Picture: Dhanvantari: received Ayurveda from Brahma
Ever since I have started using the ancient science of oil pulling, taking some oil in the mouth and swishing it about for recommended time of 20 minutes (I have seen recommendations that span three and a half to twenty minutes) I noticed reduced tooth pain and bleeding in the gums, whiter teeth and an overall good feeling in the mouth. Dr. Fife, a naturopath, has written a good deal on the subject and the importance of oral health and how it relates to the health of the entire body.
Dr. Fife specifically recommended the use of coconut oil for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral punch. Two different people who recently started oil pulling have reported back that when they went to see their dentist they were told they had the healthiest gums the dentist had seen. Good confirmation for the continued use of oil pulling. Twenty minutes may sound like a long time, but when you combine it with taking a shower, or as I do walking/running on the re-bounder, it easily becomes part of your morning routine. Be sure to spit it out in a trash can and not down the sink as it becomes a solid when less than 76 (24 C) degrees F.
I have also been experimenting with the use of turmeric. Turmeric is also used in India’s traditional healing arts Ayurveda (life-knowledge). There has been evidence of Ayurveda being used in the Indus Valley dating back 5,000 years. Today Turmeric is being investigated in Western medicine for its many wonderful qualities.
Turmeric, with curcumin its active ingredient, is known for its anti-inflammatory (read joint pain among other things), is an anti-oxidant, leads to better brain health by boosting brain derived neurotrophic factor, may lower heart disease, help prevent cancer, and helps against depression. Turmeric only has about 3% curcumin and it is difficult for the body to absorb it (pepper increases its absorbency by 2,000%).
I am not good about taking supplements but for the past couple of months I have been using a concentrated dose of turmeric and ginger, adding a couple of pepper corns for absorbency. The results of more joint flexibility and less pain have been significant. There are many websites that talk about the benefits of turmeric, but one is http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric/. One warning is that it is a blood thinner and should not be used if going in for an operation. It also must be taken with food or it gives an unpleasant taste when burped up.
One of the many uses for turmeric is as a teeth whitener. It helps to produce good oral health (commercial whiteners can actually cause gum inflammation and receding gums), besides whitening teeth it is good for sensitive teeth, toothaches and gingivitis due to its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibiotic properties (one website to look on is http://naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/diy-homemade-natural-teeth-whitener/). This website includes baking soda in the recipe which I have not tried as of yet.
A simple recipe is to take 1/8 teaspoon of coconut oil melted, and ¼ tsp. turmeric powder in a small cup and mix with your toothbrush (which will be stained yellow), brush onto your teeth and leave for 3 ½ minutes and rinse. You may or may not notice a difference the first day, but by the third day you will definitely notice whiter teeth; it will also remove stubborn stains over weeks of use.
It is wonderful to find safe, inexpensive and effective aids for health and well-being and when I have experimented with them and found them effective I love passing them on to you. There is much news about the cost of healthcare today, and Western medicine has developed many wonderful treatments. However, I think there are many, many things we can do for our health that are not expensive, that does not require a lawyer or chemist to decipher the warning labels (which sometimes includes death), and that add value to the time that we are in the body.
One of the greats in medicinal history was Hippocrates (400 B.C) who is referred to as the “Father of Western Medicine.” He is famous today for the oath that all M.D.s take. He wrote, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” He also wrote that “Walking is man’s best medicine,” Western Medicine would be well served to recall these words, as would we all.