The skin plays a vital role in ridding the body of toxins and impurities. Dry skin brushing is one of the best techniques to open up the pores of the skin, and to stimulate and detoxify the lymphatic system.The skin is the largest organ in the body, and is responsible for one-fourth of the body's detoxification each day. It also makes it one of the most important elimination organs! For this reason the skin is also known as the "3rd" kidney, with the lungs being known as the 2nd kidney.
Our circulatory system has its own pump (our heart) to move blood through our bodies but our lymphatic system does not. It primarily relies on our movement to assist it. Typically, the more active we are physically the better condition our lymphatics will be.
Skin brushing helps move lymph fluid and gives us a jump-start on health. When the pores are not clogged with dead cells and the lymphatic system is cleansed, the body is able to carry out its important function of eliminating toxins and waste material.
Under normal circumstances the skin eliminates more than one pound of waste products every day. If the skin becomes inactive with its pores clogged with millions of dead cells and other debris, toxins will remain in the body. This puts undue stress on the other eliminative organs, mainly the kidneys and liver, making them increase their activity. Eventually they become overworked.
Skin brushing helps exfoliate and invigorate our skin too. It increases our blood supply to the area bringing with it nourishment and oxygen. Dry skin brushing will not only help increase circulation and elimination of toxins, but will also make a huge difference to the quality of your skin and it will look and feel healthier.
Dry skin brushing improves the surface circulation of the skin and keep the pores of the skin open, encouraging your body to discharge metabolic wastes.
Dry skin-brushing - dry meaning not in the bath - will change the health of your whole body by helping it get rid of toxins.
Benefits of dry skin brushing
- stimulates the lymphatic system
- cleans toxins from the lymphatic system
- helps digestion
- stimulates circulation
- increases cell renewal
- strengthens the immune system
- tightens the skin
- removes dead skin layers and other debris collected in its pores
Use the Right Kind of Brush
The brush used should be a long-handled, bath-type brush. It is essential that it contain natural bristles and not synthetic ones. Synthetic bristles will scratch the surface of the skin and are harsh and irritating. The brush should be kept dry and not used for bathing.Thoroughly wash the brush with soap and water every couple of weeks. Always allow the brush to dry out when not in use.
How to Do Dry Skin Brushing
The body should be dry, and the brush should pass once over every part of the body except the face.The best time to do skin brushing is before showering or bathing at least once a day, and twice, if possible.
Do not wet the skin since it will not have the same effect because this stretches the skin.
The skin should not become red. If it does, you are probably brushing too hard.
There should be no back and forth motion, circular motion, scrubbing, or massaging - one clean sweep does it. Use long gentle, but firm, stokes.
The direction of the brushing should generally be towards the lower abdomen.
To brush the skin, use long gentle, but firm, strokes
- Start at the feet and legs brushing upwards to your groin.
- Then do your hands and go up your arms to the armpits.
- Then brush upwards on your buttocks.
- Brush down the neck, chest and trunk.
- Brush your lower abdomen towards the center.
- It is permissible to brush across the top of the shoulders and upper back as the best contact with the skin is made that way.
- Do not brush your face.
- Brush the breasts very lightly, avoiding the nipples.
Additional information
If you haven't done skin brushing before it is wise to start with only one pass over the skin's surface. Over time you can gradually increase the number of strokes done during each skin brushing session. The reason is that too much stimulation can be too hard on the body.And always use long gentle, but firm, strokes. Remember that your skin should not turn red, which means the pressure on your strokes is too heavy. The idea is to stimulate and not to irritate the skin.
Many people may find large amounts of lymph mucoid in their stools a day or two after beginning skin brushing. This is the emptying out of the backlog of mucoid from the lymphatic system and is the effect of detoxifying the lymph system.
