CityView Magazine

56 | January/February 2015 Photography by Matthew Wonderly A few clicks around the Internet will turn up recipes for just about anything, along with a host of reviews from people who've tried it, swear by it or tweak it a little. There's even a growing number of blogs and social media pages dedicated to concocting homemade health products, from chest rubs and old school salves to cleaning products and dryer sheets. Each item has one common denominator— essential oils. The DIY Heath REVOLUTION BY MELISSA GOSLIN A rise in information touting the benefits of essential oils paired with more and more studies showing the downside of synthetic fragrance, more people are taking their health into their own hands. Brenda Harris, owner of Apple Crate Nat- ural Market, loves that her customer base has become increasingly knowledgeable. "So many of our DIYers love that they can control their ingredients. People are excited about knowing what is in the products they clean their house with and apply to their skin," Harris said. One of the biggest trends right now is actually an ancient practice. More and more, people are adding oil pulling, a technique that involves swishing oils through the mouth, into their daily rou- tines. In Ayurvedic medicine, the holistic healing system dating back thousands of years in India, oil pulling is used to draw toxins out of the body, improving dental and therefore overall health. Oil pulling is a simple process, but still involves a learning curve. First, there's the choice of oil. Traditionally, sesame or sunflower oil is used during the process. However, most newcomers are choosing to pull with coconut oil due to its anti- bacterial qualities. Other people find the thick, almost buttery texture of coconut oil too unappealing. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. To pull, take a tablespoon of the oil you choose and add a drop or two of essential oil, ei- ther to make the taste more palatable or to add extra benefit to the process. "A lot of people are using peppermint, lemon or cinnamon oils when they oil pull. It helps the taste as much as anything. We also have a specialty gum health blend that adds a lot of benefits," Harris said. As peo- ple learn more and share experiences over the Internet, the market has changed to meet the needs by creating more blended oils. "People don't need to buy six bottles now. ey can buy one bottle for a specific condition or use," Harris said. Once the essential oils are added, swish the oil around in the mouth for fif- teen to twenty minutes before spitting it out, preferably into a trashcan. Because the oil contains the toxins it pulls out of the body, definitely do not swallow it or spit it into the sink where it can potential- The benefits of oil pulling feature

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