I’ve done some weird stuff in my time in the pursuit of ‘wellness’ (NB. somebody is usually paying me for the privilege), but nothing has quite piqued my attention in the way that oil pulling has. Because, I’m putting this out there from the off, I think it works.

If you’re still stuck on the phrase ‘oil pulling’ let me enlighten you. It’s an ancient Ayurvedic practise that entails swilling a teaspoon of natural oil, traditionally sesame or coconut, around your mouth first thing in the morning for up to 20 minutes  (typically I get to about 11) before spitting it out and trying very hard not to gag.

Like many of the ancient Ayurvedic practises, it’s not glamorous – have you ever seen a tongue scraper? – but the oil has a drawing effect on fat soluble toxins in the nooks and crevices of the mouth that, I believe, is far superior to a cursory gargle of Listerine. Potential health benefits are cited as curing a multitude of modern world ills, from gum disease to acne. Even lessening the risks of heart disease, though none of this has been conclusively proven in medical trials. Yet.

‘There are many diseases that may be linked to bad oral health, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, ’ says Elouise Bauskis, a nutritionist at the NutriCentre.‘Oil pulling removes disease-causing microorganisms and toxins in the mouth that attribute to overall poor health. These microorganisms contain fatty membranes that are attracted to the oil you’re pulling or swilling. As you ‘pull’ the oil around your teeth and gums, bacteria hiding within the crevices in the gums and in the pores and tubules within the teeth are sucked out of their hiding places into the oil mix, which is spat out after, ideally, 20 minutes of oil pulling.’

"potential health benefits are cited as curing a multitude of modern world ills, from gum disease to acne"

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hollywood’s been at it for a while now. Talking to E!, Gwyneth says she swears by the ancient technique and Shailene Woodley raved about it on Into the Gloss. So far, so predictable you might be thinking. But have you seen these womens’ skin lately? Exactly. 

Of course, while the type of green juice consuming, yoga practicing health obsessive (and I totally count myself in this fickle demographic) subscribe blindly to an ancient, but as yet untested technique, there’s bound to be a backlash from the sensible voice of science.  Which is fair enough. I just choose not to listen. That fact that it has been practised in India for centuries, nay millennia, is good enough for me. And, as much as I rate the NHS as one of the most unsung institutions of the British Isles, I avoid seeing my GP at all costs in favour of self-prescribing alternative health remedies for any type of bug I come down with. I want to treat the cause, not just the symptoms. You might think that’s naïve, but I just trained to become a yoga teacher too, so I guess it goes with the territory.

So why the sudden popularity now? I’d hazard a guess that partly, as the rampant yoga boom continues to swell in the West and people turn towards meditation as an antidote to their ridiculously over-stimulated lifestyles, the simplicity and accessibility of oil pulling appeals. Of course when aspirational celebrities jump on the bandwagon, it does Ayurveda’s profile no harm at all. It’s worth noting though that oil pulling is just one tiny practise among a vast offering of treatments and herbal supplements that makes up Ayurveda as a whole. After all, it’s the primary form of health care in the Indian subcontinent.

I can’t be sure it’s the oil pulling that’s having an effect, I gave up sugar for a month recently to test the effects on my skin (see, I’ll try anything!), but so far after three weeks of regular practise, my complexion is definitely clearer and less spotty and that’s encouraging enough for me to keep up the daily swilling. Even Dr Whitney Bowe, a dermatologist and acne expert cited in the Daily Mail thinks that oil pulling could, in theory when you consider the link between the bacteria in our gut and our mouth, have beneficial effects for acne sufferers.

Yes it’s ancient and yes, it’s largely untested by the medical might of Western world, but I’m of the opinion that if it works for you, keep doing it. And it’s not just oil pulling either. Click through the gallery above to see the other ancient health practises currently infiltrating our health and beauty regimes.