Your skin does so much for you. Why not return the favor?
Take care of your body’s largest organ and promote its elimination function by dry skin brushing. It’s a healthy therapy that can potentially benefit the whole body.
The practice has been traced back thousands of years to India’s ancient ayurvedic medicine. Known as garshana, this traditional dry massage was used to refresh and stimulate both the skin and the lymphatic system. Practitioners valued the enhanced blood circulation and accumulated toxin release that the therapy produced.
Let’s take a closer look at the potential advantages of dry brushing that keep it popular to this day.
Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing
Removes Dead Skin – This is probably the most obvious benefit of dry brushing. By eliminating dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, you are promoting cell renewal. This may also enhance your skin’s texture.
Unclogs Pores – When your skin’s pores become blocked with dead cells, uric acid and other impurities, your skin cannot “breathe” properly. Dry brushing helps keep pores clean and uncongested. In this environment, you can perspire (rid yourself of waste) effectively.
Stimulates Blood Circulation – Dry brushing may increase blood supply to the surface of the skin, which then encourages the release of toxins. Some describe the feeling as energizing.
Encourages Lymphatic Drainage – Lymph fluid moves through the body removing waste, invaders and dead cells. Dry brushing promotes the flow of lymphatic materials to support the immune system. (Read this informative post about the lymph system to learn more!)
Improves Skin’s Appearance – Dry brushing gives skin a healthy glow. It exposes a new layer of skin that looks and feels smoother. Since this practice helps stimulate sweat and oil glands, skin receives moisture for a soft look and feel.
Promotes Collagen Production – Brushing regularly may cause the body to produce more collagen. Since this helps thicken the skin, dry brushing is sometimes tied to a lessened appearance of cellulite.
Stimulates the Nervous System – By stimulating nerve endings in the skin, dry brushing also promotes the nervous system.
Use the Proper Tool
You should use a natural, firm, dense-bristle brush. The Purest Palm Body Brush from Earth Therapeutics is a great option. It’s a 100% vegetable product made from pure Japanese palm fiber that can be used dry or wet.
Earth Therapeutics also offers its Loofah Sisal Bath Mitt, which can exfoliate in a gentler way. You can get either one right here at Natural Healthy Concepts with free shipping in the USA.
No matter what brush you use, it is important to regularly clean it. I recommend washing your brush weekly with hot, soapy water and leaving it in the sun to dry.
Technique
People who dry brush generally like to stand in the shower so they don’t have to clean up the falling skin. While methods vary slightly, these instructions should give you a good idea of what is involved in the practice.
How to Dry Brush
Starting from your feet, brush upward towards your heart. Work your way up the legs in long, sweeping strokes. Be sure to go all around the legs. Use a level of pressure that is comfortable for you. It should not be painful. As your skin gets used to the brushing, you will likely increase pressure over time.
Next, brush the abdomen in a circular motion.
Moving to the arms, brush from the palm inwards to the heart. Again, be sure to go all around the arms.
As you get to the chest, switch to circular motions. You will lighten pressure on more sensitive areas like this.
Then brush down from the neck and, if you are able, upwards on the back.
Do not dry brush over open or sensitive skin!
Now you can shower. (Some suggest alternating the water temperature between hot and cold for a short time.)
Follow with a Natural Oil
After patting dry from your shower, apply a pure plant oil to your skin. Some of my favorites are almond, grapeseed, jojoba, avocado and sesame oils.
Demonstration
Watch my video below to see a demonstration of the dry skin brushing technique.
You might be wondering how often to dry brush your skin. In a perfect world, dry skin brushing would be practiced every day – even twice per day! Do the best you can and make it part of your routine.
Do you practice dry skin brushing? What kind of results have you enjoyed? Comment below to share your opinion with our readers.
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