Oil pulling

Oil pulling is an alternative medical practice in which oil is 'swished' around the mouth. There is no good evidence to support the claims made for the benefits of oil pulling. Practitioners of oil pulling claim it is capable of improving oral and whole-body health, including a benefit in conditions such as headaches, migraines, diabetes mellitus, asthma, and acne, as well as whitening teeth. Some of its promoters claim it works by 'pulling out' toxins, which are known as ama in Ayurveda. There is no credible evidence to support this. There is no high-quality research on oil pulling, no understanding of a possible mechanism how it would work, and no evidence that it provides any benefit. The Canadian Dental Association assessed the practice of oil pulling in 2014 stating: 'We sense oil pulling won't do any harm, we're not convinced there are any particular benefits to it.'