For seven years I owned a wellness spa, and one of my favorite things about that experience was getting exposure to daily lessons in natural health and learning easy, effective ways to support my immune system. One of my favorite techniques for immune system support was (and IS) dry brushing. In fact, dry brushing has so many benefits and is so good for the immune system that I mandated that all of my therapists perform this technique on clients as a precursor to every body treatment that occurred at my spa.
It occurred to me to write about dry brushing because you actually don’t have to go to a spa to get this done. It’s something you can easily do at home for yourself, your spouse, and your children. All you need is the right equipment: a dry brush, which you can get for not a lot of money (usually $6 – although it is possible to get one for even less than that) – I’ve seen them sold at many natural products retailers, conventional drugstores, beauty supplies, and even on-line by massage equipment suppliers. Look for a brush that has natural bristles (usually from a wild boar) and a good-sized handle. Just make sure you don’t get a nylon brush, because nylon can tear the skin and disturb its natural electromagnetic balance.
THE BENEFITS OF DRY BRUSHING
- Stimulates skin circulation to improve elimination (when you think about it, your skin is just one big elimination organ, playing an important role along with your lungs, liver, kidneys, intestines, and lymph system).
- Speaking of lymph system, dry brushing is excellent for bolstering filtration and lymph flow, which in turn bolsters immunity.
- Improves circulation and avoids lymph congestion.
- Tones the muscles and stimulates nerve endings.
- Stimulates sweat and oil glands (which decrease production with age, which is why mature skin is often dry).
- Stimulates the connective tissue and collagen in the skin.
- Exfoliates dead skin cells, enhancing the skin’s appearance.
- Helps break up areas of cellulite and prevents further cellulite.
- Redistributes fatty deposits.
There, are you convinced? (Say yes). Great! Now, you will probably want to know…
HOW TO DRY BRUSH
- First, don’t wet the brush! Hello, it’s called “dry brushing.” Water acts as a lubricant, and in this case, we really want the benefits of the friction that is caused by brushing against dry skin.
- Second, don’t wet your skin! See above. No water on either the brush OR your skin.
- Always brush towards the heart (this is to stimulate the circulation in the veins).
- Take your brush and start at the feet, making brief strokes upwards (towards the heart). I like to do one leg from foot-to-buttock, then the other leg from foot-to-buttock. Then I brush the back from waist-to-mid-back. Then I start from the shoulders and brush downwards to mid-back (again, brushing towards the heart). Finally, I brush from hands-to-shoulders using brief, firm strokes.
- DON’T brush the face.
- DON’T brush any area that is tender or inflamed.
- You CAN brush the soles of the feet, however (and you should, it’s really good for them).
- Start with gentle pressure until you are used to the sensation. This can feel very rough to begin with, so brush mildly!
- Brush once a day for best results.
- If you want to really augment the benefits, you can dry brush before jumping in the shower. Then, in the shower, you can alternate standing in hot and then cold water (hot water for 3 minutes, cold water for 30 seconds).
- Or, you can give yourself a salt scrub after a dry brushing session for maximum exfoliation.
There! Now that you know how, you can go chase your spouse and kids with a dry brush! And then you can bribe either said spouse or kids into dry brushing you. And then all of you can enjoy the benefits of an enhanced lymphatic and immune system together.
