Oil pulling anyone???????

[scozzy]

Hey All,
My wife has just got some coconut oil to help with her tonsolitis.........shes going to try a method called "oil pulling" which basically involves swilling said oil around your mouth for 20mins or so in the morning to "pull" out toxins in your body...............apparently it goes all milky and white & you spit it out when its done its job etcetc....Never in my 40 years have i heard of such a thing so i do a bit of digging and apparently it is great for Arthritis...apparently!?..............So having PA I wondered if it might be beneficial and so I thought if i threw it out to you guys has anyone any reviews or experience of trying this ?
I'm a natural cynic on this type of stuff but hey..if it works & all that..............anyone?

[niceman]

Seriously?  When I am swilling mouthwash, I struggle to keep it up for the recommended 30 seconds without getting tongue, cheek and jaw ache!!  Just can't imagine swilling anything round my mouth for 20 mins.  Would be interested to know if it works though

[Gav74]

Well if someone here insisted that it worked I might be tempted, but really?

It goes all milky and white because it's oil; and oil mixed with water (or spit) turns into a milky white emulsion. I'm not saying that it doesn't pull toxins out (I would bet quite heavily against), but the milky-whiteness has nothing to do with it.

Sometimes I wonder if these hard-to-believe miracle cures aren't all a load of rubbish made up to take advantage of people who are so desperate for relief that they'll try anything.

EDIT: I might even be tempted to try it for tonsilitis. At least it's almost believable that something in it might have a natural antiseptic that might help, but pulling toxins out? Really?
Nothing personal scozzy, just my sceptic ramblings.

[scozzy]

thanks guys for input,I'm right with you on the "oh....reeaalllyy?" scale....sounds more like selling snake oil but as I said,never heard of it & if it works & all that.....will report back if the wife thinks its the way forward...Gav...you are fine mate,Im as sceptical as they come!

[philangst]

not heard of this method of using coconut oil. I've have  tried using it on patches of psoriasis on elbow and scalp but not had much luck with it. I do use it in cooking though, I like the tatse

[moanalot]

Dear oh Dear! Need I say more.

[scozzy]

been laughing to and at myself all day after putting this up and wife is only just out of bed & into 2nd try so too early for a review of any kind...have done some googling tho!!...... and found a good article relating to this topic...basically saying its only real value is that it will help clear up & maintain your gums,teeth etc which in turn would & should contribute to better all round health...makes sense to me in that way at least, there's quite a few proper studies around relating to poor dental health & detrimental knock on effects for your body as a whole.

In any case I love cooking curries so the coconut oil purchase will not be in vain!!

[smose]

I think I agree with everyone else - the only way I can see it helping the arther is if it has any fatty acids in like cod liver oil

[LittlePinkPuss]

Oil pulling has been around for donkeys years.

I am not sure it is meant to be a “cure” for anything. I think people use it more for a sense of well-being.

I believe it originated through traditional Ayurvedic medicine; it is very popular in Eastern cultures like India and China anyway.

I know a couple of Asian people who swear by its effectiveness for well-being, and also a Western lady who says it has really helped improve the health of her teeth & gums.

It is an ongoing commitment every morning and apparently takes some weeks for results to start showing. So doing it one-off and expect results would be a waste of time.

Apart from the price of the oil, the practice is free and requires no money layout. So you are hardly going to be ripped off by doing it. Although you may feel like a bit of a dill!

If you are going to do it, obviously getting reasonably good quality oil is in order. In other words, avoid Crisco and other refined oils designed for deep fat frying.

I tried it a couple of times out of sheer curiosity, but swishing (pulling) oil in my mouth made me gag. Plus I could only ever last a few minutes before my jaw would start aching.   

[LittlePinkPuss]

I am not sure it is meant to be a “cure” for anything. I think people use it more for a sense of well-being.

Having said that.

Actually funny this subject should come up.

A touch of serendipity you could say.

I have just read reader’s feedback letter in a health magazine, who said oil pulling cured her of her sinus problems. She used cold pressed sesame oil.

Cold pressed sunflower oil is also recommended on the original oil pulling website, and they suggest that other oils may not work as well as sunflower or sesame

Website: oilpulling.com