Oil Pulling for Detox & Health

Oil Pulling

I recently got back into Oil Pulling or swishing as my children like to call it….and it is making such a difference to my well being (again!), even after only a few days. I did a few days fasting last week and included oil pulling each day – to such a difference.

In case you are not entirely certain what oil pulling is; this is a technique using about a teaspoon or two of coconut or sesame oil (usually, but other oils can work) and swishing it around in your mouth for 20 minutes or so.

After the time is up, you just spit it all out and rinse your mouth. Voila – refreshed and ready to go. 

It sounds and is, so utterly simple. But with some incredible and wonderful side effects - I often find significant results from oil pulling in as little as 1 day! Of course I add some healing benefits into my coconut oil as well…essential oils of cinnamon, tea tree, lemon, lemon grass, peppermint, clove, oregano and so forth, a different combination every couple of days.

The oils all work together and ‘pulls’ the toxins out from the general mouth area while the essential oils go and do all the things herbs and spices are meant to do. I have experienced many different results from oil pulling – which I would not have seen otherwise along my healing journey.

Some of these are a clarity in thinking, fresher breath, whiter teeth, healthy gums and tongue while others are more the results of deeper cleansing. I always feel as if my sinuses and the glands in my face and neck are benefiting from this too with less severe symptoms of glandular fever a few years ago.

I often also feel a clearing in my ears….as if whatever has been sitting around there for ever so long, starts to move or be pulled out. This can only be a good thing as far as I am concerned – I am all for taking out the rubbish in the most gentle way possible. 

However, I often have other indicators of detox taking place such as a little achy in my joints or rash in the beginning, but then my knees and skin becoming very clear. Mostly though, it’s when any brain fog clears and I feel more of a mind/body connection that I know this technique really does some good for my health.

Because this is all about controlling and perhaps eliminating some of the nasty bacteria living and growing in our teeth and mouth, I often follow up an oil pulling session with a mouthful of my lovely West Cork made Apple Cider Vinegar or some of my Rebel Juice probiotic drinks…..which adds the good guys back into your system. 

So, if you think your mouth, head, brain and body might benefit from some oil pulling – it’s so easy to get started on it and all you need is 20 minutes!

April

Raw Unrefined Coconut Oil mixed with essential oils - on my stand at the market

Treating a Cold with Herbs and Common Sense....

As a Mom, it's always distressing to see your little ones down with a flu, cold or worse... I have unfortunately been there with many illnesses (some quite serious) early on, but thankfully once our diets were changed and all use of medicine were halted, everything came right again.

It's been years since myself or anyone in my family has taken any form of chemical medicine - when we have the need, and often even if we don't, our healer's helper of choice is to use gentle herbs. With children there are so many to choose from, but usually there are only so many things a kid comes down with, so we can use the same or similar herbs to great effect.

This week my children are down with late summer colds - a tiny fever, chills, laying low, snotty noses and the usual cold symptoms. I knew a virus was about last week (well, I am an Intuitive, so it's what I do) because they were acting up, frustrated and generally not themselves for a couple days.

All of this 'out of the normal behaviour' usually signals a virus or bug coming into their bodies. So, I was kind of expecting these colds this week. And, with such a healthy diet, they don't often get really 'sick', just feeling a bit miserable for a little while.

I wanted to bring this up because it is always beneficial to have a medicine cabinet - mine might look a bit different from most peoples's (perhaps I should take a photo...hmmm). Because I have very different things in there we use to treat ALL and any thing that might need help.

I am not one for creams, lotions or potions - so my only creams are comfrey and calendula made with natural bees wax and honey. These can be used for bruises, rashes, sunburn, boo-boos and comfrey cream works really well for aches and pains too.

Next I have a good selection of essential oils, mostly these are used in the bath as they can't be used neat on the skin (you can dilute a good many of them with olive or almond oil). Our most versatile oil would be lavender, the tea tree and also melissa which we do use on skin.

Some of the other one's we use are bergamot, clary sage, peppermint, juniper, ylang ylang, rosemary, clove, wild oregano, frankincense and so on. Any of these are lovely in the bath, for anything from infections, detoxing, rashes, relaxation and general well being.

I also love to smell them in the house and often have an oil diffuser burning.

The herbs I am using this week for the children (in very small doses) are feverfew, chamomile, nettle, elderberry, marigold, vervain and peppermint. This is a mild tasting tea made in a pot with fresh boiled water - I try to get them to sip on it throughout the day, but especially at bedtime.

None of these herbs will cure the cold, nor will they take away the fever - using herbs just makes the process of have a flu more manageable, they get some sleep at night (so do we), the fever is not over the top and they probably recover a bit faster.

Marigold in the herb garden 

The entire purpose of using herbs is to work with the body processes. There is often a very good reason for the cold in the first place such as coping with change,  a growth spurt and other stressors. The herbs come in to support your body fully in all it is already doing and not interfere with healing.

In the rest of my medicine cabinet there is a first aid kit with some plasters, a bandage, scissors and the usual components of such a bag. And that is about it. 

Anything else I do in terms of treatment is only common sense - no dairy products (we only ever use goat's or sheeps milk and cheese), lots of water to drink, let them lay low for a couple of days, make some special 'soups' to eat and sleep in my bed if they want. 

The worst of the cold is usually over in a couple of days and then you have it!! LOL

Have a healthy day,

April

Feverfew in the garden