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 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.
Triggered Black Spots on Tongue
Posted by Marie (Houston, TX) on 06/22/2009
About a year ago i started oil pulling with seseme oil but after a couple of weeks I noticed black spots had appeared in clusters on my tongue. This seemed to be the only side effect, apart from that it had the desired effect. I stopped oil pulling until a couple of weeks ago (now with coconut oil) and so far, the black spots have neither increased or reduced in appearance. Any reason why the black spots appeared and whether or not they will spread? I love the benefits of oil pulling but i am too vain to walk around with a black tongue.
Dental Issues
Posted by Ophelide (Montreal, Canada) on 06/21/2009
★★★★★
After a night of web-search to avoid antibiotics for a dental abscess, found this site ! In addition to ingestion of a few drops 4xday of oregano essential oil, I started Oil pulling with coconut oil. Within 3 days, the inflammation was reduced by 80 % and no more sensitivity - The 4th day it started again to pulse and I switched to Sunflower oil, twice a day during the week-end. It has been now 2-weeks I began oil pulling and all seems OK by now - I have a dental appointment next week and I hope not to need a root treatment ! In addition my gums look healthier as well as my skin. Very grateful for the helpful information and testimony.
Safflower Oil
Posted by Pam (Durango, Colorado) on 10/05/2010
Lumps, not visible, on tongue. I have one, too, and was so happy to read the article before this re' meridians tied to areas in the tongue. Now I assume it was only a cleansing thing because it's gone.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Cc (Brooklyn, Ny) on 01/30/2011
Hi the cracks in your tongue is definitely fissured tongue. The sensitivity/raw tongue could be geographic tongue. Are you a smoker? Or do you have allergies? I would cut back on the op a bit Also I would take some probiotics. That always helps me with my geographic tongue. Oh stay away from salty spicy foods until it clears up.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Robin (Atlanta, Ga) on 09/14/2009
Hey Michael, just curious about how the coconut oil is still working for you and how much do you use on a daily basis?
Broad Benefits
Posted by Steveplc (London, UK) on 05/28/2009
★★★★★BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I have been oil pulling once a day for 4 months now. I feel on the one hand it is doing marvels. I am a smoker and drink a bottle of wine most evenings, but i feel oil pulling is really giving my lungs a clearout. The first thing as i spit out, is a really good loose cough 9sorry disgusting i know). I never used to cough and i had a tight chest (part anxiety), i think the cough is good as better out than in. As with most on here the teeth are whiter, skin etc. but as i've been doing so long now i am noticing it reaches other part. I have felt a sensation where i used to get stomach ulcers when i am pulling, not pain, just a sensation that tells me its kinf of "massaging, curing" that bit.
On the down side, my thyroids (well i think they are thyroids, just below jaw)and other throat glands are swollen and i have a permanent sore throat and almost feel i've had a cold for 3 months. I realise OP is mucous related so its natural all this mucous areas are sore or swollen. And i've noticed my thyroids during and after pulling are rock hard. They soften a bit after but remain swollen. No pain though, the only pain is sore throat which developed 4 weeks ago and comes and goes. Also getting very gunky eyes everytime i wake up. I thought i may have hay fever, the pollen this year is enormous, i've never had problem with hay fever but they say many this year are getting it who didnt before.
I am going to stop for a few days now just to see what happens. In some cases i've read, if you get a problem with OP, pull through it, keep going. But i just feel a few days off for observation will be good.
You are welcome to email me direct re your comments. Thanks
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?
Side Effects
Posted by Joy (Sydney, Australia) on 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.
Side Effects
Posted by KL (Omaha, NE) on 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.
Broad Benefits
Posted by K (Sacramento, CA) on 05/20/2009
★★★★★BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I have been oil pulling for a few months - alternating olive and sesame oils. Gums have tightened up and sinus drainage (heavy at first) has decreased. Energy is good.
However - since doing this my face breaks out, around my chin, cheeks and hairline. I am also using ACV, starting in the same time period..
Could the breakouts be caused by the oil? or by the vinegar?
Are there remedies to fade the dark scars left by the healed broken out spots?
Broad Benefits
Posted by Openlyhappy (Mcdonough, Ga) on 02/24/2010
I was reading your thread on breaking out in the hairline. I read somewhere that oil pulling can help with demodex. Could you have demodex and be getting better? you are breaking out in the proper locations for it? They say when it gets worse it is actually getting better.. just a thought.
Side Effects
Posted by DGF (Sedona, AZ) on 05/20/2009
Can anyone tell me if op is safe for veneers?I have only done it twice and it seems it might be loosing the bond of my teeth.
About Oil Pulling
Posted by luckylouie (Ocean Grove, VIC Australia) on 05/19/2009
★★★★★
The reason oil pulling would be more effective done on an empty stomach is because digestion uses a lot of the body's energy. A large proportion of the blood is directed to the centre of the body after eating to help with digestion. Think about how tired you feel after a big meal. The blood is not circulating as freely and therefore oil pulling will not be as effective. However you don't have to do it first thing in the morning. As long as it has been an hour since you drank anything and four hours since you ate anything, you can oil pull anytime of the day. I personally do it before dinner. I normally have lunch around 1pm and don't eat dinner until at least 6.30pm which leaves plenty of time for digesting my food.If you don't have enough time to oil pull in the morning, try this instead.
Dental Issues
Posted by Rainidaze (Lakewood, CA) on 05/11/2009
★★★★★
Coconut Oil Pulling: I used 1 tbl of CO 20 minutes in the morning first thing for a week straight then on and off for 2 more and I am amazed that I have no more morning breath or mid-day yucky mouth any longer after 2 days and my teeth are even whiter than before. My mouth always feels fresh teeth very dentist clean. So glad I found this site. Thanks so much!
Insights and Theories
Posted by Larry (Fairfax, Va) on 08/19/2013
Reply to Douglas, MD: I found your comments very valuable, especially re:diabetes. To overcome the ill effects of using canola oil, you recomended following the Budwig Protocol. You mention mixing flaxseed oil with 4% min., milk fat content cottage cheese; but my researching of the Budwig Protocol shows that lower milkfat content cottage cheese is optimum (eg, 2% fat content cottage cheese or Quark). The lower fat content cheeses allow the flaxseed oil to become more water-soluble, enabling it to more easily enter the body cells.
Heart Issues
Posted by Pam (Ooltewah, Tn) on 05/01/2009
★★★★★
oil pulling and heart: I ran into OP one morning while getting together my sunday school lesson. For some reason my finger hit a site about acv which i take and happen to mention op I thought what is op. I looked it up and bought my sesame seed oil and began. The acv has helped me tremendously but the op makes me feel like I have a new heart!! I could not lay on my left side because i could feel my heart trying to push blood like it was having a hard time and when i would get off the acv for a long period of time my heart would just do weird stuff and almost where i almost faint. I am amazed by op i can lay on my left side and my heart feels like its brand new!! Op at first made me feel so tired for a few days but that left also at first i had a bad taste in my mouth but it left after a few days. Let me know if anyone else have had my symptoms!!!
Dental Issues
Posted by Renate (Parrish, FL, USA) on 04/24/2009
★★★★★
Nancy, Change your oil. Try cold pressed organic (or expeller pressed) sesame oil or Safflower oil. Everyone can react differently to different oils. Our (my husband) gums are much better from OP. My husband's previous dentist (we changed) would not do a cleaning and told him he needed $1,000 in root planing etc. I told him he had to do the oil pulling for 3 months and then go to a new dentist and see what they have to say. The new dentist did the regular cleaning and they could not believe how clean his teeth were. He has to have a little gum work done, but all in all I was very impressed with the results. It was 10 months since the last cleaning. My dental checkup showed a lot of improvement with my gums as well showing pockets that are now 2 and 3 and a few 4. Big improvement. Thank you Earth Clinic and everyone who took the time to write about their experience.
Oil Pulling and Dental Fillings
Posted by Lee (Rochester, NY) on 04/21/2009
Oil Pulling - just be careful if you have fillings (silver) in your mouth, as the oil pulls that as well. I had these in (4), since I was 7 and 30 years later after pulling, I had to replace 3 of the 4. When it says it pulls ALL TOXINS OUT, they are not kidding.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Trish (Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada) on 04/19/2009
★★★★★
I have been oil pulling for seven days now (first 3 days with EVOO, and the last 4 days with cold pressed sesame oil). Today, after oil pulling, washing my mouth out the with baking soad, sea salt, and warm water combintion, I immediately brushed my teeth with olive oil soap and flossed. In addition, I scraped my tongue (with a metal scrapper) which I don't do too often. Well, after I had done all that I blew my nose and was shocked to see blood coming out of my left nostril! I have never experienced a nose bleed in my entire life (40 years old). Do you think I just blew too hard or is this a cleansing reaction from the oil pulling?
I too have experienced some positive results ever since oil pulling: my chronic bad breath is much improved; my arm pits don't stink anymore; and an old injury in my left arm resurfaced (with pain for 2 days) only to be now healed hopefully for good. I know I have a long way to go to cleanse my entire body. I always thought that the only true way to remove toxins quickly was by fasting, but I am so happy to have now found another way of doing it (while still enjoying food)! Thank you so much Earth Clinic and a big thank you to all of the people who have posted their feedbacks, as I found their comments enlightening. Best wishes to everyone on this site.
Side Effects
Posted by Betsy (NYC, NY) on 04/16/2009
Oil pulling tooth fell out. Has any one had anyone this happened? Husband is 84 and has been OP for about 2 weeks.
