SELF HEALTH + HEALING

Practical, medicinal, and mystical, essential oils bridge the gap between real and ethereal. Whether it’s lice or lethargy, there’s an oil for that.

 

Essential oils have been used for centuries, from Ancient Egypt to the Ayurvedic tradition to the modern massage table, for therapeutic, cosmetic, and ceremonial purposes. With powerful effects both immediate and prolonged, and mounting scientific evidence of their benefits, these potent compounds are regaining popularity as safe and effective tools to support physical wellness, enhance yoga and meditation practices, and maintain emotional balance.

"The world's oldest healing science holds the secrets to better digestion. And guess what? Most of us aren't practicing them."

 

Sure, you make good-for-you smoothies in your NutriBullet, frequent Hu Kitchen and The Butcher's Daughter, and generally go for natural desserts over fake ones, but you've stillgot digestive drama.

And that, according to Larissa Hall Carlson, an expert in Ayurveda—the five-thousand-year-old Indian medicinal practice—is because what you put in your body is only half the story.

"In Ayurveda, the mindfulness of eating is more important than what we eat," she says. "Changing the way people approach food really affects gas, bloating, and indigestion."

"How do I say this without raising an eyebrow? I rinse my mouth with oil every morning, and it has transformed my body. This ancient practice of washing out with your mouth with oil every morning, or even three times a day, has completely detoxed my body.

Allow me to introduce you to the ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling. I've been oil pulling for close to a year now, and my dental hygiene is impeccable; my teeth are white, glossy and my gums are a healthier pink color. That’s just the beginning. Oil pulling can also rev up your metabolism and literally wakes you up in the morning. Coffee? What coffee? In the event your wine bottle tips itself into your glass too many times the night before, oil pulling works remarkably well to clear out that fuzzy morning fog."

Coconut Oil Pulling Detox

 

 I have a habit of asking healthy, thriving seniors what their secret to longevity is.

 

I get a mixture of old wives’ tales as well as tried and true practices (drink lots of water daily, don’t drink alcohol, eat five veggies a day, don’t smoke). Occasionally I get an answer that piques my interest and leads me to do research and experimentation.

 

Oil Pulling was one of those interesting suggestions. I can say, after having done it for quite a while now…it really works. This is an ancient Ayurvedic practice used to detox the body with results like: