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.
Vitamin E Added
Posted by Ll (Odessa, Tx) on 10/12/2010
★★★★★
I have had an abcessed tooth for about two weeks now. I tried several of the cures on this site, and they all seemed to help a little. I decided finally to try the oil pulling this morning with sesame oil, after reading some of the theories here, I know they are basically sound, having studied pharmacy. I learned there that your mouth is easily one of the most bacteria-laden parts of your body. The stomach lining is porous, which is why alcohol is so quickly absorbed by the body: it simply goes straight through the stomach lining into the blood stream and throughout the body. If this is true of alcohol--which is a poison if not used in moderation--then it can easily be true of pretty much anything that goes into the stomach. And, of course, we swallow some saliva with everything we chew, so if there are bacteria hanging out in it, it could easily pass through the stomach lining and out into the blood stream, where it will swiftly be carried to the rest of the body. And--boom! --you have all the makings of a systemic infection (systemic is just pharmacy talk for anything affecting the whole body). Knowing from my studies and my own experience how great vitamin e is for so many things--you could call it a systemic vitamin, since it affects pretty much every part of the body when ingested--I thought, "What would happen if I added e oil to the sesame oil pull?"
(Honestly, you folks are all so obviously knowledgeable I was surprised to see no one had thought of it yet. This is some site, and I am impressed with a great deal of what I am reading! )
I used the one Tbls of sesame oil and added one capsule of 100 units vitamin e oil. Oh my God, that felt good on my gums! The longer I used it, the better my gums felt, until I had no pain at all by the end of the pull. I did have some pain coming back after, but I rinsed my mouth with some ACV and water (the baking soda I brushed with still had not got all the oil out of my mouth) and that cut the remaining oil and soothed my mouth enough that a little pain medication allowed me to sleep. I woke up a few hours later to find the swelling was significantly reduced. Will continue the oil pulls tomorrow--I think I will up the amount of vitamin e. I'd also be interested to know how it works for anyone else who decides to try it? Thanks guys: this site is great!
Vitamin E Added
Posted by Zsaqwe (Brownsville, Texas) on 10/12/2010
I just started with oil pulling. Thanks for the suggestion to add vitamin E. I am in. I will start and see what happens. Thanks
Dental Issues
Posted by Dee (Dublin, Ireland) on 10/12/2010
Hello, I have been oil pullling for 7 mins before bed for 5 nights and have found great improvements in this short space of time. I have a lot of amalgam fillings, root canals and crowns and there is no way I can afford to replace them. My question is this: Is there anyone on this site that has amalgam fillings, root canals and/or crowns that has NOT had problems with them when oil pulling? I would really appreciate hearing from people who have NOT had problems. Are there any people who could reassure me?
Thanks
Dee
Dental Issues
Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 10/12/2010
Hi Carly and Dee, I did oil pulling for a few months last year and have a mouth full of fillings and two caps. One is gold and one is porcelain. I didn't have any problems at all with any of them while oil pulling. Perhaps, the problems were pre-existent for those who had trouble and the oil pulling brought light to that. By the way, the fillings are from when I was quite young and the gold cap is from when I was about 12 and the porcelain about 3 years ago. Hope this helps in your decision to try this procedure.
Dental Issues
Posted by Dee (Dublin, Ireland) on 10/13/2010
Hi Bessie, Thanks for your answer, I feel better knowing that and would love to hear from even more people still. Thanks to you all, Dee
Dental Issues
Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 10/13/2010
Hi Dee, In regards to my fillings, yes, they are silver amalgams and they are over 40 years old! Strangely enough, my fillings have held just fine over the years but, two of the teeth have crumbled off around them! Thus, that is why I have the one porcelain cap. The other tooth I just left alone because it is the very back one and doesn't bother me. Honestly, I don't think oil pulling will do anything to your teeth in a negative manner. Hope that helps.
Dental Issues
Posted by Kylie (Whitianga, New Zealand) on 06/26/2013
I've been oil pulling on and off for about three years (thanks to Earthclinic) and didn't know till today that you weren't supposed to do it if you have amalgams. I have one amalgam, one cap and have had no issues to date. I had an implant put in last month in Thailand - which has already broken, but that was due to my bite rather than oil pulling. I did stop oil pulling for a few weeks after the tooth was put on though as the implant felt pulled at with the swishing - I guess the jaw was not used to any kind of pressure or movement since the actual tooth was removed some years prior. I'll continue to oil pull as I really don't think it's anything other than beneficial. I alternate between olive oil and coconut depending on my mood. I think olive oil whitens better and you can spit it down the sink (yes, I know you're not supposed to!).
Dental Issues
Posted by KT (The Usa) on 07/07/2013
I have been looking for a reason not to OP because of amalgam filings. What is the harm? I've been OP for awhile and I don't think I recognize any problems. Are there certain early warning signs?
Dental Issues
Posted by Yoli (Fontana, California) on 04/07/2014
I have the same question about porcelain crowns. I have several of them. I have been oil pulling for around a year now and I don't want them to fall out or start to come unglued. Any help with this would be appreciated! Yoli
Detoxification
Posted by Tech Man (Western Nc) on 09/29/2010
★★★★★
I started oil pulling with coconut oil 2.5 months ago with great results. Plaque disappeared from teeth, gums stopped bleeding after 2nd day, intestinal health improved, much better digestion, etc. The only die off symptoms I experienced were a mild candida die off in my throat and tongue, which wasn't severe at all. The other day I decided to try Olive oil. I read that by most accounts, coconut oil seemed to have the most die off reactions so I expected the olive oil to be mild in its effect. Well, after pulling with EV organic olive oil I had a healing reaction with the most die off I've had in years! The symptoms were intense intestinal duress, swollen glands and throat, body aches, extreme fatigue, severe flu, fever. This was hiding in my body and remained unaffected by the coconut oil. I will continue pulling with olive oil until the toxicity is gone. It seems that in my case, switching to another oil flushed out some unhealthy life forms living with me that the coconut oil did not affect. After these symptoms disappear, I will test out another oil to see if there is anything else lurking there. If you are interested in cleansing your body of toxicity, I highly recommend trying different oils after any die off symptoms subside. Also, for those new to cleansing, make sure your organs of elimination are working properly and assist them with herbal formulas so the toxins that are stirred out of hiding do not get reabsorbed. Three areas of focus that come to mind are the liver (coffee enemas help dramatically), kidneys, and colon.
Headaches
Posted by Tasha (East Coast, Usa) on 09/23/2010
★★★★★
Oil pulling for headaches
I wanted to try oil pulling just for laugh and giggles. It seemed to be such a cheap and effective detox. I always wake up with headaches. I have insomnia and I grind my teeth terribly, all contributing factors Im sure. Usually they subside after waking, sometimes they stay with me through the day. Oil pulling with Virgin Olive Oil for 2-4 minutes(yes white and thin already) eliminated these headaches after a minute or two. In fact, I felt great after doing it. It was only after reading about the sideffects of OP on tooth fillings did I quit. I only did it for a few days. I really, REALLy hate that I had to stop. But I have metal fillings and am in need of 8 new more and cannot risk them being harmed by OP. I do, HIGHLY recommend oil pulling.
Detoxification
Posted by Maria De Suecia (London, United Kingdom) on 09/15/2010
★★★★★
I started oil pulling 3 days ago, 3 times/day, using Cold pressed Sesame Oil. I eat well and do Bikram Yoga 4 times/week and I run a couple of times per week. I don't drink and I don't smoke. I drink plenty of water with, always with apple cider vinegar for dinner, and I take Virgin Coconut Oil for my underactive thyroid. So I am doing what I can to stay healthy. Anyway, I think I must have a huge bladder because no matter how much water I drink (quite a bit daily) I rarely have to urinate, and I NEVER have to go during night.
This is what happened the night after oil pulling day 1: I had to go and empty my bladder twice! No, I did not have more or less water/tea/juice than usual. This is unheard of in my case. The 2nd day I had to urinate frequently throughout the day and the same went for day three. So I began googling "frequent urination" and read that it is a classic detox symptom. Ha! Is what I say to all narrow minded cynical sceptics. Morover my teeth have never been so white and I feel more mental clarity, more refreshed upon waking up. I'll keep doing this to see where it will take me!
Detoxification
Posted by Chris (San Antonio, Texas Usa) on 08/04/2011
This may be a little late to post, but I assume the detox is occuring. When your body has toxins that are ready to exit, it uses the liquids that you ingest to expel the toxins. Once the detox becomes less prevalent, you will notice the urination to go away.
Broad Benefits
Posted by L (San Antonio, Tx) on 08/30/2010
★★★★★
This is my 4th day of oil pulling 2x a day. After the 3rd day my bad breath was gone. Ive been suffering with this for 2 years despite flossing, brushing and using mouthwash regularly. I had hemorrhoids and the itch and yellow discharge is almost completely gone. I felt the clearing of sinuses and I've noticed a distinct diminishing of the taste for cigarettes. If this were all there was to gain it would be fine. But I'm looking forward to seeing benefits from oil pulling in my neck and low back spine injury as well... Yea!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Jan (Harper Woods, Mi) on 03/28/2012
Your reply is a bit confusing, maybe explain what your lab results were.
I too have tried oil pulling in the past, I used Sunflower oil since it had a very mild flavor and it seemed less strong in taste then the sesame seed oil did. I didn't stay with it long enough to experience results. But after reading through many of these posts I have decided to give it another try. I chose to use Coconut oil this time, since the taste is milder. I'm on day 2 now, and will commit to doing it twice a day for 20 minutes. I have gum issues with my teeth and have a continous bad taste in my mouth, so I'm hoping the oil pulling will resolve this.
Detoxification
Posted by Ibiza (New York, Ny) on 07/20/2010
I've been oil pulling for almost two weeks now. I use 1 Tbls. Of Virgin unrefined VCO. I do it first thing in the morning after I clean my teeth but before any food. I read about it here and also read several people's testimonies about cleansing crises. I didn't think I would have one because, prior to oil pulling, I had been on a simple cleansing diet for two months, composed only of organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans, teas and water. However, I have started a crisis. Let me say that, after about 5 days of doing it, I started to have slight pain while urinating. It felt like the beginning of a bladder infection. It cleared up in about 3 days without doing anything special. Afterward, I also noticed that my urine felt "heavy, " and maybe slightly darker. Mind you, I was drinking a lot of water. I just felt like toxins were being eliminated. Yesterday, during yoga class, I noticed that my perspiration tasted different. It actually burned my tongue a little and I had to wipe my mouth! I also attribute this to toxins being eliminated. I take a lot of yoga classes and sweat sometimes gets in my mouth. It's normally slightly salty and not gross at all. But the biggest thing that happened is that my heat sensitivity issue shot through the roof. I had several sweating spells when I just could not stop sweating almost all over my body. It felt like a seizure almost. (I've never had a seizure but I imagine you feel very much out of control). I was working in a tight space and it was awful! I'm lucky to have found a great natural deodorant that worked fantastically but it was still a nightmare. Before I realized that it was a healing crisis, I was so depressed, thinking that I was going backwards. I have been dealing with hormone disruption for over two years due to exposure to toxins that stopped my period, caused hot flashes, which turned into heat sensitivity. Now that I know what the crisis is, and that my body is really cleansing a lot, I feel much better about it. Still, I am going to have to slow the cleansing down. I just can't have sweating episodes. I'm going to not do the OP two days a week when I have to go into work. I also just started alkalizing my water with drops. I imagine that my system is very acidic from the toxins. Becoming more alkaline must help. I am also going to switch to sesame oil, the traditional oil used for OP. I did a lot of reading and I think it's the one I need, even though I like the VCO.
I also started taking a tsp of VCO in the evening. I read that it is really good for high cholesterol and thyroid issues. My theory is that my immune system has been compromised by allergens, both natural and artificial. As a result, my liver is working too hard and my endocrine system has been challenged. I know that my hormones are completely crazy. My inner barometer is broken. I feel like my heat sensitivity is due to that and is also a response to allergens which are not being dealt with efficiently because my liver is overworked. I know that thyroid and cholesterol issues run on both sides of my family. This bad smelling and toxic sweat, I believe, is really a secretion brought about by high cholesterol. Lipids are being excreted through my skin and they contain toxins that are being carried out of the body. The sesame oil will help internally and also externally as a nightly massage. I am going to try scrubbing my skin periodically with baking soda because it actually itches a little (I guess from the toxins) even though I use a peppermint castile soap. The liver produces cholesterol when it can't get it from dietary sources. I'm not sure but maybe VCO and sesame oil ease the production of these lipids by the liver. Eventually, I will also take a tsp of sesame oil daily too. I will report back about the progress!
Broad Benefits
Posted by Joyce (Indiapolis, In) on 02/04/2016
I suggest for you to look up Candida infection it is cause of chronic illness. Earth Clinic has a good write up on using borax to detox from it. Candida is liked to ms, fibromyalgia , and a list of numerous other issues. I had issues from antibiotics and chemo. Started having joint pain head pressure and panic attacks I went to ER 5 times within 2 months to be too nothing wrong. Then I found an article on borax and using it to flush it really helps. I was real sick for a week. It was the die off, I later learned.I'm beginning to feel better. Just read about Candida and the antibiotic syndrome.you will learn a lot.
Edema, Eczema
Posted by Jim (Charlotte , Nc) on 05/16/2010
★★★★★
my oil pulling regimine
I use both olive oil and coconut oil togather.(1 tsp ea). This seems to be very effective.My swish time varies from 10 to 20 min. depending on my tolerence for a stong herx, that day. It is clearing up a 4 year problem with leg edema/eczema
jim
Ganglion Cyst
Posted by Swanny (Swansea, West Glamorgan, United Kingdom) on 05/08/2010
★★★★★
Oil pulling with virgin coconut oil cured my ganglion cyst - I was oil pulling to help my receding gumline...the ganglion cyst (which I have had for many years and was very unsightly) was a complete and unexpected bonus.
Ganglion Cyst
Posted by Swanny (Swansea, West Glamorgan, United Kingdom) on 05/08/2010
★★★★★
I started Oil pulling with coconut oil about three weeks ago, mainly for receding gums. I haven't actually noticed any improvement yet there, although my teeth are now really white and my gums do look nice and pink, but the main thing I wanted to say was that my unsightly ganglion cyst (with which I have suffered for many,many years) has vanished. Previously I had been bashing it with a bible to get rid (I've also tried red clay mud and huge quantities of ACV with tumeric that made me quite ill).I have been putting cocnut oil in my daily porridge instead of butter (only about 1 tsp per day), and it's obviously done the business.
Well pleased.
Sinus Headaches
Posted by Chattvol (Cos, Colorado) on 04/27/2010
★★★★★
I've been Oil pulling for about 5 weeks with coconut oil. I use about 2 teaspoons in the morning and let it melt in my mouth. I've worked my way up to 17 minutes in the mouth. The most immediate change is I no longer suffer from almost daily sinus headaches. My teeth feel cleaner but unsure if they are actually whiter. My skin feels not as dry. Just the change in my sinuses is enough for me to continue. Do you guys change your oil every few months and do you oil pull more than 1x per day? Thanks
Triggered Keratosis Pilaris
Posted by Calmfire (New York, Ny, Usa) on 03/30/2010
BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
Hi all!
I have been oil pulling for about 2 weeks now. Two times a day, a tablespoon at a time. I have been using virgin coconut oil. My teeth do feel cleaner, they don't look whiter yet, but I'm hoping that that will come. My gums no longer bleed when I floss, yay! I have experienced some side effects. I developed a sore on my gums about two days into it, but it went away. And then about a week into it, I developed a really bumpy, tender and itchy rash on my forearms. It didn't occur to me that this might be from oil pulling because I am using new bed sheets, but I thought to google it tonight and apparently I'm not the only one who has developed the same type of rash from pulling with virgin coconut oil...I think that it's called Keratosis Pilaris. Their thoughts are that it might be yeast being pushed out of the body. I'm treating the rash on my arms with coconut oil and cortizone right now...will update if anything else happens.
Dental Issues
Posted by Atul (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) on 03/11/2010
★★★★★
Hi, I'd like to provide some background info first. My grandmother died at 90, all her teeth were intact and she never visited a dentist in her life. My father at 65, one tooth had to be removed otherwise no dental work. Both of them rubbed a mixture of mustard (rapeseed) oil and white rock salt on their gums. Besides this like all hygenic Indians they rinsed their mouth after every meal. This meant the the tiny bits and pieces at breakfast seldom rotted till night.
I on the other hand have had severe problems with teeth and gums. I took to the grandmas recipe, but found my gums were feeling inflammed so I stopped it.
I tried OP using sesame oil and have found that it does not irritate my gums.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Maria (Clarkesville, Georgia, Usa) on 02/27/2010
★★★★★
Hi there,
I used to use triple refined sunflower oil to oil pull with outstanding results for about 2 years. I recently moved to the US and couldn't find sunflower oil at the grocery store so I tried triple refined Peanut oil instead. I read one of the posts that said that peanut oil was dangerous since mold often grows on the peanuts that are used to make the oil. Is this true? I must say the quality of the peanut oil is really good and it has a clean, neutral taste.
Also, I quit oil pulling for about 3 months last year and all the symptoms of my ailments like stiff joints, yellow stained teets etc, returned 10 times more intense than before. So, just remember, once you start oil pulling, there is no turning back!
Kind regards,
Maria
Broad Benefits
Posted by David (Pasadena, Ca) on 04/02/2011
I highly doubt that all these testimonials are "placebo effect, " especially since so many of them had already tried other remedies without success (why didn't they have a placebo effect with those?). I've just started this treatment (yesterday), so I can't say anything about its effectiveness. But I can say that everything I've read says at least 10 and more often 15-20 minutes. If you've been doing it 4 minutes, you may not be getting any significant therapeutic effect (like gargling with Listerine for 15 seconds won't kill bacteria while 30 seconds will). As far as "toxins reabsorbing"--that sounds a little farfetched to me--either the oil "pulls" them out or it doesn't. It can't pull them out and then let them go back in, can it? Anyway, I don't think ayurvedic medicine says anything about this idea of reabsorption--maybe if you really overdid it, but I think you should try 15 minutes 2x a day before you decide whether it works for you or not.
Skin
Posted by Craig (Round Lake, Il) on 02/02/2010
★★★★★
I just started (4 Days)the 1 teaspoon of coconut oil in the morning, with diabetes the first thing I notice is that my skin became smooth like I have been putting lotion on. No longer dry and scaly, I think it is the coconut oil.
