Have you ever heard of Oil Pulling?

It’s an ancient Ayurvedic remedy that is a breath freshener and detoxifier in one. Oil pulling has many benefits for dental and oral health.

When I started Black Chicken Remedies back in 2000, it was a personal endeavour to reduce my toxic intake. I’d discovered that my lifestyle was literally inviting a party of toxins and nasty chemicals to come on in at free will and wreak havoc on my skin and body. I’d already cleaned up my diet and introduced organic food into my daily routine. But my allergies persisted and it wasn’t until my naturopath encouraged me to think outside the square that the penny dropped.

I began by taking a closer look at what I was putting on my skin, which led me to the creation of my first product, my Love Your Body Oil. From there I began exploring with more natural approaches to all aspects of health – including skincare, hair care, mindfulness and happiness.

What I didn’t know at the time was that I was embarking on a massive journey of self-health discovery and helping others to achieve better health and happiness too.

I’ll never stop exploring, learning and creating new (and re-creating old) remedies, and my latest discovery is testament to this. I’ve always wanted to create a healthier and more natural approach to mouth health. I’ve never trusted supermarket toothpaste and mouth wash products and I now know they are full of harmful chemicals.

Along the way, I’ve learnt why we really should put our money where our mouth is and invest in this valuable asset. Oral Swishing (or oil pulling) is a practice that naturally neutralises harmful bacteria and restores balance in the mouth. It's something I've introduced into my daily routine and my mouth has never felt so good!

Chey x

So how can we keep our mouth health in check?

As well as regular trips to the dentist and brushing our teeth at least twice a day (with natural ingredients of course) there are some ancient Ayuervedic remedies we can use to keep our mouth healthy and happy.

It's worth noting that tooth decay never existed until we introduced refined foods (which is code for processed foods and added sugar). Glancing at the history books tells us that our Western diet of refined grains and sweet treats has done nothing for living healthy, long lives.

I'm not here to provide dietary advice (well, at least not today!) but what I can tell you is that cleaning your mouth with natural ingredients which have antibacterial properties can greatly reduce the amount of nasties which reside in your mouth and end up in your gut and beyond.

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine, which evolved in India some 3000-5000 years ago. Ayurvedic wisdom is becoming more wide-spread and for good reason.

The Ancient Ayurvedic practice of swishing then expelling oil from the mouth has been used for thousands of years. It is known (and proven) to draw out oil-soluble toxins from your body.

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine, which evolved in India some 3000-5000 years ago. Ayurvedic wisdom is becoming more wide-spread and for good reason. It focuses on achieving balance in the mind and body through a holistic approach using diet, herbs, breathing and mindfulness. Anyone who is familiar with Black Chicken Remedies will know that this aligns perfectly with our philosophy.

What’s in Oral Swishing Oil?

I wanted to come up with something that would not only clean my mouth and balance my mouth bacteria, but also something that would deliver nutrients to specifically build a healthy mouth microbiome (meaning a happy and healthy mouth). I also wanted to achieve long lasting fresh breath – well, who doesn’t want this?

The ingredients in our Oral Swishing Oil include organic oils – Coconut, Sesame, Hemp, Castor and Avocado – as well as Peppermint essential oil (for minty breath!) and Cardamom and Vitamin E for added nutrients.

The powerful combination of detoxifying ingredients in Oral Swishing Oil will stimulate the lymphatic system and immune systems, while Peppermint oil, as well as freshening breath, also helps to stimulate and soothe the digestive system.

But the hero ingredient is Myrrh!

If you are not familiar with the wonderful Myrrh, I call it a myrrh-icle oil!!!

It’s health and wellness benefits are extensive – it is used to soothe toothaches, gingivitis, and mouth ulcers, while also freshening breath.

Myrrh oil detoxes the mouth by stopping infection in its tracks and encouraging tissue repair. With the ability to expel mucus, it is also a huge help in calming the respiratory system.

Alongside this, it has relaxing affects on the mind and body, which are down to the chemical compounds that stimulate the pituitary gland. This is why it’s often used for meditative purposes.

When Myrrh is combined with other oils and natural ingredients, the result is a highly effective mouth cleanser and breath freshener – better than any mouth wash you would buy at the supermarket and much better for your health.