What is dry brushing and why do it?
Benefits of Dry Brushing
If you’re not sure what dry brushing is, it’s the practice of using a soft bristle body brush over the entire body, usually before a shower. It is said to help get rid of flaky skin, increase circulation, detoxify, help digestion – and even improve the appearance of cellulite. This sounds great right? Is this all to good to be true? Well there isn’t a ton of scientific research on the topic unfortunately but, in my own personal experience the results are real. I have seen a dramatic improvement in my immune health practicing daily as well as a significant reduction in what used to be very troublesome carpal tunnel and shoulder pain.
How dry brushing works is that you brush dry skin in upward strokes toward the heart. Typically you start at the feet and work your way up. The theory behind brushing towards the heart is that you are working with the body’s natural lymph flow . Dry brushing originated as an Ayurvedic ritual and has roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I tend to take a second look at therapies that have stood the test of time and several generations before I look at the pills or ideas that have only recently been introduced into our culture.
The Ancient Egyptians were the pioneers of extraordinary beauty rituals. They were said to have used the dry body brushing technique going back thousands of years; exfoliating with natural enzymes from sour milk and wine for soft, supple skin.
Ayurveda is India’s 5,000 year old holistic health care system. Ayurvedic dry-brushing, called garshana (pronounced gar-shun-uh) was used to stimulate circulation and blood flow. Garshana is traditionally done using raw silk or linen gloves, though many prefer to use a natural bristle body brush.
Traditional Chinese dry brushing uses the dried fibres of a gourd fruit called silk squash, commonly known as a loofah. Externally, luffa can be used either alone or mixed with sesame oil to remove dead skin, stimulate circulation and is associated with the Lung, Stomach and Liver meridians.
The Ancient Greeks and Romans used strigils (a bronze instrument with a curved blade) with olive oil, to remove dirt, sweat and oil before they bathed. The famous ancient physician Aristotle – the Father of Medicine was said to be a fan of the strigils. Many people in these times were buried with their strigils.
Finnish nutritionist and naturopathic physician Dr. Paavo Airola popularized contemporary dry brushing 30 years ago. He stressed its function to increase digestion and support and to revitalize our organ systems. He incorporated objects like sand, sticks and other raw materials to support exfoliation.
There is no denying that dry brushing has been around for a while and there is a good reason for it. Here are just a few of the benefits of adding regular dry brushing to your morning routine:
Lymphatic System
The key benefit of dry brushing occurs to the lymphatic system. The dry brushing technique helps open the cells of the lymphatic drainage system and cycle cellular waste out. It helps prevent blockage in this system as well. So why should you be concerned about blockages in the lymphatic system, anyway? Unlike blood, lymph fluid does not have a powerful organ like the heart to “pump” it and help move it through the body. Because there is no pump, the lymphatic system relies on the body’s respiration and muscle contractions to continuously push lymph fluid toward the heart to be properly circulated throughout the body. And stagnant lymph is thought to promote toxin accumulation and prevent the body from getting important immune cells (called lymphocytes) where they are needed to defend the body against infection and disease.
Circulation
Poor circulation can cause a number of problems with the skin including a build up of dry skin cells and a buildup of fat in certain areas. The increase in circulation that is caused by the dry brushing technique can help stimulate your cells just like with the lymphatic system. This increased circulation helps with the removal of metabolic waste from the body which can help the skin distribute natural oils making the skin softer and smoother over time without the need for over the counter lotions that can have harmful chemicals and ingredients.
Stress Relief
Another leading benefit to dry brushing is the ability to add a new level of stress relief to your routine. The act of dry brushing can stimulate the skin and help release tension throughout the body without a hard massage or deep tissue option. That’s because, similar to massage, dry brushing may decrease the sympathetic fight-or-flight response . Following the dry brushing with a hot shower can also help relieve even more tension and stress. Ideally, you would follow all of that with something equally relaxing like alone time or mediation.
Who is dry brushing good for?
Anyone can add dry brushing to their wellness toolbox since it may be helpful for supporting overall health and detoxification and has no risks. In today’s world we are all overexposed to toxins from air, food, plastics, and other environmental sources. Helping to support the lymphatic system and the liver is a wonderful therapy to add into your life to aid in overall wellness and stress reduction. However, you may especially benefit from incorporating dry brushing if you suffer from certain conditions.
I recommend dry brushing as a complementary practice for all clients but find it most beneficial to those with a higher toxic load due to mold, heavy metals, histamine, hormonal imbalances or with impaired genetic detoxification pathways.
How do I dry brush my skin?
I like to get in a shower to dry brush allowing the dead skin cells to land where they can be washed away.
Using a natural bristled brush, start from the feet or ankles and work your way upward in long, fluid strokes on limbs. Don’t forget the soles of the feet.
Stop at the knees and perform circular motions around the kneecaps and the back of the knees and then continue up towards the groin.
Once you get to the groin massage the brush in a circular motion on each side.
Next, move the brush in a circular motion on your torso and back.
Proceed to the arms starting on the hands front and back.
Brush upwards towards the elbow and then stop and performa the same circular motions as on the the knees on your elbows.
Continue brushing towards the neck and then add sweeping strokes from the neck down towards the heart and over to the armpit. Perform circular motions in the armpit.
Since this process can be a little too much for sensitive areas like the abdomen, breasts and neck, lighten up the pressure as needed.
A few overlapping swipes per area is all you need. If you go over the same area for too long, you can cause irritation or bleeding.
Dry brush once a day and shower immediately afterward.
Enjoy this invigorating and peaceful self care routine and let me know what benefits you notice!
I would love to hear your story and see how I can support and guide you to regain your optimal wellness! Email me at dawn.strength@strengthenwellness.com
