Oil Pulling Therapy : One Habit That Heals All
- Madhukar Dama
- Jul 30
- 14 min read
Welcome to the most overlooked, affordable, and powerful healing habit you’ll ever discover — oil pulling therapy. Rooted in ancient Indian tradition and now revived with modern understanding, this simple daily practice of swishing castor oil in your mouth before sleep can transform your health from the inside out. From bleeding gums to brain fog, sinus issues to skin problems, chronic fatigue to foul breath — oil pulling works silently, gently, and deeply. No gadgets. No gimmicks. Just one spoon, one habit, and a little patience. If you're ready to clean your body through your mouth, this is where healing truly begins.
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1. INTRODUCTION – TOO SIMPLE TO SELL, TOO POWERFUL TO IGNORE
Most people ignore castor oil pulling because it looks primitive. Just swishing oil in the mouth for a few minutes before spitting it out—no machines, no chemicals, no gadgets. It doesn’t look like medicine. But that’s exactly why it works.
Oil pulling was once a normal part of daily life in Indian homes. Now it’s a forgotten habit, or worse, a commercialized trend. But when done correctly—only with castor oil, only at night, and every single day—it becomes one of the most powerful daily healing routines you can adopt. No doctor, dentist, or drug company will promote it because it can’t be sold in capsules. But if you stay consistent for 3–6 months, your body will speak for itself.
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2. WHY ONLY CASTOR OIL, ONLY NIGHT, ONLY DAILY
2.1 Why Castor Oil
Castor oil is not like other oils. It penetrates deeply. It draws toxins from lymph, blood, glands, and nerves. It has natural antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Coconut and sesame oils are mild and surface-level. Castor oil works deeper and works better.
2.2 Why Night
At night, the body shifts into rest and repair mode. Organs detox, inflammation lowers, and the nervous system resets. Oil pulling at night supports this natural detox. You wake up cleaner, lighter, and fresher. Morning pulling interferes with digestion and often leads to inconsistent use.
2.3 Why Daily
The body stores toxins daily—from air, food, stress, and habits. You also generate waste from your own metabolic functions. A once-a-week method is not enough. Just like bathing or brushing, this must be daily.
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3. THE STEP-BY-STEP METHOD
3.1 Simple Instructions
Use only cold-pressed, wood-pressed castor oil. No fragrances, no solvent-extracted oils.
Time: After dinner, 10–30 minutes before sleep.
Dosage: 1 teaspoon (5 ml) to 1 tablespoon (15 ml) based on comfort.
Swish gently for 5–7 minutes. No aggressive movements.
Spit into a paper or cloth waste—never in sink or toilet.
Rinse with warm water. Do not brush teeth after that. Sleep directly.
3.2 What to Expect
First few days: You may feel strange. Taste is sticky. Tongue may feel coated.
First few weeks: Breath improves. Mouth feels fresher. Sleep becomes deeper.
After 30–90 days: Digestion, energy, skin, immunity, and hormonal balance start to improve subtly but steadily.
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4. HOW IT WORKS – STRAIGHT EXPLANATION
4.1 Castor Oil Draws Out Fat-Soluble Toxins
Castor oil binds with the fatty waste that regular brushing and water can’t reach. It removes sticky bacterial films and hidden pus pockets without surgery or antibiotics.
4.2 Oral Cleansing Affects Full Body
The mouth is not separate from the rest of the body. It’s connected to the:
Heart (via blood vessels)
Brain (via cranial nerves)
Gut (via saliva and digestive enzymes)
Hormones (via hypothalamic-pituitary axis)
Bad oral health is linked to heart disease, diabetes, thyroid imbalance, and even brain disorders. Clean mouth = stable system.
4.3 Nervous System Reset
Swishing activates the vagus nerve. This calms the body, lowers stress, and improves digestion and sleep. Doing it at night supports overnight healing.
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5. WHO SHOULD DO IT
Everyone above age 8 can benefit. Especially those who suffer from:
⚫ ORAL HEALTH ISSUES (Direct Benefits)
1. Bleeding gums (Gingivitis)
2. Bad breath (Halitosis)
3. Tooth decay prevention
4. Sensitive teeth
5. Mouth ulcers / canker sores
6. Dry mouth
7. Tooth pain and nerve irritation
8. Receding gums
9. Plaque and tartar reduction
10. Tooth discoloration / yellowing
11. Chronic gum infections
12. Tooth loosening in early stages
13. Tonsil stones (prevention)
14. Tongue coating (Ama in Ayurveda)
15. Metallic taste in mouth
16. Post-dental work healing support
17. Oral thrush (fungal overgrowth)
18. Cracked lips and corners of mouth
19. Early stage wisdom tooth pain
20. Excess salivation or sticky saliva
21. Difficulty in swallowing due to inflammation
22. Dry socket healing (post-extraction)
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⚫ ENT & RESPIRATORY ISSUES
23. Chronic sinusitis
24. Frequent colds
25. Chronic sore throat
26. Blocked nose
27. Excessive mucus or postnasal drip
28. Loss of smell
29. Snoring (mild to moderate cases)
30. Sleep apnea (adjunct support)
31. Tonsil inflammation (recurrent)
32. Ear fullness / itching
33. Mild ear infections (related to oral focus)
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⚫ SKIN & BEAUTY ISSUES
34. Acne
35. Psoriasis (adjunct support)
36. Eczema flare-ups
37. Skin dullness
38. Premature wrinkles
39. Under-eye darkness
40. Pigmentation patches
41. Hair thinning (root toxin theory)
42. Dry skin and scalp
43. Mouth corner pigmentation
44. Face puffiness
45. Chronic dandruff (indirectly)
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⚫ DIGESTIVE & LIVER-RELATED ISSUES
46. Indigestion
47. Bloating
48. Constipation (mild and chronic)
49. Gas and burping
50. Coated tongue from poor digestion
51. Loss of appetite
52. Bad taste in mouth in mornings
53. Fatty liver (adjunct support)
54. Liver sluggishness
55. Acid reflux (as mouth toxins get cleared)
56. Flatulence
57. Mouth-body feedback loop toxins
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⚫ HORMONAL & ENDOCRINE ISSUES
58. Hypothyroidism (supportive aid)
59. PCOD/PCOS (detox assistance)
60. Hormonal acne
61. Irregular periods (detox angle)
62. Adrenal fatigue symptoms
63. Mild mood swings related to cycle
64. Thyroid swelling or tightness feeling
65. Breast tenderness due to toxic build-up
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⚫ MENTAL & COGNITIVE ISSUES
66. Brain fog
67. Lack of focus
68. Chronic irritability
69. Mild depression (toxin-linked)
70. Poor sleep quality
71. Dream disturbances
72. Low energy upon waking
73. General emotional heaviness
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⚫ GENERAL SYSTEMIC ISSUES
74. Joint pain (due to toxins)
75. Arthritis (especially autoimmune)
76. Frequent infections (weak immunity)
77. Chronic fatigue syndrome
78. Eye puffiness
79. Dark circles
80. Toxic overload symptoms
81. Chronic itching (non-allergic)
82. Allergic rhinitis (supportive)
83. Skin rashes of unknown cause
84. Mild autoimmune flares
85. Foul body odor
86. Morning sluggishness
87. Slow recovery from illness
88. Mild hypertension (supportive)
89. Lymphatic sluggishness
90. Overheating of body / internal heat
91. Hormone-driven headaches
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⚫ REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (Male & Female)
92. Low sperm motility (via toxin clearing)
93. Premature ejaculation (psychosomatic + toxic load)
94. Mild erectile dysfunction (linked to toxic overload)
95. Vaginal dryness
96. Chronic white discharge (leucorrhoea)
97. Menstrual irregularity
98. Foul menstrual odour
99. Breast lumps (as part of detox support)
100. Ovulation irregularities (indirectly)
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⚫ PSYCHOSPIRITUAL / EMOTIONAL ISSUES
101. Shame around body odour
102. Emotional heaviness in the jaw
103. Anger stored in the mouth and teeth
104. Unspoken words manifesting as ulcers
105. Speech hesitation from oral toxicity
106. Subconscious anxiety while falling asleep
107. Need to compulsively chew/smoke/bite
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⚫ PREVENTIVE & LONG-TERM GENERAL WELLNESS
108. Improved immunity
109. Better breath control (for yoga/pranayama)
110. Improved taste sensation
111. Higher oral awareness (teeth, gums, tongue)
112. Reduced sugar craving (via detox pathway)
113. More restful sleep
114. Lower dental expenses
115. Improved morning energy
116. Stabilised tongue microbiome
117. Reduction in need for synthetic oral products
118. Less dependence on lozenges, sprays
119. Better emotional discipline
120. Support in fasting or detox routines
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⚫ CONDITIONS WHERE IT MAY AID MODERN TREATMENT (Adjunct Only)
121. Mouth cancer prevention (for those at risk)
122. Post-COVID oral complications
123. Chemotherapy oral side effects
124. HIV oral health support
125. Sleep disorder oral linkages
126. Chronic halitosis unresponsive to dental care
127. Diabetic mouth dryness
128. Pre/post-surgery mouth healing
129. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (supportive)
130. Rehabilitation after facial nerve trauma
No need to check your dosha. No need for ayurvedic consultation. No need for expensive dental care unless there’s severe damage already.
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6. WHO SHOULD NOT DO IT (OR MODIFY IT)
Children below 8: risk of swallowing
People with extreme jaw weakness: reduce to 3 minutes
Those with dental implants: start slow, observe
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7. COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
Using the wrong oil (coconut, sesame, or flavored oils)
Skipping days or doing randomly
Swallowing the oil
Spitting in sink or toilet (blocks plumbing)
Expecting visible results in 3 days
Using refined store-bought castor oil (medical grade, not food grade)
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8. EXAMPLES FROM REAL LIFE
A retired government officer from Dharwad reversed chronic sinusitis and morning fatigue in 4 months of daily night pulling with Madhukar’s oil.
A 32-year-old woman in Pune with hormonal acne saw her skin clear and periods normalize in 5 months.
A diabetic patient in Hyderabad saw improved breath, reduced gum sensitivity, and better sugar levels—not just due to oil, but due to better sleep and digestion after pulling.
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9. WHY THIS IS NOT POPULAR
It is too simple. No one profits. No pharma company, no lab, no influencer.
It has no instant excitement. No visible “before–after” in a week.
People are too restless to stick to something that takes time but works.
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10. FINAL SUMMARY – ONE RULE FOR LIFE
Night-time castor oil pulling, done daily, is a foundation for self-healing.
You don’t need to overthink it. One spoon. 7 minutes. Every night. Done silently. No drama. No social media. No experiments.
Do it for 100 days and decide based on your own body—not on others’ opinions.
One Spoon Before Silence:
A Dialogue on Castor Oil Pulling
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Characters:
Madhukar – Low-profile natural healer, early riser, speaks with precision, sells traditionally made castor oil
Srinivas – 45-year-old government officer, thoughtful, sincere, recovering from chronic sinus, fatigue, and mouth ulcers
Adhya (14) and Anju (10) – Madhukar’s daughters, silently help with the healing space
Lalitha – Srinivas’s wife, quietly observant, asks direct questions based on reading
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Scene:
Early morning. Mud path still wet from overnight dew. Rooster calls fading. Madhukar is sitting near his front verandah with a clay tumbler of warm water. A small steel box of castor oil bottles sits beside him. Srinivas and Lalitha arrive, having travelled from Hubli the previous night.
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Srinivas (removing his shoes):
Namaskara, Madhukar avare. I’ve heard about you from Ramappa. He said, “Before you try ENT specialists again, go see the man who’ll ask you nothing but hand you a spoon of oil.”
Madhukar (smiles lightly):
He exaggerated. I ask plenty. But not the kind of questions doctors ask. Sit down. What brings you?
Srinivas:
Three things. Constant sinus drainage. White ulcers in the mouth, coming and going for years. And fatigue—mental more than physical. I sleep, but I wake up tired. Always.
Lalitha (interjecting):
He’s been on antacids for 4 years. Allergy meds every week. ENT prescribed nasal spray for lifetime use. Nothing’s improving.
Madhukar (nodding):
You’re cleaning the ceiling while the septic tank is leaking. These symptoms are all surface signals. Your system is burdened. I’ll recommend just one practice. One spoon of castor oil in your mouth, every night, for 7 minutes.
Srinivas (frowning slightly):
Oil in the mouth? As in swallowing?
Madhukar:
No. Swishing. Holding and gently moving it around your teeth, tongue, gums, cheeks. Then spitting. Simple.
Srinivas:
Will that help my sinus?
Madhukar:
Yes. Not because it clears the nose, but because it reduces the toxic load that’s inflaming your whole head system. Sinus, gums, eyes, ears—all share drainage. If you reduce microbial and chemical load in the mouth daily, the sinus follows.
Lalitha:
But why castor oil? Everyone recommends coconut or sesame.
Madhukar:
Those are good for daily brushing or massages. But for pulling, castor oil draws deeper. It’s heavier. It goes where others can’t. It pulls from lymph, nerves, and even old mucus pockets in the mouth and jaw. Over time, it shifts even hormonal patterns.
Adhya (softly, handing a small glass bottle):
We filled this yesterday, uncle. Appa says this batch smells clean.
Srinivas (to Adhya):
Thank you, kanna.
Madhukar:
Only use oil that’s cold-pressed, from known source. No scent, no mixing, no plastic. What you put in your mouth daily becomes part of your blood in hours.
Srinivas:
Should I do it in the morning?
Madhukar:
No. Do it only at night. Your body’s real cleaning begins at night. Swish before bed. No phone, no brushing after. Let the nervous system settle. It will help your sleep, too.
Lalitha (quoting):
I read one study saying oil pulling reduces Streptococcus mutans. But is that all?
Madhukar:
That’s a side benefit. What matters is how your breath improves, your mouth feels lighter, your digestion starts without heaviness in the morning. You’ll stop snoring, your sinus clears gradually, and your sleep becomes deeper.
Srinivas:
How long should I continue?
Madhukar:
Do it for 100 nights. Don’t miss even one. After that, your own body will tell you whether it wants to stop. Most people continue lifelong—not because I told them, but because their mouth no longer wants to sleep dirty.
Anju (giggling):
Appa says tongue is like the front gate of the house. You can’t have garbage there and expect guests inside.
Srinivas (smiling):
Smart girl.
Lalitha:
Any side effects?
Madhukar:
Mild ones. First 3–10 days, some people feel a coated tongue, light nausea, or sleepier mornings. That’s adjustment. If oil is pure and swishing is gentle, nothing harmful happens.
Srinivas:
Should I change anything else in my routine?
Madhukar:
Yes. Add these:
Eat your dinner before 7:30 pm.
Reduce sugar and tea gradually.
Avoid fruit after sunset.
Walk after dinner.
Sleep before 10:30 pm.
But even if you don’t change these, start with the oil. Change comes from one anchor habit.
Lalitha:
How much should he use?
Madhukar:
Start with one teaspoon. If it feels comfortable, go up to one tablespoon. Never more. Swish slowly for 5 to 7 minutes. No talking, no multitasking.
Srinivas:
Can I give it to my son? He’s 6.
Madhukar:
No. Wait till 8 or 9 years of age. Small children may swallow by mistake. You can apply castor oil on his belly instead.
Srinivas:
Okay. I’ll start tonight.
Madhukar (hands him a note):
This is a tracking log. Mark every day for 100 days. Not for discipline, but for reflection. You’ll start seeing a pattern—how food, mood, and sleep shift gradually.
Lalitha:
Can I also do it?
Madhukar:
Yes. Especially if you have hormonal issues, coated tongue, bad breath, or fatigue. But don’t treat it like a beauty ritual. It’s basic hygiene—like bathing.
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[Short pause. They hear a cow mooing nearby. Adhya brings roasted groundnuts. The smell of castor oil still lingers faintly in the cool morning air.]
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Srinivas (quietly):
I didn’t expect something so basic. One spoon. Seven minutes. No product, no scans, no drama.
Madhukar:
That’s why it works. No expectation, no excitement, no marketing. Only quiet, daily action.
Lalitha:
And no side effects to regret ten years later.
Anju (grinning):
Except you might get addicted to clean breath!
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Epilogue – Madhukar’s Log Entry
> Srinivas, age 45. Chronic sinus, fatigue, mouth ulcers. Started night-time castor oil pulling 30 July 2025. Pure oil given. No brushing after. 100-day log issued. First follow-up planned after 45 days. No charge for advice. Result not guaranteed—but effort respected.
SIX MONTHS FOLLOW UP OF OIL PULLING THERAPY
🔻Characters
Madhukar – Natural healer, quiet, low-profile, direct.
Sahana – 38, school teacher, had chronic gum bleeding, constipation, and low energy when she first visited.
Anju – Madhukar’s younger daughter, occasionally helping.
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🕰️ Scene: A calm early morning, six months after first visit
(The neem tree outside has shed last night’s dew. Sahana arrives, sits on the red stone bench with a folded dupatta. She smiles gently.)
Sahana:
Six months, Madhukaranna. I’ve not skipped even once.
Madhukar:
Night pulling?
Sahana:
Only night. Only castor oil. Five to seven minutes, as you said.
Madhukar: (nods)
Any changes? You’ve been noting?
Sahana:
Yes. The bleeding gums stopped in 12 days. Constipation improved in three weeks. Now I get full bowel in morning—smooth, single, no strain.
Madhukar:
Breath?
Sahana:
Clean. No smell in mornings. Earlier I used to avoid talking close to students. Now it’s okay.
Madhukar:
Sleep?
Sahana:
Deeper. I fall asleep faster too. And no longer wake up feeling foggy. The heaviness in my head is gone.
Madhukar:
You didn’t switch to coconut or sesame?
Sahana:
No. Only your castor oil. Smell is thick, taste is strong—but I got used to it.
Madhukar:
You’re not supposed to like it. You’re supposed to finish it. That’s enough.
(Anju walks by with the day’s fresh drumstick leaves and peeks at the log sheet Madhukar is writing on.)
Anju:
Aunty got 25 stars. Even I don’t brush my teeth every day so regularly.
(They chuckle. Madhukar raises his eyebrow at Anju.)
Sahana:
At school, two of my colleagues started too. One had ulcers, another sinus. They also use castor oil now.
Madhukar:
That’s how change spreads—quiet, slow, one honest result at a time.
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✅ Observed Changes Noted in Madhukar’s Log
Bleeding Gums: gone in 12 days
Constipation: resolved in 3 weeks
Morning breath: completely clean
Sleep: deeper, uninterrupted
Tongue: clearer, no white coat
Energy: more even throughout day
Mood: less irritable on waking
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📝 Madhukar’s Observations (Later Written in Notebook)
> “Castor oil pulling at night suits her prakriti. Did not miss a single day. Didn’t demand shortcuts or variety. Shows that discipline heals more than substances.
One teacher healed → two more began. Mouth to mouth, not mouth to mic.
Let it stay that way.”
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🍃 Epilogue:
As Sahana gets up to leave, she ties the oil bottle tightly and keeps it upright in her bag.
Sahana:
Can I stop now?
Madhukar:
You don’t stop bathing because you feel clean.
You don’t stop breathing because you feel relaxed.
Oil pulling is not a treatment. It’s daily waste removal.
Sahana:
So lifelong?
Madhukar:
As long as you want lifelong clarity. It’s not my rule. It’s nature’s.
(She bows lightly and walks away into the soft morning sun. Madhukar checks his daily oil pulling log. The list grows silently, steadily.)
OIL IN THE MOUTH,
TRUTH ON THE FLOOR
a slow-burn howl on castor oil pulling and the shit nobody tells you
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I.
They say keep your mouth clean.
Brush twice.
Floss once.
Scrape the tongue
like it’s a battlefield you can win.
But they never told you
what your tongue hides
is what your blood drinks.
That your spit
is your second blood.
They give you toothpaste
in peppermint guilt
and mouthwash
in blue alcohol.
But nobody ever gave you
a bottle of truth.
Just thick, yellow, sticky
room-temperature honesty
that tastes like it came from the backside of the earth.
Castor oil.
The poor man's elixir.
The village's leftover.
The tribal’s wisdom
filtered through the shame of modernity.
They call it messy.
Old.
Unscientific.
But nothing removes yesterday like this oil.
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II.
You wake.
Gargle the lies of life.
Go back to bed with them.
You wake again.
You chew the rot.
You smile at the mirror
not knowing
your gums are bleeding shame
from every postponed decision,
every fake yes.
Oil pulling is not about whitening your teeth.
It’s about pulling the lies out
one spit at a time.
It’s about silence.
About sitting with your poison
without swallowing it.
5 minutes of truth
in a world that gives you none.
7 minutes of holding what you were meant to expel.
10 minutes of pure discipline.
Not to look better.
But to rot slower.
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III.
Coconut oil is gentle.
Sesame oil is golden.
Sunflower is trendy.
But castor oil?
Castor oil is an old woman with a sickle.
She doesn’t sweet-talk your body.
She cuts the root.
It stinks of honesty.
It clings like a stubborn past.
It doesn’t let go easy—
which is why it works.
The modern man wants speed.
The modern woman wants taste.
But healing is boring.
Ugly.
Repetitive.
Honest.
You pull castor oil at night
not because you want glowing skin,
but because your colon is still carrying
the trauma of 200 WhatsApp messages
and three packs of chips.
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IV.
In Kalaburagi, a mother gave her son oil to gargle.
He gagged.
She didn’t flinch.
That’s how traditions last.
In Hubli, a doctor hides the bottle behind his geyser.
In Bengaluru, a CEO does it while scrolling stock market graphs.
They don’t post it.
They just do it.
Because castor oil doesn’t trend.
It works.
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V.
You think this is about teeth?
No.
This is about waste.
Physical, emotional, ancestral.
Everything you never digested.
Your bleeding gums are not a dental problem.
They are unsaid things rotting in your head.
Your constipation isn’t about roughage.
It’s about not letting go.
So every night,
you stand before the basin
like a priest before his dying god,
tilt your head back,
pour the golden demon into your mouth,
and wait.
No music.
No filter.
Just thick oil and
everything you’ve carried since childhood
starting to move.
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VI.
In the end, nobody knows.
Your neighbour thinks you’ve improved your toothpaste.
Your dentist thinks you stopped sweets.
Your husband thinks it’s yoga.
Only the sink knows
what you pulled out.
It knows your regret.
Your overthinking.
Your rotting job.
Your fights.
Your fast food.
Your unspoken grief.
It knows everything.
But it doesn’t judge.
It just swallows.
Like the oil did before you spit.
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VII.
Oil pulling with castor oil
won’t get you on magazine covers.
It won’t become a wellness trend
with lavender candles and flute music.
It will just make you real.
And sometimes,
that’s all you need.
A thick stink.
A quiet ritual.
A moment of truth.
And a clean, humble mouth.
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No award for it.
No applause.
No followers.
Just one less disease.
One less hospital.
One more honest night.
And that,
is enough.
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.end.