3500 years ago, a powerful detox practice was born in the heart of India.
Vedic folk healers discovered that swishing a tablespoon of oil around in your mouth would not only eliminate bad breath and make the teeth stronger, but seemed to speed up the body’s recovery from a number of major illnesses and also promote longevity.
This method was referred to as “kavala graha” by Hindu mystics, but seekers in the western world now know it as as oil-pulling.
In Ayurveda, one of the major schools of traditional medicine, it is believed that oil pulling is highly therapeutic for over 30 systemic diseases. The technique is touted as a panacea, or cure-all.
So, how does it work? What makes swishing oil so medicinal?
In Ayurvedic medicine the mouth is considered to be a “mirror” for the entire body, and when something is out of balance in the oral cavity, a Vedic healer will tell you there is most likely an illness brewing elsewhere in your system as well.
There are a number of studies on oil pulling. One such study from the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) states that: “Oil pulling activates salivary enzymes which absorb toxins such as chemical toxins, bacterial toxins and environmental toxins from the blood… Thus, oil pulling detoxifies and purifies the entire human body.”
As it is swished around your mouth, the lipids (or fatty acids) in the oil naturally extract these potentially harmful substances from your teeth, gums and saliva glands.
*This practice has not yet been embraced by modern medicine, but millions of people around the world use oil-pulling every day and swear by it.
If you want to give it a try, I’ve outlined a simple oil pulling exercise below.
As with everything in the world of folk-medicine, the best way to approach a technique like this is to try it in moderation and see if you notice any positive effects…
Stay curious,
Nick Polizzi
Founder, The Sacred Science
P.S. While we’re on the topic of your mouth, the Holistic Oral Health Summit began yesterday, March 12th, and it’s not too late to register for this FREE online event. For 12 days, experts will share powerful ways to take care of your mouth naturally. I’ll be tuning in and encourage you to do the same and share with your family, friends, and loved ones!