I can understand your skepticism... I don't understand why or how it works either... I read the article you posted and although the author raised valid points, I don't think she really set out to do a serious inquiry. I felt like she just glossed over the whole idea.

I've never posted here before... I've been lurking for months, and found the oil pulling site after reading a comment in a newsletter by Chet Day... I subscribe to his crockpot recipe/health newsletter... I did oil pulling on a whim and and at the time I was battling dry eye syndrome. After oil pulling with sunflower oil just once for 20 minutes, I had this wild experience where colors seemed to get brighter and more intense. I haven't had that since, but a few weeks later, I noticed I wasn't having any problem with dry eyes.

I haven't any great healing crises, but my teeth have gotten whiter... and as a lifelong coffee drinker, I've tried everything to make them look better and oil pulling is the only thing that's worked. Also I quit for a few months because I would do it in the morning and people kept calling and interrupting me... I had read here at the forums not to do it at night, not to do it right after eating, but one night I tried it anyway and I'd been having trouble sleeping and I noticed it relaxed me... It's made me feel a lot better.

btw, I appreciate all of the info at this site. It's really helped me a lot.

Here's what I think:

I don't trust this Lisa Barger's opinions at all since she deems it necessary for articles to be published on the PubMed site, and she has trust in that site.

I take her words hardly even with a grain of Salt.

So KEEP ON SWISHIN'!!!

Well on first glance, any article that claims it has the Truth in it's title is suspicious to me, and she also has an attitude against it and anyone who tries it, and also assumes people do it for the reasons SHE suspects.

this link you provide delivers the bottom line in the last two paragraphs:

"Is Oil Pulling Dangerous?
I see no real way that oil pulling could be dangerous. After all, it's just vegetable oil. Assuming you don't choke on it, oil pulling is probably completely harmless.

Does all this mean that oil pulling is a scam? Maybe not. Most of the oil pulling web sites we looked at seem more interested in attracting advertising than hard-selling something to their readers. More likely, it means that well-meaning individuals are putting stock in an unproven pseudo-therapy. Their only real "crime" is passing along bad information. But you now have the tools to understand why oil swishing can't "pull" toxins out of your blood and the information to make up your own mind about oil pulling."

this article says nothing. it has no substance whatsoever. it only appears to say something. but it "is probably completely harmless." then it even backtracks on bad motives by saying, "More likely, it means that well-meaning individuals are putting stock in an unproven pseudo-therapy." there is only one logical conclusion that can be drawn from these statements is that the well meaning people are not doing anything harmful to themselves or others and that their only motivation can be to help others. in order to have this motivation, one must be convinced one is correct about the subject. this means they must have tried it themselves in order to ensure they done hurt others with their advice. this means it must do the things they say they have done because they are giving personal testimonies.

thanks for the confirmation of what we already KNOW.

Hope this isn't a repeat of my original message, which disappeared!

"They" can't figure out how homeopathy works, so (according to them) it doesn't work.

"They" can't figure out how caster oil packs works, so (according to them) they don't work.

Oh yes, both homeopathy and caster oil packs work.

Aren't you glad you aren't one of the "they" group? Do those people ever solve any problems?

If we don't experiment, nothing will ever to discovered. "They" won't be making discoveries.

I have been on this forum since the beginning. At this point, I don't need any scientific proof. I could care less about anyone debunking OP. Does it really remove toxins? Don't know, and quite frankly, I'll be happy to wait until someone does some research and tells me yes or no.

All you have to do is read the recommended messages back to day one. Hundreds and hundreds of people with real experience. What it does for your dental health is beyond compare and undeniable.

I could really give a rats ass about anyone's opinion on whether this is a valuable therapy. I have my own experience, and that is good enough for me.

If I listened to and believed all the negative comments on all the different therapies I have tried on CZ, I'd still be very ill, in pain, most probably disabled by now...or worse dead.

Rarely do you have any debates in the OP forum. You know why? Because seeing is believing. Hell, I'm so unconcerned, I won't even have this post removed.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I'm just happy to be one of the one's that found OP. I suspect the author of that article will be like most people....putting their teeth in a glass every night before beddy-bye.

Too bad, so sad.

Molly

Why would any oil pulling website be paying people to promote them? What are these websites? Doesn't seem to be much money making potential there since they all tell you to use plain old oil from any grocery store!

I have been pulling for 6 months and have avoided catching countless illnesses while people all around me are sniffling, sneezing and hacking up phlegm. I cleaned up my diet a few years ago, exercised, took EFAs, etc. but I still got sick every winter. Oil pulling is the only thing that I did differently last winter--tada, no more illness (save for a couple days of very light symptoms).

This woman has no idea what she is talking about.

Read this here excerpt from January 2007:

(this was written five months ago ... and I feel at least FIVE TIMES better than I did back then!!!!! I can't blame someone for not understanding it ... hell, I don't understand it myself!!!! I don't understand gravity either, but I'm sure glad it works. A lack of understanding doesn't negate the truth of matters.)






WHAT HAS OIL-PULLING DONE FOR ME?

Well, within the past month or so, the ONLY “physical” proof I have is the “oft heard” mouth/teeth transformation.

Yes, yes ... my mouth feels wonderful, and my teeth are white again. My jowls are tight, and my cute, little double chin is gone. My receding gum line is replaced with firm and plump, healthy gums. My sensitive teeth no longer bother me anymore. My breath is in a constant state of freshness, and I feel (oops ... feelings aren’t provable, sorry) like I can kiss everyone in my path first thing out of bed.

I have no physical/scientific proof that OPing has alleviated my anxiety & fears.

I have no physical/scientific proof that OPing has put a bounce in my step and a genuine smile on my face.

I have no physical/scientific proof that OPing helps me wake up every morning ... looking forward to a relatively PAIN FREE day.

I have no physical/scientific proof that OPing has promoted new hair growth ... yes, my bald patches are filling in and I no longer have to keep my head buzzed like GI JANE.

I have no physical/scientific proof that ya’ll aren’t insane ... or that I’m not insane.

Is it all in my (our) head?

Are we imagining our healthy diagnoses? Are our minds creating the atmosphere conducive to our healing progress? Are our symptoms psychological in nature rather than physiological?

Shit, I don’t know.

I am not a scientist, nor am I a medical doctor. I cannot contribute to the scientific discussion of this strange procedure called Oil Pulling. I get lost with all the scientific verbiage.

I’ll let ya’ll analyze the scientific knowledge behind this strange phenomenon ... meanwhile, I’ll continue to gauge MY progress MY way:

Through my FEELINGS.

I feel marvelous again.
I feel healthy again.
I feel relatively pain-free again.
I feel strong again.
I feel happy again.
I feel ornery and mischievous again.
I feel good again.
I feel energetic again.
I feel feminine & sensual again.