Is oil pulling a sin?

[CrispSnowflake]

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that detoxes your body. You swish (on an empty stomach) coconut oil, or sunflower oil, in your mouth for 20 minutes (no more, no less) and spit it out. You then wash your mouth out with warm water and brush your teeth. However, this is connected to Ayurvedic spirituality, as this practice is from the gods. I want to do it for health reasons, to remove toxins from my body so my body looks and feels healthier.

So, can I “oil pull”?

 

[dshix]

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that detoxes your body. You swish (on an empty stomach) coconut oil, or sunflower oil, in your mouth for 20 minutes (no more, no less) and spit it out. You then wash your mouth out with warm water and brush your teeth. However, this is connected to Ayurvedic spirituality, as this practice is from the gods. I want to do it for health reasons, to remove toxins from my body so my body looks and feels healthier.

So, can I “oil pull”?

Yes, you may do this, if done for health reasons.

It is good that you are having this concern, however, because many people do get drawn in to superstition or pagan religions by such practices. (Yoga is a good example of this.) There is nothing wrong, however, with doing the action itself for another reason, with no thought towards the religion behind it.

 

[Deus_tecum]

I don’t think it is sin, but it seems like a worthless practice. Swishing oil in your mouth will mix it with saliva, and make it look cloudy by the time you spit it out. Maybe that is how it got a reputation for appearing to remove toxins. I doubt there is any scientific validity to oil pulling. It would be simple to find out with science. 1. Check oil for toxins before putting in mouth. 2. Check oil for toxins after it is spit out.

 

[anruari]

That depends on how you believe this act works.
It is based on an understanding that the oil pulling works by a mechanical or chemical action to draw toxins from the body then there’s no theological issue here.
If the understanding of this therapy draws from non christian spirituality or “Magic” then if would most certainly NOT be an acceptable practice for a Catholic to engage in.

From a pseudo-scientific point of view I would strongly suspect that any health benefits which can be derived from this would be entirely attributable to the “Placebo” effect. (which is a very real and demonstrable effect)

 

[Allegra]

Are you sure that this will even work? I would talk to a doctor before I wasted 20 minutes I could have spent sleeping gargling oil! What if you spent the same 20 minutes doing exercise or meditating on the mysteries of the rosary or something more productive?

 

[thistle]

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that detoxes your body. You swish (on an empty stomach) coconut oil, or sunflower oil, in your mouth for 20 minutes (no more, no less) and spit it out. You then wash your mouth out with warm water and brush your teeth. However, this is connected to Ayurvedic spirituality, as this practice is from the gods. I want to do it for health reasons, to remove toxins from my body so my body looks and feels healthier.

So, can I “oil pull”?

I don’t see any sin here but frankly nothing you have described detoxes the body.

 

[on_the_hill]

I’m not a doctor but I once heard a doctor say, ‘If your liver and kidneys are functioning normally, there’s nothing to detox.’

 

[runningdude]

The only way to “detox” your body is to eat healthy foods and exercise. Healthy foods avoid adding new toxins, and contain antioxidants that help your kidney and liver break down harmful metabolic byproducts. Orange juice and peanuts contain vitamins C and E respectively that are major antioxidants. Teas and coffee also contain flavanoids, which are another class of antioxidants.

There are no shortcuts. A healthy diet, which appropriate physical activity, over time is only way to keep a clean body. Eating junk food and swirling oil in your mouth once and a while simply wont work!

You could speak to your doctor or a nutrition specialist for specific advice.

 

[Ophelia23]

Given the nature of your past posts, it seems that you are very aware of and concerned with your body. This is ok; your body is a temple that requires care and maintenance. But, I caution you to not become too overly concerned with your height, your detox, your growth and development, etc. Blessed are the meek and the humble.

 

[triumphguy]

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that detoxes your body. You swish (on an empty stomach) coconut oil, or sunflower oil, in your mouth for 20 minutes (no more, no less) and spit it out. You then wash your mouth out with warm water and brush your teeth. However, this is connected to Ayurvedic spirituality, as this practice is from the gods. I want to do it for health reasons, to remove toxins from my body so my body looks and feels healthier.

So, can I “oil pull”?

Look after your liver and the liver will do this for you naturally, every hour of every day.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I don’t think it is sin, but it seems like a worthless practice. Swishing oil in your mouth will mix it with saliva, and make it look cloudy by the time you spit it out. Maybe that is how it got a reputation for appearing to remove toxins. I doubt there is any scientific validity to oil pulling. It would be simple to find out with science. 1. Check oil for toxins before putting in mouth. 2. Check oil for toxins after it is spit out.

Make sure it’s a double-blind study!

 

[TeresaMarie24]

I did my college internship for a health education degree at an Ayurvedic institute here in town, and then worked there for a time after that. While it was a great atmosphere to be in, I really never recommend any of the practices from there, save for healthy eating, yoga, and using a neti pot (particularly if you have allergies). I’m sure there are some other good things out of Ayurveda, but like everyone else is saying, I don’t think this particular practice would accomplish much, though it certainly wouldn’t be sinful either.

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique that detoxes your body. You swish (on an empty stomach) coconut oil, or sunflower oil, in your mouth for 20 minutes (no more, no less) and spit it out. You then wash your mouth out with warm water and brush your teeth. However, this is connected to Ayurvedic spirituality, as this practice is from the gods. I want to do it for health reasons, to remove toxins from my body so my body looks and feels healthier.

So, can I “oil pull”?

Is there any scientific basis for this at all? It seems like pure superstition to me.

 

[CrispSnowflake]

Given the nature of your past posts, it seems that you are very aware of and concerned with your body. This is ok; your body is a temple that requires care and maintenance. But, I caution you to not become too overly concerned with your height, your detox, your growth and development, etc. Blessed are the meek and the humble.

=^.^=