Makes sense to me! This might solve any gagging problems!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Janine (Perth, Western Australia) on 01/23/2015
★★★★★
I'm not sure how I can contribute to this site. But obviously I can't send a message to you. There are so many people that dont believe this. I am not normally an alternate person but I have been trying this for 3 days only. I was due for a dental appointment but the plaque on my teeth is becoming lesses and lesser. I originally googled this for a throat mucous problem which I have had for 12 years and no doctors prescription has been able to fix. 3 days later my throat feels fabulous apart from being quite dried out which makes it hard to swallow but I just buy lozengers. I disagree with the dentists clean and scale treatment that we have here in oz as I think that it thins your teeth down. I am totally amazed by what coconut oil has done so far. I'm sorry to bother you but thank you.
Detoxification
Posted by Bee (New York, NY, US) on 10/02/2014
★★★★★
Hi Gail ;; (U.S.)
I am oil pulling and the first few days I felt like I had the flu.... Its def. detox or die off symtpoms.. They are less now and I have been oil pulling for a month....A lot of plague came off my teeth... gums are better and teeth are whiter. I use organic safflower oil.
Dental Issues
Posted by Nora (Kentucky, Usa) on 08/10/2014
★★★★★
I tried organic virgin coconut oil for oil pulling which I had never heard about until now and I love it! It actually solved my oral issues when not even commercial mouth wash would, including my toothpaste! Unbelievable, if I hadn't tried it I would not have believed it, but I told myself, (what can I lose, so , I tried it and after about a month to a month and a half, great results, my mouth has totally healed! ) . I even read the website "wellness mama" and the other health benefits of extra virgin organic coconut oil and wow, even changed my toothpaste from flouride to the same mixture on this lady's website to try it out and it works! I am also looking into anti-inflammatory foods and detox foods to aid in better over-all health and flush out the toxins for myself and my family. I've always tried to watch what I eat and eat healthy, but there's always room for improvement. I do what I can, though, given a very tough economy still right now, so this coconut oil pulling is really helping and I think I'll stick with it.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Julie (Clarksburg, Md) on 04/21/2014
★★★★★
I have been oil pulling for approximately one month and my teeth feel wonderful and the cleanest they ever felt. My skin is so clear and my brown spots on my hand and arm are fading. I no longer get headaches. My nasal passages are always clean - no allergy headaches this spring! The arthritis in my knees are so much better. I am also sleeping better. I will continue to do this. Its the best thing ever!!!!!! LOVE IT!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Adnama (Urbana, Il) on 08/07/2013
★★★★★
I first heard of oil pulling about a year ago when I was trying to find remedies for dark circles. I gave it a shot for about a month, ran out of coconut oil, and didn't pick it back up until about 3 weeks ago. Since then I've been doing it twice a day for 20 minutes, with maybe one or two days I just didn't have the time for it. I started it up again because of a mouth sore caused by a decaying tooth. Oil pulling + peroxide + gargling with salt water made the pain go away within the night.
I am 21 years old, 5' 3", and 203 pounds according to my scale today. Since oil pulling, my keratosis pilaris has cleared up considerably. I still have a few bumps but my skin all over has a nice glow and I no longer have the red bumps that gave my skin the 'chicken skin' look. But I did recently have a visit to the beach, and I've always known that salt water + sun calms down my keratosis pilaris too. When I first started oil pulling I had the same effects but it took longer, but with the combined 'treatments' my skin is very smooth.
I've always had a glow to my face since I use the Oil Cleansing Method, but the added effect of Oil Pulling certainly helps too. My stretchmarks have faded, but I've been using organic unrefined virgin coconut oil (used for pulling as well, I got a pound of it off Amazon for fourty bucks, it's lasted me over six months and I still have 1/4 of it left) everytime I get out of the shower for over a year. I'm not sure if it has helped my dark circles. They're hereditary and have always been dark, like I got punched in both my eyes. I suppose I have been using less concealer lately...
My teeth are cleaner, whiter, and stronger. I have a tooth that is beyond being fixed, but I don't have the money to get it extracted. Oil pulling definitely keeps the pain away and helps keep food particles out. My tongue is always pink, my breath never smells bad. But I also use baking soda and peroxide to brush my teeth and tongue. I have a slightly crooked jaw caused by me chewing mostly on my left side do to my decaying tooth on the right side. It doesn't hurt anymore and I'm pretty sure my jaw line has gotten more defined. My left side is also the side that has fillings and the pulling doesn't effect them at all.
I have more energy. I'm really not a morning person but with a new job I started I have to get up around 6:30 am. Without oil pulling I don't think I'd be able to drag myself out of bed.
And since oil pulling, I haven't wanted to smoke marijuana. I actually stopped completely a week and a half ago. I'm not sure if it's because I'm oil pulling or because I stopped smoking weed or both, but I eat less and people have told me my over all appearance looks tighter like I've been working out. I have been walking a lot more, that's for sure. Probably because my energy is up. Yay!
Also, my dreams are a lot more vivid and I can remember them when I wake up. Also might be a side effect of not smoking anymore, but I have oil pulled longer than I haven't been smoking and know for a fact that my dreams started when I began oil pulling. I've probably had more energy because I have been getting a deeper sleep, and I only need 8 hours as opposed to the 10 hours I've been used to!
All in all, I've had a positive outcome to oil pulling and I don't plan to stop. Even if it's just a placebo effect, I definitely feel better and healthier. :)
Broad Benefits
Posted by Jeffrey (Hartly, Delaware) on 06/12/2013
★★★★★
I started oil pulling several months ago, using sesame oil for 20 minutes first thing in the morning. Before I started I had severe flaking of facial skin and dandruff. Since then, the facial skin flaking and dandruff has almost disappeared. Also, before oil pulling, I used a saline solution to clear my nostrils, since oil pulling my nostrils are clear, and there is no need for the saline solution. I recommend oil pulling to everyone. Great stuff!
Coated Tongue
Posted by Miss. Burch (Brooklyn, N.y.) on 09/24/2011
★★★★★
I did the oil pulling with the sesame seed oil because I had a white coating on my tongue for years I could not get rid of and it worked wonders! I could tell a difference the same day I begin using it. I'm now on my third day and my tongue is nearly completely pink. I Love it! After I eat something, I check my tongue to see if the white coating has return and it have not. In the mornings, when I check it, it's still pretty in pinkish color! Again, I love this home remedy! So, thanks to whomever discovered this!!!
Congestion
Posted by Camille (Houston, Tx) on 02/07/2010
★★★★★
Hi! Oil Pulling with extra virgin olive oil cured the congestion in my chest and helped me breathe easier! I was having trouble breathing when I wake up in the morning. I could not take a satisfyingly deep breath- my chest was too congested (I am a smoker, hopefully a non-smoker soon). I read about oil pulling and tried it this morning. I used olive oil this time but I am going to pick up coconut oil later today. I swished a tablespoon of evoo for 15 minutes. As I swished, I felt the congestion in my chest breaking up. After spitting out the evoo into the toilet, i was able to cough up some unwanted phlem, thus allowing me to breathe!!! I am going to keep oil pulling!! THANKS EARTHCLINIC!!
Dental Issues
Posted by Hadessah (Charlotte, Nc) on 09/08/2009
★★★★★
I use 1 teaspoon extra virgin Olive Oil for 15 minutes every morning, first thing.
Oil Pulling has made my teeth stronger and whiter and it is healing a disorder I was going to doctors for nearly 20 years. I've tried all kinds of antibiotics to cure sinusitis. Now after oil-pulling, I feel the pressure in my upper gum, above where a tooth was extracted. Above the bony part of the gum. So I 've had an abcess for two decades. No wonder people stepped back when talking to me. My breath smelled like 20 year old decay.
I developed tinnitis and oil-pulling may eventually clear up all the abcess right at the base of my maxillary sinus, BUT actually above the bony part of my gum where a tooth was extracted in the 80s.
Dry Skin and Hair
Posted by Paula (London, Great Britain and Poitiers, France) on 07/30/2009
★★★★★
health and oil pulling
iam a 58 yr old female in good health. Since my early 40's when i had arthritic twinges (i remembered my grandmother's hooked fingers) i decided to learn about diet and have followed a healthy lifestyle influenced by reading and my own experiences.
I eat fruit on an empty stomach which is so effective that my sceptical husband does it! Also i eat according to my blood type ( i used to have eczema and discovered that tomatoes and potatoes,the deadly nightshade vegetables are like poison to A types)
i like hearing about other aids to health and i have been oil pulling for a couple of months it has helped my dry skin and hair. My theory is that the swishing and the saliva change the oil chemically so that the full goodness of it is taken up by the body. I clean my teeth carefully afterwards with a natural toothpaste then sip a large glass of filtered room temp. water (i do it once in the morning immediately on rising). I use 1 12 tsp of organic olive oil and will try walnut tomorrow.
My mother who is 81 also has found great benefit from it; she has followed my health ideas and is on no medication (she hops and skips about showing up many people who are years younger than her), Isn't it incredible how many people think that bad health is 'dropped on them from above' rather than the terrible high sugar, junk fat, high carbs diet that the advertisers 'make them eat.
Insights and Theories
Posted by Christinej (Surprise, Arizona, Usa) on 07/09/2010
Canola oil should not be used for oil pulling. I agree with this comment 100%. I have researched Canola oil and it is bad stuff.
Insights and Theories
Posted by Amy (Mentor, Oh, Usa) on 04/19/2011
True, Canola is "Canadian Rapeseed" abbreviated. Also sadly true that much of what we have easy access to is genetically modified, but by doing research, knowing our grower/rancher, we really can avoid most of it. That's how I do sleep tight.
Insights and Theories
Posted by Douglas (Md) on 08/19/2013
No canola oil is not at all healthy. It is one of the main causes of diabetes. When using canola oil it takes 6 months to undo the damage from 1 serving of this nasty oil. It places an artificial fat wall around your cells walls that disrupt the electrical balance of your cells. This fat wall then does not allow glucose to properly penetrate. This knocks your pancreatic cells out of whack which produce Insulin and causes blood sugar imbalance. You can fix this in about 6 months if you cut out all canola oil as well as all margirin and vegetable oil. Buy a bottle of cold pressed Flaxseed oil and a bag of ground flaxseed. The ground flaxseed has to be used as soon as its introduced to the air because it goes rancid very quick. The flaxseed oil must have the top secured at all times and kept away from heat and light. Mix 1 table spoon with 2 tablespoons of 4% milkfat cottage cheese. Or you can double the amount depending on how hungry you are. Mix very well. Take this mixture and add in 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed. Mix well and you can optionaly add cinnamon for blood sugar balancing(it mimmicks insulin) and apricott or organic fruit of your choice. Eat this 3 times per day. This diet is known as the budwig diet and it reverses diabetes as well as cancer. Avoid taking vitamin C when using this diet at least 3 hours before or after eating. The flaxseed oil mixes with the fat of the cottage cheese in a way that makes it become water soluble. The oil then can bypass the liver and directly bring oxygenation to your cells and organs through your blood stream. Your diabetes will be reversed within 6 months or less if you eliminate all bad fats especialy canola, margerin, and vegetable oils. Also if you can get organic cottage cheese that is the prefered type to use. God bless and good luck to everyone. Sending light and love out to all that read this!!!!!!!!!!
Insights and Theories
Posted by Dee (Mountain West USA) on 05/13/2022
GMO involves lab insertion of unnatural genetic material into the 'host' seed or animal - In the early stages of this experimentation, news articles were full concern from chefs about the prospect of people with shrimp allergies dropping dead in their restaurants due to the insertion of shrimp genes into tomatoes. They wanted labeling. Labs create 'Roundup-ready" soy which will tolerate overdosing of Glyphosphates. Same with BT corn - able to kill the borer, and also'ready' to tolerate incredible overpoisoning with chemicals. But people then eat of this stuff. And the evidence continues to mount about the deleterious effects of eating these foodlike substances.
But GMO experiments went way beyond that. By now you may have read about their implanting of human genes into wheat, spider genes into goats, etc.
Anyone who still believes the industry's marketing hype about GMOs being no different from products of 'natural selection' has not done their own research.
Castor Oil
Posted by Susan (Oshkosh, WI) on 03/18/2009
Hello everyone! I have become addicted to the site like everybody else. I have a question about oil pulling. I made it through five pages and did not see anything about food grade Castor Oil. I kept thinking about the Cayce remedies and his great results for many ailments using Castor Oil. Has anyone tried it? Does anyone know of a reason it should not be used for oil pulling? My intuition keeps telling me to try it, and I believe that we are often led to the right thing for ourselves. To everyone who is working on healing themselves, don't give up! If one thing does not work for you try again and again. In the trying you reinforce the "health"vibration around you. You are not alone in your seking and all of us who read your posts are pulling[no pun intended] for you and with you!
Addiction, Smoking
Posted by Leighroy (Stockport, Cheshire) on 01/05/2009
★★★★☆
Having spent the whole of the festive period wallowing in my own self pity due to a severe case of the flu, which I shared with the rest of my family, I was fortunate to find your website in the search for a remedy for my affliction.
I became engrossed in reading at least 10 pages of post's relating to "oil pulling" and its benefits. Being probably as sceptical as most are when they told that a tablespoon of oil swilled in the mouth for 15 minutes could change your life. I decided that I had nothing to lose and that I might even benefit.
Wooooooooow!!! the following day, my fever had subsided leaving me with just the "snotty congested remnants" of the flu - I kept an open mind as I had consumed several cloves of garlic that night and had enough "flu remedy tablets" to put a whale to sleep. The following day however I felt optomistic about the whole affair and pre breakfast treated myself to another bout of OP.
THe reason for my post is to give a huge thumbs up for the benefits of this treament which if nothing else has boosted my enthusiasm for life. More importantly I gave up smoking after my second treatment due to the fact that the taste of the tobacco was no longer pleasant. I have managed to remain a non smoker for the last seven days which is the longest I have been without tobacco for 27 years. Prior to OP I had absolutely no inclination to quit and rather enjoyed it smoking at least 10-15 per day.
I am in no way saying that OP will make you stop smoking .......but for at least 7 days it has been the driving force behind my new found love of fresh air. Each morning I use 1 tablespoon of cold pressed olive oil as I cant seem to source sesame. I swish for 20 minutes before rinsing out with a solution of 1tps rock salt/1tps bi carb soda and 8 oz water taking care to lightly brush everywhere.
As such I would recommend OP to everyone and have done so. I would be interested to know if there are any other documented cases where OP has directly contributed to a smoker giving up. Thanks again and yes my teeth are whiter but that may just be the absence of tobacco. I have also found that I need less caffein and have hardly touched alcohol but again this may be due to the flu residue or just the fact that sub conciously I am making a real effort to stay healthy.
Whatever.... OP for life
