Why use Copper to Scrape Your Tongue?

the ancient cure for bad breath

When bacteria on the tongue and in the oral cavity break down proteins in the mouth, volatile sulfur compounds are released (VSCs). VSCs include the delightful rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide) and the farmyard smell (methyl mercaptan), which is where 90% of halitosis originates from.

This tongue coating is considered one of the most prominent sources of VSCs and can be treated effectively by using a tongue scraper – especially copper!

So what’s so special about cooper?

It was traditionally believed that copper helps to support lymphatic function.

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and vessels responsible for transporting waste and toxins out of your body. It pretty much acts as the gatekeeper to our body’s immune system!

“Copper ions were believed to absorb into the lymph and blood and support a healthy immune response.”

– John Douillard, Ayurvedic practitioner

Copper has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years: Egyptians used copper to sterilize chest wounds and drinking water. The Greeks, Romans, and Aztecs also used copper compounds to treat infections and burns.

the pathogen restrictor

Copper is essentially an ancient bacteria-resistant metal that not only seems to be toxic to bad bacteria, but it supplies important enzymes that increase the growth of good bacteria.

Copper is naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial, killing each creepy critter on direct contact!

Scraping the tongue with copper will reduce the bacterial load and increase certain enzymes that our healthy microbes need.

Bacteria, yeasts and infection are literally destroyed on contact with copper!

According to one of the ancient Ayurvedic texts, Charaka Samhita, tongue scrapers should be made out of either gold, silver or copper. Silver is traditionally used to cool the body down, gold is heating and copper is neutral.

Out of the three metals, we’re sure you would agree that copper is not only the most easily accessible but also the least expensive. AND it’s the absolute winner when it comes to balancing the oral microbiome of your mouth!

“In one study, the antiseptic benefits were so great that, when copper was put in hospital rooms as furnishings, the bacteria count on all the surfaces in the rooms was significantly reduced. Some hospitals are now incorporating copper furnishings as part of their anti-bacterial strategies.”

– John Doulliard

So if you haven’t already, go and pick yourself up a copper tongue scraper from your nearest natural health store and scrape those toxins away!

Want to know how to tongue scrape? Check out our article ‘Why Dentists Recommend that Patients Scrape their tongues‘ and find out how.

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