The skin is our largest organ--it discharges more than a pound of waste products every day. This elimination process can be much more effective with daily body brushing, as it will improve the appearance of your skin and produce several health benefits. Dry brushing moves the lymph, improves circulation, reduces cellulite, stimulates your immune system, and keeps your skin clear of dead cells.
I started doing this when my daughter told me about it and I look forward to it every day now as it feels so good and is very stimulating. It is best to use a natural-bristle brush. You can find them at health food stores or online like this one:
http://www.vitacost.com/Earth-Therapeutics-Fuzz-Brush
There are various different kinds. I had a long handled brush at first, but found the one I have now (like the one in the link) is easier for me to handle and it is stiffer and feels more invigorating when I brush.
Dry brushing was recommended by the Finnish doctor, Paavo Airola, for his patients 30 years ago and is still popular in European spas and many cancer treatment centers today. The Russians, Turks and Scandinavians have used this treatment for centuries. Dry brushing is promoted as a preventative for dry skin and a way to exfoliate the skin, stimulating skin renewal.
Here is a list of dry skin brushing benefits:
1. Stimulates circulation
2. Cleanses the lymphatic system
3. Removes dead skin layers
4. Strengthens the immune system
5. Stimulates the hormone and oil-producing glands
6. Tightens the skin
7. Tones the muscles
8. Helps remove cellulite
9. Improves the function of the nervous system
10 Helps digestion
11. It’s easy, inexpensive, and invigorating
Tips for Dry Brushing:
Dry brush before you shower or bathe because you will want to wash off any wastes from the skin as a result from the brushing action. One suggestion I read said to stand in the shower so the dry skin dust will fall on the shower floor and wash down the drain when you bathe.
Use long sweeping strokes towards your heart, starting from the bottom of your feet upwards, and from the hands towards the shoulders, and on the torso to help drain the lymph back to your heart. I read that stroking away from your heart puts extra pressure on the valves within the veins and lymph vessels.
You’ll find you’re able to use more pressure with time as your skin gets used to skin brushing.
Skin brushing should be done daily. Any time spent brushing prior to bathing will benefit the body. If you are feeling ill, increasing the brushing to twice a day is good. Dry brushing areas of cellulite five to 10 minutes twice a day can stimulate cellulite dissolving.
You can finish your shower with a couple hot and cold cycles to further invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation, bringing more blood to the outer layers of the skin.
Afterwards, dry off vigorously and massage your skin with pure plant oils such as olive, avocado, apricot, almond, sesame, coconut or cocoa butter, mixed with some therapeutic essential oils.
Tip: If you google "body brushing video" you can find a few "you tube" ones that show you how.
