Naval Oiling: Separating Fact from Fiction

Published on November 6, 2023, 12:43 am

Navel Oiling: The Questionable Health Trend Taking TikTok by Storm

There’s no shortage of health trends on social media platforms like TikTok. From keto diets to intermittent fasting, people are always looking for new ways to improve their health and lose weight. However, one trend that has recently gained popularity on TikTok is raising eyebrows — navel oiling.

Also known as navel pulling, this practice involves massaging a few drops of oil onto your belly button. Influencers claim that it has numerous health benefits and is based on Ayurvedic methods from India.

Ayurveda is a historic medical system that involves using various oils, such as caster, peppermint, and ginger oil, on the belly button and surrounding abdomen. While this practice is not new, it has recently taken off on TikTok under the hashtag #naveloiling with over 11.5 million views.

But as with any health trend, there are claims that may not be supported by scientific evidence. Social media users suggest that navel oiling can treat conditions ranging from hernias and cysts to fibroids and endometriosis. Some even claim that it can promote weight loss and relieve stress.

However, according to Dr. Sarah Jenkins, a GP and women’s health expert, suggesting that oil can cure these issues is irresponsible without scientific evidence to support it. Health concerns such as these require scientifically proven interventions rather than relying on unverified trends.

Furthermore, the idea that the belly button contains over 70,000 veins extending throughout the body is simply not true. Dr. Gabrielle McCauley explains that the belly button is essentially a scar left after the umbilical cord has been cut during birth. It contains blood vessels with typically only one vein and two arteries – far from the claimed 70