Oil pulling is an ancient Indian Hindu practice that began in India over 3,000 years ago as a variation of Ayurvedic medicine. The Ayurvedic medical model believes in a balance between the mind and body, and is primarily intended as a method of maintaining good health, rather than fighting disease. Historically, and for thousands of years, oil pulling was used to treat a variety of ailments including headaches, acne, diabetes, and asthma.