Lymphatic dry skin brushing is a practice with roots in ancient cultures that has gained popularity for good reason. Most of our daily routines include brushing our hair and teeth, but why brush the skin? The skin is THE largest organ and along with the liver, colon, kidneys and lungs is responsible for removing waste from our body. Hundreds of miles of lymphatic vessels allow waste to be collected from the tissues and transported to the blood for elimination. Dry skin brushing can be used as a tool to encourage removal of cell waste, environmental toxins, and pathogenic organisms more efficiently by stimulating the flow of lymphatic fluid under the skin. Many also report softer, firmer skin from the exfoliation process sloughing off dead cells and improving skin texture. Dry brushing is an item commonly seen on spa menus, but its simple application also makes it a perfect addition to a home self-care routine!
You Will Need:
About 10 minutes to yourself.
A body brush, like this one.
The bristles of a body brush make it easy for just about anyone to apply the appropriate pressure to benefit the skin and lymphatic system (less is more!).
How To:
Begin with clean, dry and bare skin.
Starting at each hand, apply short light brush strokes towards the shoulder, working your way up each arm. Follow this with long smooth brush strokes towards the torso.
Repeat the same technique starting at each foot and working towards the hip.
From each hip, brush up towards the underarms. Moving towards the abdomen, use gentile upwards brush strokes.
Apply extra gentle sweeping strokes from just below each ear to the nearest underarm.
Extra Tips:
Take this moment to relax, thinking about each body part you're brushing with gratitude. Visualize any stagnant fluid start flowing like a stream, removing waste with it.
Take special note of the nodes and larger vessels in the underarm and groin areas. These areas create a type of watershed into which the fluid flows. Each quadrant of the torso can be brushed in the direction of the nearest watershed. Understanding the direction of lymph flow and applying it in this remedy will reap the most benefits.
For a quick lymphatic boost without the brush, check out our IG Video here!
Precautions:
Do not dry brush broken skin, wounds or infections.
Always dry brush on dry skin. Never wet your brush or brush wet skin during a shower.
Clean brush with a dry cloth and store away from moisture after each use.
Rather have dry brushing done for you or learn the technique from the pros? Book a Dry Body Brushing service at BodywoRx Center. We recommend pairing it with a session in our far infrared sauna, herbal wrap or massage for a special treat!