Everyone Seems to Be Oil Pulling — What Is It, and Should You?
While being swamped with wellness trends on social media is nothing new these days, it’s the posts promising an unending amount of benefits that catch our eye the most.
And one trend as of late that TikTokers are swearing by? Rubbing castor oil on your stomach and in your belly button, otherwise known as oil pulling.
Yes, as strange as it sounds, influencers are saying it’s the holy grail of detoxification — nixing any feelings of bloat or constipation. Simply searching “castor oil” on TikTok will result in an endless scroll of influencers rubbing the oil in a circular motion on their stomachs and securing it with a fabric bandage-like heat pack for optimal absorption.
There actually is some truth to this as the FDA has only approved castor oil as a stimulant laxative but it “is not recommended as a first-line treatment for constipation.”
Derived from the seeds of the ricinus communis plant, oil pulling is nothing new. It stems from ayurvedic practices — a holistic and natural approach to wellness rooted in Indian tradition connecting spiritual and physical health.
However, before we all start adding castor oil to our wellness routines, it’s worth noting that it’s not necessarily recommended by healthcare professionals.
“There is absolutely no scientific proof that these practices have any benefits whatsoever,” family physician Dr. Kevin Hopkins, MD, told the Cleveland Clinic of the de-bloating characteristics being boasted on TikTok. “There’s just no catchall remedy that can ‘detox’ your body.”
So while evidence of any benefits here is lacking, those still looking to try it out should do so carefully — and be aware that oil pulling can be a bit messy on sheets or clothes! The Cleveland Clinic also notest that it can also cause skin irritation and diarrhea and vomiting if ingested and should never be put directly on your eyes.
