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.
Side Effects
Posted by Stellams (Kuwait) on 01/03/2018
I have been oil pulling for a couple of years now but not sure it has made any significance to my overall health. However, I was just about to open a new bottle of sesame oil and decided it was time to research, ie to see if it was still worth while doing it!
It was then I not only discovered I was doing the wrong process - using the oil like a mouth wash, ie rinsing and spitting out straight away - but also read that one of the side effects was stomach pains and diarrhoea, something I have been suffering intermittently from for the last two years.
I have tried to put the stomach pain and uncontrollable diarrhoea down to a particular food, to no avail. Then I read the research on oil pulling, but if I wasn't doing it properly then would I have this digestion problem?
My question is this, if I give the oil pulling a rest, of say a week or two, then try doing the proper 15/20min version, would it work, ie would I feel the real benefits of oil pulling or wouldn't it make a difference, ie would I still suffer from digestive problems?
I would appreciate any opinions on this.
Stellams
Side Effects
Posted by Holly (Atlanta, Ga) on 08/16/2014
I have been oil pulling with coconut oil for almost 5 days now. On the evening of the second day I started a dense headache that has increased slowly and has now turned into a full blown migraine by the 5th day!! All week I did not take any OTC pain pills but I had to take something for the agonizing migraine. My question is, is this normal? My detox is horrific! I hear and read all these stories of how great people feel, I feel I've been hit by a bus! I want to continue OP, I'm am seeing positive results with skin and teeth but this detox is killing me. Do you have any words of wisdom?
Side Effects
Posted by Maxine (Guayaquil, Ecuador) on 06/20/2014
Hi all. My local supermarket, here in Ecuador, has started selling Sacha Inchi "extra virgin" olive oil. I'd never heard of it before. Has anyone any experience of the oil or the seeds? I used it for the first time yesterday to oil pull and the detoxing effect was higher than when I've pulled with sunflower oil or virgin olive oil. Headaches, flu type symptoms, etc. I will, however, continue and see what happens after I've finished the bottle. Thanks in advance.
Side Effects
Posted by Liz From Atlanta, Usa (Atlanta, Georgia, Usa) on 05/10/2014
I have a question about oil pulling. The benefits sound great and I really want to do this, but I can only hold a teaspoon of oil in my mouth for 1-2 minutes and then I start gagging and retching. I'm so glad I followed the advice to do this on an empty stomach! For the first week I used olive oil because that is what I had in the house, but then I bought some organic unrefined sesame oil and still I gag and retch. I've now tried 12 times and can't get beyond 2 minutes. I busy myself with with getting ready for the day to take my mind off the swishing, but that has not helped. So my question is, how can I overcome gagging and retching? Please advise.
Side Effects
Posted by Baaarb (Sumter, Sc) on 07/20/2013
My daughter and I started oil pulling about a week and a half ago. I have various health issues. Interstitial cystitis (aka painful bladder), heart disease, high BP and high cholesterol, allergies and arthritis, migraines. We use coconut oil to pull and I was hoping to feel better... Instead I have been really sick with the worst migraine ever and we both have this itchy rash. My daughter said she is stopping the oil pulling and I am wondering if I should do the same? My sinus did seem better, but now I have even more medicine to take (benedryl) because of the itching. Can you tell me what to do?
Side Effects
Posted by Blistered (Chicago, Il) on 02/27/2013
I tried oil pulling for the first time this morning using Meditteranean blend oil, which contains soya, sunflower and extra virgin olive oil. I did this before eating and drinking anything. I swished for 20 mins. , then rinsed with warm water, brushed my teeth and drank three glasses of water. It is now evening and I now have blisters in my mouth. Never had them before. Has this happened to someone else? Am I swishing too long, using wrong oil?? What can I do to avoid getting blisters. Thank you!!
Side Effects
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 12/28/2012 2048 posts
I too get bad breath from O.P. It must represent the condition of some type infection or toxin in the body. I use mouthwash before and after O.P. , and also take 1 grm Vit-C before and 3 grms MSM after O.P. I also swish H2O2 occasionally to reduce the yellowing of the teeth.
Side Effects
Posted by Farra (Duncan, Oklahoma, Usa) on 12/27/2012
I tried OP for the first time yesterday with pure virgin olive oil. Healthy with no known disease just wanted to try it. I was only able to do it for 5 mins. My partner said my breath was terrible the rest of the day, into the night. She even claims that when we woke up the whole room smelled a little "rotten". This morning I did more research and tried again, 20 mins. I rinsed with salt water after and brushed (I did neither the day before). I read through so many post and seems no one experienced bad breath AFTER, is this strange? I could only think it must be doing something if a tiny bit of olive oil is making that big of difference. Any thoughts or suggestions, should I discontinue use?
Side Effects
Posted by Oilpuller (Toronto, On,canada) on 12/03/2012
I have done oil pulling in the past, but never was a regular oil puller... I have been in good health, with no major complaints and had excellent immune system.
Since beginning of this year... Life has kind of been on roller coaster ride, fractured bone, death of family member, a miscarriage... Kind of have taken over my health and to add to that, something I kept ignoring until last week, white discharge from gums from couple of places... I was hoping it will go away on own.. but it persisted.
After visit to dentist... He said, most likely one of the lower front tooth will have to come out and I did not like hearing that, Came home and started oil pulling with coconut oil with few drops of oil of oregano... Feel my gums are bit better but the infection is still there, going to dentist tomorrow for cleaning (after 3 long years) and hope he will see some improvement.. plan to pull after the cleaning.
The biggest concern now is... I woke up today and felt like I was hit by a bus... Extreme fatigue.. Forced myself to work... Not able to concentrate... Want to sleep. With a toddler at home, hard to get any rest until its time to hit the bed... I had flu last week... And the cough and cold are still there. Should I switch the oils or continue and hope things will improve...
I want to know if someone had similar symptoms which subsided and got benefits...
Side Effects
Posted by Vero (El Paso, Tx, Usa) on 08/22/2012
I started OP just a few days ago to better my oral hygiene and also for help with my allergies. I'm starting with coconut oil because I am currently breastfeeding and wanted to start slowly with something mild then work up to the sesame/sunflower oil. What I've noticed these past few days is my teeth are whiter and my sinuses are draining but also I notice I'm experiencing panic attacks and feel a bit light headed at times. I'll continue to OP because I read a worsening of symptoms is a sign of being cured but are these symptoms "normal" or should I switch oils? Also I do feel completely drained and can't afford to with a toddler. Can I expect these symptoms to go away and if so, how soon? Thanks in advance.
Side Effects
Posted by Stella (New York) on 08/07/2012
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I started oil pulling with organic VCO. I followed the procedure and even did the 5 minutes ted recommended instead of 20. My skin looked great and my gums started to improve but about a week after, I noticed that my teeth were sensitive. It was as if my fillings were loosening. I had to chew slowing and avoid sugar, even xyitol. After I stopped pulling, most of the sensitivity went away. Has anyone else experienced this? I'd like to continue but not if my fillings are going to loosen.
Side Effects
Posted by Betsy (Northampton, Northants, England) on 05/23/2012
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I am on my fourth day of OP with Coconut oil and since day 3 I have had a really dry mouth. This is not something I have ever suffered from before. I am drinking about 4 litres of water a day. I am ok when I eat something but about an hour later I am really dry again. Has anyone else suffered from this because I have read a lot of posts and not come across this side effect. I have also come out with a very spotty face which I am hoping is just my body detoxing. On the plus side I have much less hunger and don't crave any sweet food at all, most unlike me.
Side Effects
Posted by Mgws (Dover, New Hampshire, Usa) on 05/23/2012
I tried it for awhile and found the same dry mouth thing and took it for a "yes, I should be drinking more water" phenomenon. I stopped OP because it was inconvenient--shame on me? I only personally knew of one person doing it and I suppose I needed more encouragement/confirmation.
Side Effects
Posted by Dorothy (San Francisco, Ca) on 03/31/2012
I've been oil pulling for five months, and I've noticed an increasing heart rate, which got up to around 95 bpm at the most. Usually my heart rate is around 65-72 bpm. I've felt increased energy and have lost weight, even more than I would like. After my heart rate shot up, I quit OPing altogether for a about a week and a half and am now OPing every few days. I realize that I could be going through a healing crisis, but how long do these crises usually last? I've had difficulty sleeping and feel very fidgety frequently. I don't understand it. Can anyone shed light on this? I want to continue OPing, but I don't want my heart rate to be out of control. I'm nearing 60 years of age. Thanks for any feedback!
EC: Hi Dorothy, what type of oil are you using?
Side Effects
Posted by Dane (Portland, Or) on 03/31/2012
I have a similar question, I'm a 26 year old male in very good health, but ever since moving back to Portland, OR (cloudy wet and rainy) 3 years ago I have had sinus congestion and seasonal allergies pretty badly (I struggled with these issues as a child here as well throughout the grey winters and into spring). I started oil pulling and am now on day 7, the first four days I had really red eyes and heavier bags than usual every morning, which I assumed were detox symptoms and now the past three days I have had an increased heart rate with palpitations upon any activity, restlessness and minor abdominal pains. I have been taking some organic food-based vitamins with probiotics and making sure to drink plenty of fluids and electrolytes, but don't want to overconsume any minerals. Are these normal symptoms?
I have been alternating sunflower and EVCO every morning.
I feel great every year by the end of summer so I think there may be some sort of seasonal deficiency that I suffer from, but I wanted to get on top of this if I am going to live here any longer. Should I keep OPing? Are symptoms I am experiencing very unusual?
