Enhance your Detox by Skin Brushing

While many people choose a nutritional cleansing system to detox the body in an effort to improve overall health and/or boost weight loss, they probably don’t think about detoxing the skin from the outside as well.

If you’ve never heard of dry skin brushing, consider that it may be one of the most important treatments to add to a complete detox program. Don’t forget: the skin is your largest elimination organ – releasing a pound of waste every day – and the first organ to show signs of any imbalance of toxicity.

If your skin can’t release toxins efficiently, rashes, acne, hives, body odor and even skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can occur. Dead skin cells as well as excreted waste and external pollution that comes from dirt, skin care products and other factors, can quickly build up and clog pores, which can inhibit your skin from being able to properly release toxins.

What is skin brushing?

Skin brushing is incredibly simple. It takes only minutes, and involves applying gentle brush strokes across the body. This natural treatment is performed with a long handled, bath-type brush with natural bristles, or a loofah. It’s important to never use synthetic bristles as they can scratch and irritate the skin. A natural massaging motion of the bristles removes dead skin and eliminates surface toxins from the body.

The skin should be dry, and it’s best to begin by brushing from the extremities, working toward the body’s core. The brush should pass over each part of the body – with the exception of the face – just once. If the skin starts to turn red, you may be brushing too hard. Instead of using a back and forth or circular motion, employ long and gentle, yet firm, strokes.

Brush toward the heart to compliment the natural flow of blood, using the softest touch on the thinnest layers of skin; where the skin is thick, such as on the feet, you can apply a more vigorous brushing technique. Brushing the entire body should take just three to five minutes. Follow with a hot shower to wash off any dead skin cells.

Skin brushing and the lymphatic system

The lymphatic system is a crucial part of your immune system and any cleansing program. The white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, carry nutrients to cells and remove waste. Skin brushing is able to gently stimulate the lymphatic system, and is known as one of the best natural lymphatic cleansers out there.

The system is composed of lymph vessels, lymph nodes and organs, and removes microorganisms and foreign substances as part of the body’s natural defense, acting as a filtration system to keep bacteria and other unwanted material from entering the bloodstream. If this system isn’t working properly, body tissues can begin to swell.

Skin brushing helps to speed up the process and clear up the lymphatic system. It encourages both cell regeneration and blood circulation, which promotes detoxification and even weight loss and decreased cellulite, as well as improved body tone and more radiant skin.

Benefits of dry skin brushing

Just some of the benefits of dry skin brushing include:

• Removing dead skin cells which is important to keep them from clogging the system, and will also help improve skin texture.
• Daily brushing can help stimulate oil glands to keep the skin healthy.
• Reducing cellulite is another great benefit of skin brushing, although it can take daily brushing for several months to see noticeable results. Massaging and stimulating the skin helps to break up toxic deposits in stored fatty tissues that can cause the skin to pucker.
• Dry skin brushing can also boost the immune system and reduce the duration of infections or illness by removing toxins more quickly, as well as stimulating the lymph system to move waste matter out.
• It stimulates nerve endings in the skin which can help tone the muscles and tighten skin.

Adding skin brushing to your total detox program will help you to achieve increased toxic elimination, as well as ultimately help you feel more revitalized, rejuvenated and experience improved overall health and well-being.