This morning I received a very nice comment on a previous post about how hempseed oil can help with hair loss/regrowth. It’s always nice to see such wonderful testimonials! Below is the comment:

“I have been giving myself hemp oil massages morning and night, as well as using it for oil-pulling. Within a few weeks of starting this regimen my eyebrows began to grow back. They were half gone and now they are 80% there! It’s very obvious. Also, My usually very gray hair roots have a lot more of my naturally dark hair in them. They used to be more gray than dark, and now they are nearly 50/50 in ratio. My eyes can’t lie.”

I love testimonials like this!

In case you didn’t read the former post, you can see it here.

Now, for those who are not aware of what oil pulling is: oil pulling is a safe, natural way to boost one’s health and immunity, and helps with dental/gum health.

Interestingly, many diseases originate from the mouth! Periodontitis, heart disease, diabetes – it is said that all of these originate from the mouth. Here is some insight I found on webmd.com:

“Your Mouth, the Gateway to Your Body:

To understand how the mouth can affect the body, it helps to understand what can go wrong in the first place. Bacteria that builds up on teeth make gums prone to infection. The immune system moves in to attack the infection and the gums become inflamed. The inflammation continues unless the infection is brought under control.

Over time, inflammation and the chemicals it releases eat away at the gums and bone structure that hold teeth in place. The result is severe gum disease, known as periodontitis. Inflammation can also cause problems in the rest of the body.”

Back to oil pulling. Simply put, oil pulling is swishing oil in the mouth for 20 minutes, not much less than that and not more than 20 minutes. The oil needs to cover the teeth, gums, tongue, and all crevices.

Yes, I know, it sounds a bit horrid. But let’s continue.

Because hempseed oil is so healthy, I would recommend it (although other oils may work just as well; just remember, hempseed oil must be refrigerated because it can go rancid quickly if not kept chilled).

Oil pulling must be done in the morning, BEFORE eating or drinking anything. About 1 tablespoon is all it takes, so be brave, grab your tablespoon of hempseed oil, and start swishing!  Pull the oil between the teeth as well; it works best if it is thoroughly spread about.

So now you are swishing and massaging for 20 minutes – but remember, do not swallow it! The oil is drawing out the bacteria, and you do not want to ingest it.

After your 20 minutes is up (which for some might seem like an eternity), spit it into a paper towel or trash can. You really don’t want the oil to go into your drainage system, so the trash is the best way to avoid that.

After removing the oil, immediately rinse out the mouth and gargle, again, not swallowing. Some people rinse with warm water, some choose salt water. You might want to repeat this a few times, then brush and go on about your day!

This can be done safely every morning. Also a good thing to remember: clean out the sink after you’ve spit out the gargle water. You want to make sure there is no lingering bacteria.

Now we know how to DO it, but how does it actually WORK?

Hempseed oil has antibacterial properties and is anti-inflammatory.  Swishing the oil in the mouth guarantees that the oil goes into the gum pockets, where most of the bacteria lies. The oil draws out the bacteria, especially where toothbrushes and floss cannot reach. The oil also can reduce inflammation from the bacteria.

*This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace care by a dental professional.

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photo credit: Helga Weber via photopin cc