Oil Pulling Cup
Oil Pulling Cup (Sanskrit: Kavala / Gandusha Patra) is an instrument used in nasal and oral devices. A small cup or vessel used to measure and hold medicated oils, decoctions, or other liquids for Kavala (gargling/swishing with smaller quantity) and Gandusha (holding liquid to full mouth capacity) practices.
| Sanskrit name | Kavala / Gandusha Patra |
|---|---|
| Ayurvedic category | Nasal and Oral Devices |
A small cup or vessel used to measure and hold medicated oils, decoctions, or other liquids for Kavala (gargling/swishing with smaller quantity) and Gandusha (holding liquid to full mouth capacity) practices.
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana Chapter 5 (Dinacharya); Sushruta Samhita Chikitsasthana Chapter 40; Ashtanga Hridaya Sutrasthana Chapter 22. Charaka attributes oil pulling with ability to treat about 30 systemic disorders.
How is it used traditionally?
Oral health, prevention of dental caries and gingivitis, strengthening gums and teeth, treatment of jaw disorders, improving voice quality, treating oral ulcers. Recommended with sesame oil (Tila Taila) as primary medium.
Traditional materials
- Copper (Tamra)
- Silver (Rajata)
- Brass (Pittala)
- Earthenware
Modern variants
- Stainless steel measuring cups
- Glass cups
- Pre-measured oil pulling sachets
Regulatory status
- India Cdsco: Not classified as a medical device. The cup itself is a general vessel.
- Us Fda: Not regulated as a medical device. The oils used may be subject to cosmetic or supplement regulations.
- Eu Mdr: Not classified as a medical device.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.