Oil Pulling: Ayurvedic Perspective

Officially Debunking: Coconut Oil for Oil Pulling in Ayurveda

Scientific Insights on Fresh Pressed Sesame Oil

Oil Pulling with Sesame Oil: Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy traditionally performed with sesame oil, known for its comprehensive health benefits. Cold-pressed sesame oil, in particular, retains a high concentration of nutrients and bioactive compounds that are crucial for its effectiveness. Here’s why fresh-pressed sesame oil is preferred for oil pulling:

1. • Detoxification: Sesame oil has strong detoxifying properties. Its molecular structure allows it to bind with and extract toxins from the mouth, teeth, gums, and even the throat. This detox process is crucial for maintaining overall health and preventing the buildup of harmful bacteria and toxins.

1. • Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Properties: Freshly pressed sesame oil is rich in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds. This makes it effective in reducing oral bacteria, preventing gingivitis, and healing swollen or bleeding gums. The freshness of the oil ensures that these properties are at their peak, providing maximum health benefits.

1. • Nutrient Preservation: Cold pressing preserves the vital nutrients and active compounds in sesame oil. These include antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that contribute to oral health and general wellbeing. Using oil pressed within the last three days ensures that these nutrients have not degraded and remain effective for detoxification and health maintenance.

1. • Saponification Effect: The lipids in sesame oil facilitate a saponification process when swished in the mouth. This creates a soap-like environment that helps cleanse the mouth thoroughly by pulling out bacteria and preventing them from sticking to oral surfaces. Freshly pressed oil enhances this effect, ensuring a thorough cleaning process.

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil has gained popularity for oil pulling in recent years, primarily due to its antimicrobial properties. However, from both scientific and Ayurvedic perspectives, it may not be the best choice for everyone. Here are the potential risks and drawbacks:

1. • Imbalanced Dosha:
     • • Cooling Properties: Coconut oil is inherently cooling and sweet, which can exacerbate Kapha and Vata imbalances in Ayurveda. This can lead to issues such as lethargy, coldness in the body, and increased mucus production.
     • • Not Detoxifying: Unlike sesame oil, which has detoxifying and warming properties that align with Ayurvedic principles for cleansing, coconut oil does not effectively draw out toxins from the body. This can result in less efficient detoxification and oral health maintenance.

1. • Nutrient Overload:
     • • Lauric Acid Content: While lauric acid in coconut oil has antimicrobial benefits, it can also cause side effects like headaches and digestive discomfort if overused. This is particularly problematic if the body is sensitive to high doses of fat-soluble vitamins and fatty acids.
     • • High Fat Content: Coconut oil is high in saturated fats, which may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with certain health conditions or sensitivities. Regular use could potentially lead to imbalances in cholesterol levels and other lipid profiles.

1. • Less Effective for Oral Health:
     • • Inadequate Detoxification: The sweet and cooling properties of coconut oil make it less effective at drawing out toxins compared to the bitter and astringent properties of sesame oil. This can lead to an accumulation of ama (toxins) in the body, resulting in suboptimal detoxification and oral hygiene.
     • • Weaker Saponification: The saponification effect, which is crucial for cleansing the oral cavity, is less pronounced in coconut oil compared to sesame oil. This results in less thorough removal of bacteria and toxins from the mouth, potentially leading to persistent oral health issues.

1. • Potential for Side Effects:
     • • Digestive Issues: Excessive use of coconut oil can cause digestive discomfort, including nausea and diarrhea, especially in individuals who are not accustomed to high-fat diets.
     • • Headaches and Fatigue: Some users report headaches and fatigue when using coconut oil for oil pulling, likely due to the body’s reaction to its high lauric acid content and the potential release of stored toxins that are not efficiently removed.

The Oil Pulling Ayurvedic Recommendation IS:

Sesame Oil:

• • Optimal for Detoxification: Sesame oil is preferred in Ayurveda for its warming and detoxifying properties, making it effective in pulling out toxins and supporting overall oral health.

• • Balanced Dosha Effects: It helps balance Vata and Kapha doshas without aggravating them, supporting a holistic approach to wellness.

The Coconut Oil Conclusion

While coconut oil offers some antimicrobial benefits, it is not aligned with traditional Ayurvedic practices for oil pulling. The cooling, sweet nature of coconut oil can lead to imbalances and less effective detoxification, potentially causing a range of side effects from headaches to digestive issues. For optimal results in detoxification and oral health, freshly pressed sesame oil remains the superior choice, in line with Ayurvedic wisdom.

*Freshness of Oil

Ayurvedic Pro Tip on Oil Pulling:

• • Freshness: Ayurvedic practitioners emphasize using fresh oil, ideally pressed within the last three days, for oil pulling. This ensures that the oil retains its full potency and effectiveness in detoxifying the body. We also know that grocery markets are experience both inflation + shrinkflation at the same time; if you regularly oil pull, getting a machine to press your own fresh oil will be an improvement in the efficacy and your finances in the long run; we have an Amazon affiliate relationship where we may earn a commission if you make a purchase.

Oil Pulling Conclusion (To use or not to use coconut oil)

For us who are adhering strictly to Ayurvedic principles, sesame oil is THE choice for effective toxin elimination and oral health maintenance. In this writers perspective, this may be a revealing detail when we consider that seed oils are becoming such a problem for human health globally; time to manufacture then serve/consume those seed oils being beyond 3 days means there is nothing nutritional left and they may (as we’re seeing) be harmful. That doesn’t even consider the rampant adulteration of the products on most store shelves today, I’d wager most commercial/store sold oils are more synthetic than not.

For more detailed insights and references, you can explore sources like Kerala Ayurveda and The Ayurveda Experience.  It’s not the easiest read, but we also would recommend this page about Ayurveda and oil pulling, as it’s from a passionate and studios person who’s compiled extensive information in one place.