Dry Brushing, Skin & Health Benefits
Dry brushing is not really new, or a trend for beauty enthusiasts. There are many benefits of Dry Brushing not only exfoliating the skin but also helping the lymphatic system to detoxify the body. Many spas are now offering this treatment as a health treatment for guests.
A few interesting facts:
The skin is known a our third kidney
The skin receives one third of all the blood circulated in the body
The skin is the last to receive nutrients in the body, yet is the first to show signs of imbalance and deficiency
The skin is the largest most important elimination organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day
The skin eliminates more than one pound of waste acids each day in the average adult, mostly through the sweat glands
Detoxification is performed by a number of organs, gland and the transportation systems including the skin, gut, kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system and mucous membranes. The dry brushing technique deals with detoxification of the skin.
Dry brushing stimulates all the above organs of detox because it provides a gentle internal massage.
Dry brushing cleans the lymphatic system. Lymph is considered part of our immune system and is made of white blood cells called lymphocytes and the interstitial fluid that bathe our cells, bringing our cells nutrients and removing waste. All detox occurs first and foremost through the lymph. Our bodies contain far more lymph than blood, so you can see how important this might be.
Dry brushing removes dead skin layers. Dry skin brushing helps shed dead skin cells, which can help improve the skin texture and cell renewal. Dry skin is a sign of detoxification. It is good to keep the process going by removing dead skin daily. If this does not occur, a “log jam” can happen where the person ends up with eczema, psoriasis and dandruff.
Dry brushing strengthens the immune system. Dry skin brushing may reduce duration of infection and accelerate the clearing of toxins. It helps support the immune system during cancer and other chronic illness treatment. By stimulating the lymph vessels to drain toxic mucoid matter into organs of detoxification we can purify the entire system. After several days of dry brushing you may notice gelatinous mucoid material in your stools. This is a normal sign that the intestinal tract is renewing itself. Best of all it feels invigorating.
Dry brushing stimulates hormone and oil glands, thus helping all of the body systems perform at peak efficiency. Skin is your body’s largest organ. When improperly maintained the elimination duties of the skin are forced upon the kidneys. Give your kidneys a break; keep your skin clean and rejuvenated. Bathe daily and do a dry brushing before the bath to help stimulate blood flow to the surface so that toxins can more easily escape.
Dry brushing tightens the skin by increasing the flow of blood, which in turn moves toxins and lessens the appearance of cellulite. Our bodies make a new top layer of skin every 24 hours – skin brushing removes the old top layer, allowing the clean new layer to come to the surface, resulting in softer, smoother skin.
Dry brushing tones the muscles. This helps muscle tone by stimulating the nerve endings, which causes the individual muscle fibers to activate and move. It also helps mobilize fat and helps to even distribution of fat deposits. This is a great technique for invalids who can’t exercise.
Dry brushing stimulates circulation. Our skin breathes. And yet in most people, this vital route of detoxification is operating far below its capacity because it is clogged with dead skin cells and the un-removed waste excreted through perspiration. Dry skin brushing increase circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes. Increased blood flow begins entering the areas brushed and you will experience an increase in electromagnetic energy that permits you to feel energized and invigorated. By activating the circulation you can also prevent varicose veins.
Helps digestion – Dry skin brushing helps your skin to absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores. When you brush, the pores of your skin open allowing your skin to absorb nutrients and eliminate toxins. Clogged pores are not just a cosmetic concern. Healthy, breathing skin contributes to overall body health.
How to Dry Brush:
Always dry brush your body when you are naked and dry, and before you shower or bathe because you will want to wash off the impurities from the skin as a result from the brushing action.
You can also dry brush using essential oils. Be sure they are pure, organic, therapeutic grade. A few oils you might want to try include: Cypress, Eucalyptus, Neroli and Rosemary, either together as a tonic, or individually. Apply one drop to your hand and then glide your brush over the oil before applying to your skin.
Use light pressure in areas where the skin is thin and harder pressure on places like the sole of the feet.
Skin brushing should be performed once daily, preferably first thing in the morning and it usually takes about 15 minutes. If you are feeling ill, increase treatments to twice a day can be beneficial.
Avoid sensitive areas on the skin, such as broken areas of skin rash, wounds, cuts and infections. Never brush an area affected by poison oak or ivy.
Added benefit: Finish up your shower with three hot and cold cycles. Turn water as hot as you can take it for several seconds and then cold as you can handle it. Do this three times. This will invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation.
After getting out of the shower, dry off vigorously and massage your skin with pure plant oils such as olive, avocado, apricot, almond, sesame, coconut or cocoa butter.
Clean your skin brush at least once per week with soap and water. Air dry.
Easy, Fast Directions for Dry Brushing:
Brush towards the heart. Stroking away from the heart puts extra pressure on the valves within the veins and lymph vessels and can cause ruptured vessels and varicose veins.
Begin with your feet and brush vigorously in circular motions
Continue brushing up your legs
Proceed to your hands and arms
Brush your entire back and abdomen area, shoulders and neck
Use circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen
Lightly brush the breasts
Brush upwards on the back and down from the neck.
We can take it a step further with a nice body scrub. Here is a recipe for Ginger-Lime Brown Sugar scrub if you’d like to give it a try. http://doterrablog.com/diy-ginger-lime-brown-sugar-scrub/
