Dry Brushing

 

 

Detoxification is performed by a number of organs, glands, and transportation systems, including the skin, gut, kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system, and mucous membranes. The dry brushing technique deals with detoxification of the skin. 

 

Did You Know?

 

 

• The skin is the largest and most important eliminative organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day?

• The skin eliminates over one pound of waste acids each day in the average adult, most of it through the sweat glands?

• That the skin is known also as our third kidney?

• That the skin receives one third of all the blood circulated in the body?

• That the skin is the last to receive nutrients in the body, yet the first to show signs of imbalance or deficiency?

 

Dry brushing is a classic ayurvedic ritual that involves brushing your full body with a special bristled tool. Skin brushing has been practiced in many cultures over the years to improve skin hygiene. By keeping the skin free from dry, dead skin cells, waste removal from the body is greatly enhanced, blood flow is increased, and build-up of bacteria is decreased. 

 

The best time to skin brush is before a shower or before bed. Using a natural vegetable bristle or loofah brush, start at the feet using gentle, quick strokes and move upward toward the heart covering most of the body. This is the direction of lymph and venous blood flow. It is completely normal for the skin to feel slightly tingly, but be sure to avoid harsh brushing and brushing over open wounds, the face, or over any lymphatic malignancies. 

 

 

Dry brushing is an effective way to stimulate all the above organs of detoxification because it provides a gentle internal massage.

 

 

How to Brush?

 

Starting at the feet, brush the bottoms of the feet and up the legs in long, smooth strokes. Brush each section of skin about 10 times. It's important to brush up toward the heart/chest area where the lymph system drains.

 

Repeat the same process with the arms, starting with the palms of the hands and brushing up the arm toward the heart. Again, brush each section of skin about 10 times.

On the stomach and armpits, brush in a circular clockwise motion. Repeat the process on the abdomen and back. Use a more delicate brush on your face to finish off the dry brushing process.