Whenever there's opportunity to blend traditional wisdom with innovation the end result can be groundbreaking. Whether you're seeking prevention, fighting an infection or want whiter teeth - oil pulling is an intelligent delivery system. One step wellness can happen by combining oil pulling with essential oils. This particular delivery system (oil pulling) has markedly more benefits than swallowing a capsule of essential oils:
In oil pulling, a generous teaspoon of coconut oil is swished around the mouth in the early morning before breakfast on an empty stomach for about 20 minutes. If you can't oil pull before breakfast, that's ok you're still going to get fantastic benefits. The oil is ‘pulled’ and forced in between all the teeth by swishing it all around the mouth. During the process the viscous oil becomes milky white and thinner. After 20 minutes of swishing, spit it out in the garbage it's full of bacteria - but not in the sink! You don't want to clog the pipes when the coconut oil hardens. Brush your teeth, you'll feel so good afterwards, it's a fabulous habit.
"Our inability, due to legal constraints (although I cannot say I actually know of a single law that states this), to recommend the internal use of essential oils in the treatment of a ‘dis-ease’ in another should not, I believe, dictate our ability and need to understand how and why we would want to use essential oils this way to self treat, should we feel confident to do so. In fact, based upon the growing interest and indeed the growing use of essential oils internally, I believe it is becoming imperative that we in the aromatherapy industry develop a better understanding and richer knowledge base regarding the internal use of essential oils. Although I am not a strong advocate of taking essential oils internally without just cause, I have used essential oils for myself and friends in vaginal and rectal suppositories for specific conditions (e.g. in the treatment of respiratory infections and hemorrhoids), cough syrups, teas and sometimes in a spoonful of honey. Each year I make up a supply of cough syrup containing herbal and aromatic ingredients. I always use my own essential oil based mouth wash and drink a fair amount of herbal teas (thereby taking essential oils internally as well) including fennel and other aromatic plant teas."
As Ms. Shutes makes the point that we take essential oils internally in one way or another. I'm an advocate of practicing internal usage when needed with a "less is more" philosophy when I do so. I prefer direct absorption into the blood stream versus a capsule delivery whenever possible including topical application. We deserve the right to self care, to make our decisions based on our own due diligence. Oil pulling is a multi-faceted delivery system in my opinion and I wanted to share the enormous possibilities with you. Enjoy!
