Why You Should Oil Pull Every Morning

Romany Rose Pope
Aug 22, 2017 · 3 min read

the best thing you can do for your health, as soon as you wake up…

I’ve been oil pulling sporadically for the past few years and I credit it with curing an intense out-of-the-blue bout of acne on my cheeks when I turned 24. A healer recommended I try doing it with sunflower oil, and after a couple of weeks of oil pulling every morning, I saw a dramatic difference in my skin beginning to clear & heal. now it’s my first go-to if I wake up with a sore throat or blocked nose.

okay that’s cool, but what is it?

oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for a huge range of ailments, from gum disease, tooth decay & bad breath to muscle pain, sinus congestion, headaches & allergies. traditionally using sesame oil, you swish it around your mouth for 20 minutes first thing in the morning, pulling it back and forth through your teeth and gums, and then spit it out.

the oil acts as a powerful cleanser, picking up and drawing out the millions of bacteria, fungi and toxins that live in our mouths, and detoxifying the entire microcosmic system of our bodies.

make it a morning ritual and you’ll soon experience the amazing benefits!

coconut & sesame oils taste the best

how to:

as soon as you wake up in the morning, before you even take a sip of water, pop a tablespoon of oil into your mouth and start swishing. you want to catch the bacteria that set up camp in your mouth overnight, so just keep the oil beside your bed and it’ll be easier to remember.

feel free to try sesame, sunflower or cold-pressed coconut oil to see which you prefer. I use coconut because to me it tastes the best, plus has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. I also add a drop of organic peppermint, myrrh & tea tree essential oils, which are great for dental hygiene and taste minty fresh.

let your swishing be natural and gentle. while you’re pulling you can check Instagram, get up and put the kettle on, or allow it to be a sacred time to enjoy morning silence and relaxation. just don’t try to talk to your partner because oil will spill down your chin! your jaw muscles may get tired to begin with, so aim for just 10 minutes to start and build up to 20. and it’s best not to gargle the oil, because you definitely do not want to swallow any of it!

you might notice that after about 10 minutes the oil has thickened & turned cloudy white — that’s good. keep going for another 10 and it’ll become slightly less viscous and thin out. when you’re ready to spit it out, make sure you spit into the toilet or bin, not the sink, otherwise it’ll clog the drain! then rinse your mouth out well with cool water and notice how clean & fresh your mouth feels ~ it’s better than brushing your teeth!

thanks so much for reading ;) if you found it helpful, please give it a clap so more people can see this story and hopefully be inspired to try this healing Ayurvedic practice!

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Romany Rose Pope

Written by

Herbalist, Kundalini Yoga & Reiki practitioner. I write about cacao, food medicine and rituals for living a vital & connected life. Follow me @romanyrose :)

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