Monday, October 25, 2010

Dry Skin Brushing

Part of my education in Holistic Medicine also includes taking care of your body's largest organ, which is the SKIN!

Autumn rushing into winter here and my skin is already turning dry. To prevent the discomfort that comes winter skin, try Dry skin brushing (also known as body brushing) .
"It is an old European self-care technique that is not only a great way to maintain healthy skin, but also helps you to maintain a healthy body. It helps remove the buildup of dead skin cells and helps stimulate the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins."




Not only is Dry Skin brushing so incredibly healthy for your skin and lymphatic system, it just plain feels good and who doesn't want healthy, young skin? So I thought I'd share in healthy living what dry skin brushing is.




Dry skin brushing:
Is a simple way to keep the skin soft, smooth, and healthy, as it stimulates the sweat and oil glands (which decrease production with age, resulting in mature skin often being dry) and stimulates the connective tissue and collagen in the skin




  • Exfoliates the layers of dead cells to enhance skin's appearance (skin's ability to shed the outermost layer of cells decreases with age)


  • Stimulates the skin circulation to improve elimination


  • Stimulates the lymphatic system, accelerating filtration from the intercellular spaces to the lymph vessels, the emptying of lymph vessels to the nodes, and the flow of lymph through the nodes (remember that the lymph does not have its own pump like blood, so relies on muscle movement and manual stimulation such as that through massage and skin brushing)


  • Tones the muscles, stimulates the nerve endings, and relaxing the muscles
    Redistributes fatty deposits by improving circulation and avoiding lymphatic congestion


  • Can help break up areas of cellulite and prevent further cellulite by avoiding lymphatic and capillary congestion


  • Increases and stimulates circulation, especially of the small capillaries under the skin


Important:



Never wet the brush: Dry skin is important as water acts as a lubricant and the beneficial affects of the friction are lost

Always dry brush BEFORE getting into the shower!

Use a natural bristled brush, preferably a long handled bath brush. Note that it must be of natural bristles - nylon tears the skin and disturbs the electro-magnetic balance of the skin



Take your brush and start in small circles brushing all over the body on bare skin (note that the photos above showing brushing over clothing are for demonstration only)



As you move through each area, it may assist lymphatic flow to begin in the lymph node for that area, then work from the outer extremities towards that lymph node.


Begin at the feet and work towards the heart to stimulate venous circulation


Do not brush the face or any tender or inflamed areas


Do brush the soles of the feet


The brush may feel very rough to begin with so just use gentle pressure until you become used to the sensation. Increase the pressure as needed



Dry skin brush at least once a day for best results



If desired, you can follow your dry skin brushing with a simply hydrotherapy technique: a shower that alternates hot then cold shower. The hot and cold temperature further stimulates the circulation but is not vital. If this is too traumatic for you, just finish off with a shower at usual temperature



It can be helpful to follow dry skin brushing with a salt rub (use half a cup of sea salt or Epsom salt, add sufficient olive oil (you can also use sweet almond oil) to made a paste. Add a few drops of essential oil if you wish). Rub all over the body, avoiding the eyes, mucous membranes, and any broken skin. Then rinse off in the shower.



If you can dry skin brush consistently over a period of a few months, you will notice the benefits.

Do you skin brush? What benefits have you noticed?

I'm off to take my tests~ Aubrey

References:

www.achs.edu

www.bellaonline.com

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Ah, that sounds wonderful! I haven't done dry brushing in a LONG time. But realistically, hey I am doing good to just get the shower, never mind the special care before hand. Hah hah! :-)
Great Post!

HOPE said...

Very interesting and a must try..though I do already the Hot shower ending in the COLD..for the reason actually of Cooling off...glad to know it has other benefits..I NEED.

Great Health post...

A said...

I need this done! Sounds wonderful!