Kabalam & Gandoosham : Age Old Technique Of Oil Pulling And More
By Dr. Mahima. K. M.
Gargling is a traditional practice of oral care in Ayurveda. Most of us do salt water gargling to stop irritation in the throat or for teeth ache. In a randomized study published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2005 quotes “gargling tended to attenuate bronchial symptoms”.
This technique, when done with Oil is known as Oil Pulling. But why limit yourself to oil when into Ayurvedic concepts about gargling can help you in so many more ways than one?
In Ayurveda literature we come across two types of Gargling methods:
- Kabalam : Taking liquid in mouth and moving it around for a specific time period.
- Gandoosham : Filling mouth with liquids full without allowing in any movement inside.
How to do this?
- Best time for Kabala is soon after brushing teeth.
- You may massage and foment neck and shoulders.
- Keeping the face slightly lifted up, you can hold the liquid in mouth till mouth gets filled with phlegm or till secretions from nose/ eyes begins. This is Gandoosham.
- Kabalam is when you move the liquid around until you feel clean or for 5-10 minutes.
Points to take care:
- Don't swallow the liquid used for gargling.
- The liquid is best used be luke warm or room temperature.
Ayurveda recommends vast variety of fluids for gargling. Let's take a look at few of them:
- Sesame oil – for daily use for improving oral health.
- Ghee or milk - for burning sensation, ulceration or wounds in mouth.
- Honey – removes sliminess of mouth, heals ulcers.
- Warm water – brings about lightness and cleansing of mouth.
- Triphala decoction – reduces plaques and gingivitis, prevents cavities and bleeding gums.
- Sesame seed paste with water - in sensitivity of teeth, loose teeth etc.
Gargling therapy of Ayurveda has both curative and preventive effects. One must include this simple and effective therapy in your daily routine to improve oral hygiene.