Ayurveda and Oil Pulling

April is a great time of the year, weather is changing, flowers are starting to pop up, and that means allergies.So this question has come up several times in the last few weeks about Oil-Pulling, perfect timing, because it goes along with the seasons and helps in so many ways including allergies.So what does Ayurveda thinks of it , how it works, and where to start, lets tackle oil pulling today.

First "What is oil-pulling?

• A little background on oil-pulling:Ayurveda is a time tested, 5,000 year old traditional based; all natural healing. With Ayurveda comes many methods of keeping the body in balance through meditation, yoga, massage, daily routine and yes one is oil-pulling. Ayurveda has many modalities all to achieve health, working to maintain a healthy balanced body, mind and spirit.
• So what is oil-pulling? Simply put, part of the Ayurveda morning ritual to wake up and flush toxins and bacteria out of the body.Oil-pulling has a powerful detoxifying effect,you are pulling out the bacteria in the mouth with oil.

Benefits:

• Brightens and whitens teeth
• healthy gums - helping with bad breath
• increasing energy
• decreasing headaches
• better sleep
• clearing sinuses and mucus
• alleviating allergies
• helps clear skin

How To: 

Oil-pulling is a great way to start your morning off feeling clean and refreshed, the first few days may seem difficult or uncomfortable, just stick with it, at the end of the week you will feel the difference. Oil-Pulling is a simple yet powerful way to effect your everyday just by starting your morning off it. So if you add if to your morning for whiter teeth or clear your sinuses to help with allergies, stick with it for at least one month, give it a chance to work for you.

• Start with a warm/room temperature glass of water
• Tbsp organic coconut oil(melted) or organic sesame oil, 
• Note on oils: pick your oil by the weather and your dosha, coconut is ideal for pitta types, sesame and /or olive for vata and/or kapha type
• Swish the oil around in your moth - 15-20mins, make sure you are relaxing the mouth. You may find this part tough at the beginning but stick with it.
• After 2mins, spit the oil out, in the trash, compost or outside( its great if you get out and take a walk while oil-pulling).
• Swish another glass of water around in your mouth, and spit out.
• After oil-pulling you should brush our teeth and do a tongue scraping (Promo code mettaspa10 when ordering). Tongue scraping removes the oils and bacteria left behind while waking up the digestive fires.

Ayurveda has many way to work with the body, and each person to create a balanced lifestyle. Taking a few ideas from Ayurveda and adding them to your daily routine will help you to find your own balance. Metta Spa is a great place to start on your journey or find tips or ideas to create a  balanced mind body and spirit.