“Hmm. must be some kind of oil massage,” I thought to myself, but continued on, without giving much more thought to it. In hindsight, I wish I’d found out more about Ayurveda then, because as it turns out, the practice and theory has much more to offer than my initial simple thoughts of an “oil massage.” Today, I want to share with you what I’ve learned about Ayurveda since then.

By: Elizabeth Toy

Ayurveda is a holistic healing system more than 5,000 years old that originated in India. The Sanskrit word for Ayurveda translates to “wisdom of life.” Ayurvedic theory believes that your wellness depends balancing your mind, body, and spirit. When these things are out of balance, you’ll feel unwell. Ayurveda believes you should be proactive with your health, rather than reacting to sickness.

So, it emphasizes cultivating good health in a preventative manner, rather than fighting illness after you’re already sick.

With more than 3,000 years of wisdom to share, we’re just scratching the surface of Ayurveda in a single article. That said, here are some of the main concepts of Ayurveda:

1. Everything in the universe is connected, and you can attain good health when your mind, body, and spirit are in harmony with the universe.

There are many things that can throw you off balance, like your emotions, changes in the season and weather, injuries, or even your age, which can affect the make up of your body, or prakriti.

2. Everyone is made up of the 5 elements found in the universe:

1. Space
2. Air – represents the gaseous state of matter. Air connects to the respiratory system.
3. Fire – represents form without substance.  Fire connects to digestion, perception, and any kind of transformation in your body, which is why it’s dominant in the Pitta Dosha (read on to find out more about the three doshas!)
4. Water –  represents the liquid state of matter, in blood and other liquids. Water connects to your tongue and sense of taste.
5. Earth – represents the solid state of matter. Earth connects to the nose and your sense of smell.

3. These elements combine to make up 3 doshas, which are life energies that make up every individual. Each of these control a different function in your body.

• 

  Vata (space and air) – this dosha regulates any of your body’s movements, including breathing, chewing, moving any muscles, and urinating.
• Pitta (fire and water) – this dosha is at work any time you need to transform something. For example, when you digest and metabolize food, breathe, or see something and interpret and understand it.
• Kapha (water and earth) – this dosha makes up the human body, establishing structure and stability.

When you know what dosha type is strongest or more powerful in you, you can better help treat your ailments.  You can find out which of the three doshas are predominant in you here.

4. Every person has his or her own prakriti, or unique composition.

So it makes sense that there is no one-size-fits-all remedy or routine that can work for everyone in Ayurveda. Your prakriti considers a number of things, including: you as an individual, your diet, your geographical location, the season, etc. If you don’t maintain the balance of your makeup, you can develop illnesses or have that “something’s not right” feeling.

5. To cure an ailment, Ayurvedic remedies that are more likely to be used include:

• 

  Food and diet modifications
• Lifestyle and activity adjustments
• Herbal supplements
• Yoga, Pranayama (Breath Techniques), and Meditation
• Marma (Energetic Pressure Points)
• Cleansing Processes, such as Panchakarma

In addition to changing your diet and lifestyle habits, the Ayurvedic approach relies on the mind, above all, to heal your body.

So if you meditate to expand the awareness of your mind and balance your mind with your body, you are already applying several Ayurvedic practices to nurture balance and good health from the inside out.

Known as “Kavala” or “Gundusha,” oil pulling is the ancient Ayurvedic practice of swishing a plant-based oil in your mouth to draw out toxins from your body. Some reported benefits of oil pulling include: whiter teeth, prevention of cavities and gingivitis, and better breath.

Here’s the Ayurvedic Way To Clean Your Teeth

Oil Pulling made its resurgence into modern popular culture in 1992 by Dr. F. Karach, MD. Dr. Karach believed that the process drew impurities from the body by dissolving toxins and bacteria, absorbing into skin through your mouth.

Specifically, coconut oil contains a chain of fatty acids made of lauric acid. This acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects—perfect for adding extra oomph to your teeth-cleaning routine. Additionally, the antibiotic effects of coconut oil can stop the multiplication of Streptococcus bacteria, which can cause pink eye, strep throat, and even pneumonia.

How To Oil Pull 

To follow Karach’s method:

1. Choose a raw oil (traditionally Sunflower Oil, or Coconut Oil)
2. Swish one to two tablespoons of oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes on an empty stomach two to three times a day
3. After the allotted time is over, spit out the oil into a trash can (to prevent clogging your drain)
4. Cleanse your mouth by swishing with salt water, then brushing your teeth as usual.

Benefits of Oil Pulling

Although oil pulling cannot be used in place of regular dental hygiene, it should be used along with your regular brushing and flossing routine.

The main benefit of oil pulling is that it reduces harmful bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria create a film over your teeth known as plaque. Unfortunately, build-up of plaque can cause gingivitis, cavities, and bad breath. Oil pulling works as a preventative measure for these situations, as the oil swished around in your mouth picks up and dissolves this bacteria.

In addition, oil pulling can whiten your smile! The mechanical cleansing action helps lift stains from the outer layer of your teeth. Swishing oil in the mouth causes an emulsification process that allows the oil to “scrub” your teeth clean.

Understand The Effects

It is important to note that there are reported benefits of oil pulling, but it is not officially

recommended by the American Dental Association as a supplementary oral hygiene practice. This is because there is an insufficient amount of peer-reviewed scientific studies on the process. Additionally, the act of repeated swishing is not recommended for those with Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ), or other jaw ailments. Finally, if swallowed in excess, oil pulling could cause lipoid pneumonia (which manifests through chronic cough and labored breathing), in addition to an upset stomach.

With this in mind, if you’ve got 15 minutes and some extra coconut oil on hand, why not put away the harsh chemicals from your mouth wash, and give oil pulling a shot? Although it can’t replace your routine teeth-cleaning, oil pulling can act as a great natural supplemental therapy for your mouth. After a few weeks, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear.

Have you ever tried oil pulling before? Share your smile results with us in the comments below!