Oil Pulling Benefits For Skin: Does It Work?
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Oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine practice that’s gained popularity in recent years for its oral health benefits including whiter teeth and fresher breath. But did you know that oil pulling can also help improve your skin health? Oil pulling is said to help with acne, eczema, and other skin conditions by removing toxins, killing bacteria and reducing inflammation. But does it actually work or is it just a waste of time? In this post, we’ll talk about what oil pulling is, oil pulling benefits for skin and how to do oil pulling for skin.
What Is Oil Pulling?
Although oil pulling has been used for centuries, it recently became popular in recent years, in part, thanks to social media. Oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine technique that involves swishing oil in your mouth for 20 minutes. Oil pulling is said to “pull” out toxins from your body and improve your oral health.
Part of why it has become so popular in recent years is because of claims that it helps to whiten teeth. Oil pulling is also said to improve gum health, reduce cavities, and freshen breath.
Although it’s mainly used for oral health benefits, some people also use oil pulling for skin benefits. Oil pulling is said to improve skin health by helping to remove toxins from the body, moisturizing the skin and reducing inflammation.
There are even claims that oil pulling for skin can help to treat inflammatory skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
What Is Oil Pulling For Skin
Oil pulling is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to promote oral health. Oil pulling involves swishing oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes, then spitting it out. Oil pulling is said to remove toxins from the body, improve oral health, and help to whiten teeth. Although you mainly hear about oil pulling benefits for oral health, can oil pulling help the skin as well?
You might be wondering how something that’s intended for oral health can have an impact on your skin and acne.
Oil pulling is proven to kill bacteria, remove toxins and reduce inflammation in the body. And as our body’s largest organ, our skin can certainly benefit from this!
While there are many different causes of acne, a few of the major ones include bacteria, inflammation and digestive issues. Oil pulling can help to address all of these causes, which is why it can be an effective natural treatment for acne.
Although, it likely won’t replace topical treatments or prescriptions, it can certainly be a great addition to your skincare routine to help get clear, glowing skin.
How Does Oil Pulling Work?
According to Ayurveda, oil pulling works by drawing out toxins from the body and promoting oral health. It is said that the tongue is connected to all the organs of the body like the heart, lungs, intestines, etc. and that oil pulling removes buildup of toxins and heavy metals by activating enzymes in the mouth that absorb these toxins, bacteria and other impurities.
Ayurveda hypothesizes that these enzymes can remove bacteria, toxins and other impurities from the blood and body since the tongue is connected to each of these organ systems. And so, it is said that oil pulling can detoxify the entire body just by swishing some oil around in your mouth for a few minutes.
Many people wonder does oil pulling clear skin? While there are no studies that have proven oil pulling helps to clear skin, it has been used for centuries to improve health and conditions related to bacteria, inflammation and more. Oil pulling is proven to reduce bacteria in the mouth, reduce inflammation and reduce cavities and gingivitis. So it makes sense that oil pulling can also help to reduce and treat acne.
Of course, keep in mind that Ayurveda is a traditional form of medicine and has not been scientifically proven. However, these practices have been used for centuries and many people swear by them!
One study found that oil pulling with sesame oil produced antioxidants which kill microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Although there are limited studies out there on oil pulling for skin and health, what is out there seems really promising!
Does Oil Pulling Improve Skin?
Oil pulling has been used for centuries to improve oral health, but can it also help the skin? As toxins are removed from the body, oil pulling can help to improve skin health by reducing inflammation and bacteria.
Oil cleansing is another way to get all the benefits of oil pulling for the skin. Oil cleansing can help to dissolve dirt, makeup and other impurities on the skin while also providing it with moisture and nutrients which help protect and strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
When the oil cleansing method first become popular, many claimed in cleared up their skin practically overnight. Clogged pores, acne and blackheads were gone and skin was left looking radiant and glowing.
Oil pulling is said to help the skin by reducing toxins, bacteria and inflammation.
Oil cleansing, which is a topical application of oil, can also help to dissolve dirt, makeup and other impurities on the skin while also providing
Oil Pulling Benefits For Skin
Although oil pulling is traditionally though of as a technique that helps oral health, more and more people are using it for skin benefits as well.
Here are some of the common benefits of oil pulling for oral and overall health:
- Whiter Teeth
- Prevents Cavities
- Prevents Gingivitis
- Reduces Dry Mouth
- Prevents Halitosis (bad breath)
- Improves Digestion
- Reduces Headaches & Migraines
Some even claim that oil pulling can help with chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes!
Oil pulling is said to have tons of benefits for oral and overall health, but what about oil pulling benefits for skin?
Oil pulling is said to improve skin health by reducing toxins, bacteria and inflammation.
Oil cleansing, which is a topical application of oil, can also help to dissolve dirt, makeup and other impurities on the skin while also providing it with moisture. Oil pulling and oil cleansing can both have incredible benefits for the skin!
Here are all the amazing benefits of oil pulling for skin
1. Oil Pulling Can Help Remove Toxins From The Body
One of the main benefits of oil pulling is that it helps to remove toxins from the body. Oil pulling is said to help improve skin health by reducing toxins, bacteria and inflammation.
2. Oil Pulling Can Help To Kill Bacteria
Oil pulling can help to kill bacteria in the body, which in turn, can help to prevent acne from forming. Oils that have anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties are also great to use topically to help kill acne causing bacteria for clearer skin.
3. Oil Pulling Can Help To Reduce Inflammation
Reducing inflammation is one of the most important things you can do for your skin and body. It’s thought that oil pulling can reduce inflammation which can help with skin issues like acne and psoriasis.
What Are The Side Effects Of Oil Pulling Skin?
Luckily, there really aren’t any side effects that come along with oil pulling, aside from some tired facial muscles, of course.
And the taste of some oils are particularly pleasant, although that’s not really considered a side effect.
Oil pulling has been proven to be safe and effective so there’s no harm in trying it out yourself.
How To Do Oil Pulling For Skin
Want to do oil pulling for glowing skin?
Oil pulling is a simple process that anyone can do at home to help improve their oral, skin and overall health.
There are a few different techniques for oil pulling, so you can choose which one best suits your lifestyle. The first one is the most popular oil pulling method and involves swishing oil around your mouth for 20-30 minutes.
No matter the technique, oil pulling should be done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. It’s best to do as soon as you wake up.
Method 1
This method is the kavala method and is most commonly used.
- Take 1 Tablespoon of your oil of choosing and swish around the mouth for 20-30 minutes
- Spit out oil and rise mouth with water
- Brush teeth
Keep in mind that you can take breaks if your mouth gets tired during the 20-minutes. It’s a long time to be using those muscles so it’s normal for them to get tired. Just take a break if you need to and you’ll eventually get used to it.
Method 2
Another common method is a little bit quicker, and it’s the Gandusha method.
- Fill mouth with your oil of choosing. Make sure the mouth is completely filled with oil so that there’s no room to swish the oil around
- Let the oil sit in your mouth for 5-10 minutes (you can do longer if you’d like)
- Spit out the oil and rinse mouth with water
- Brush teeth
How Often To Oil Pull For Skin
It is recommended to do oil pulling daily – no matter what technique you choose. Oil pulling should be done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach for best results.
You can do it less frequently if you’d like, but daily is best.
Which Oil Is Best For Oil Pulling For Skin?
There are so many amazing oils that can be used for oil pulling. Each oil has its own unique properties that can help certain skin issues or health concerns. For example, some oils may have more antibacterial properties, while others may be more anti-inflammatory.
Here are some of the best oils to use for oil pulling:
Coconut Oil – There are so many benefits of oil pulling with coconut oil! Coconut oil is a great oil to use for oil pulling because it’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and full of nutrients that are great for the skin. It also has more of a pleasant taste than other oils. Keep in mind that coconut oil at room temp is pretty solid, so you’ll have to warm this up in the microwave before oil pulling – just be sure to let it cool off enough so you don’t burn yourself!
Sesame Oil – Sesame oil is another great option for oil pulling and it’s one of the most commonly used oils for oil pulling in traditional medicine thanks to its composition. It’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and packed with antioxidant properties.
Olive Oil – Olive oil is a great option for oil pulling because it’s also packed with antioxidants, making it great for the skin. It’s also anti-inflammatory and can help to fight bacteria.
Sunflower Seed Oil – Sunflower seed oil is a great option for oil pulling because it’s high in vitamin E, which is great for the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Keep in mind that you can really use any oil that you’d like for oil pulling! You can even mix oils together to create your own concoction.
Oil Pulling Benefits For Skin FAQ’s
How long does it take to see results of oil pulling?
Most studies show that it can take several months to see any benefits from oil pulling. Although it can vary from person to person, don’t count on seeing results overnight.
Does oil pulling reduce wrinkles?
There is no scientific evidence to support that oil pulling can help to reduce wrinkles, but when you swish oil around your mouth, this not only helps to stimulate blood flow, it also helps to exercise the muscles in your face. This can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles over time.
Does oil pulling help with acne?
Some people claim that oil pulling helped to clear their acne, while others saw no difference. Oil pulling can help to reduce inflammation and fight bacteria, both of which can contribute to acne. Overall, there are no scientific studies done looking at oil pulling and acne, so it’s hard to say for sure if it can help.
The bottom line is, oil pulling can’t hurt and it may help to improve your skin! At the very least, you’ll improve your oral health!
Oil Pulling Benefits For Skin Wrap Up
Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic medicine technique that has many different benefits for oral and skin health. It can reduce inflammation, kill acne causing bacteria, and remove toxins- all of which can help keep the skin looking clear and healthy. Oil pulling is a simple process- you just swish oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes each day, first thing in the morning. There are many oils that can be used for oil pulling, but coconut oil and sesame oil are two of the most popular. Overall, oil pulling for the skin is a great way to help improve oral health and remove toxins that can damage the skin.
