Oil Pulling TherapyGandusha Age old tradition and its

Oil Pulling Therapy/Gandusha Age old tradition and it’s effects on human health.

Gandusha – Oil Swishing Therapy • Gandusha has been an age old technique in Ayurveda for oral hygiene and to promote good health. • Gandusha is swishing of oil in mouth. • Gandusha is also known as Kavala Graha or oil pulling therapy or oil swishing therapy. • Extensively used traditionally as an Indian traditional practice to treat dental issues, prevent decay, strengthening teeth, gums and jaw and to promote good health.

Method of Oil Swishing • Sip a tablespoon of sesame oil or sunflower oil or coconut oil in mouth. • Swish the oil around mouth and pull in and out of teeth and gums. • Do it only for 5 minutes initially and gradually swishing time can be • • increased to 15 minutes. Oil will turn milky. Spit the oil out. Rinse mouth with plain water. Never swallow the oil as this has pulled all the toxins and microorganisms from mouth.

Benefits of Oil Swishing • • Remove bacteria and other microorganisms from the mouth. Removes toxins. Strengthens teeth, gum and oral mucosa. Prevents tooth decay, dental caries and plaque. Removes bad odour. Reduces inflammation. Helps in dryness of throat and cracking of lips.

Sesame Seed Oil Sesame oil is considered the best oil as per Ayurveda due to following reasons: • • • Sesamum indicum – sesame plant is best gift from mother nature. Contains high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)/ good fats. Contains high amount of Vitamin E. Contains sesamol, sesamin and sesamolin which are anti-oxidants. Natural antibacterial and anti-fungal.

Mechanism - Saponification • Oil is a fat plus saliva (bicarbonates – alkaline) form soaps, therefore, oil turns milky. • Due to emulsification - insoluble fats break down into minute droplets dispersed in water and increasing the surface area of oil droplets. • Cleansing action is increased and hence, toxins, bacteria all pulled by oil droplets. • Therefore, the oil should be spitted out and never swallowed.

Research on Oil Swishing • A randomized controlled trial on 40 participants was done to study the effects of oil swishing. The participants had mild to moderate plaque and gingivitis and randomised into two groups (control and oil swishing group). Control group participants were told to follow their routine oral hygiene practice and oil swishing group participants were told to do oil swishing for 45 days. The results found significant reduction in plaque and gingival scores in oil swishing group. • Oil swishing considered as effective routine and economical.

Therefore, it’s time now to revive the age old traditions and bring them back to the modern world.

References • Sarvannan D, Ramkumar S, Vineetha K, Effect of oil pulling with sesame oil on plaque induced gingivitis: A microbiological study. Journal of Orofacial Research 2013, 3(3): 175 -180. • Sharma P, Quadruplet on the healthy: Sutrasthana. Charaka Samhita 2014, 39 -40. • Singh A, Purohit B, Toothbrushing, oil pulling and tissue regeneration: A review of holistic approaches to oral health. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 2011, 2 (2): 64 -68. • Yadav P, Oil pulling: An ayurvedic remedy. Archives of Dental and Medical Research 2016, 2(2): 31 -33.

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