Dry Skin Brushing can be the lymphatic equivalent of running 5 miles!
dry skin brushing and your skin
Your skin is the second largest organ in your body and is a very important organ for detoxification. The skin will give you clues about what is happening inside the body and is normally the last thing to heal.
Your skin also receives 1/3 of the circulation of blood and works to help regulate your body temperature, helps assimilate oxygen and other nutrients, and eliminating toxic wastes from the body.
The skin is sometimes referred to as the third kidney so when the kidney’s are over-worked, the skin will help function in a similar manner, releasing uric acid which is an important waste product of metabolism.
For this reason, it is super important to be mindful of what goes on your skin. The skin is a protective barrier to our other organs, however, it is also breathing and absorbing substances into the lymphatic and cardiovascular systems. If that substance is a toxin, then your liver and kidneys will have to work hard to get rid of it and protect you. If you have a habit of exposing your skin to toxic substances day after day, this can have a cumulative effect on your organs.
To help the skin to be in top shape, it is recommended to brush your skin daily. This will help it to be healthy, vibrant, and to work efficiently.
Daily dry skin brushing has the lymphatic equivalent of running 5 miles according to my mentor, Dr. Angie Ates.
Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing Daily
Improved detoxification
Stimulate nerve endings
Better circulation
Improved Muscle Tone (helps move acids out)
Increased circulation
Lessens the appearance of cellulite
Cleansing to the pores by removing dead skin/debris
How to Dry Skin Brush
Use a skin brush with natural bristles only, or a natural sponge/loofah.
Brush in short strokes toward the heart or in small circles with a light pressure - covering all areas of the skin from the toes to your head…..Don’t for get the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet and skip the face, neck, genitals, and chest. There is a different type of brush for the face, neck, and chest.
Brush once daily or every other day before a shower or bath when the skin is dry.
You can get this done in just one or two minutes normally, however, if it is enjoyable to you, a 10-20 minute session is not out of the question.
Remember to clean your brush!
Who should not use dry brushing?
People with super-sensitive skin or conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and excessive dry skin because it can be aggravating to this condition. You are welcome to brush non-affected areas however. Also if you have keratosis pillars or ‘chicken skin’ be mindful of using very light pressure and maybe do it less often until you see how it affects you.
Enhancing with essential oils
Adding essential oils to the Skin Brushing process place a few drops of the oil of your choice in the palm of your hand and glide the brush through your hand so that the oils cling to just the tips of the dry skin brush and start the skin brushing process. Juniper and Cypress are both known for their ability to support circulation and clearing waste from the lymphatics. Adding this would be an obvious choice.
Fennel is great if there is extra support needed in the digestive system or increased water retention.
Geranium is also great for circulation stimulation, lymphatic support, water retention.
Grapefruit is a natural fluid-reducer helping to eliminate excess fluid from the system however it can cause the skin to burn quicker in the sun so be mindful of this in the summer time.
For improving skin-tone use oils like cypress grapefruit, and rosemary.
Oils that will stimulate the skin are black pepper, cedarwood, and lemongrass.
Do not use a carrier oil when adding essential oils to your process as it will not be a ‘dry’ brush at that point. For added benefit DO put on a massage oil or fatty oil with or without essential oils on at the end of your shower or bath to seal and protect your skin.
need help with this?
For custom essential oil suggestions, please send me a message or schedule a free consultation.
The Root Cause Blog Post by Dana Christisen.
Dana Christisen is a Traditional Naturopath in Perryville, Missouri.
She has been in this field since 2006 and is continually keeping up with her education. Currently she is enrolled in a PhD program for Original Medicine.
Dana will guide you through a plan - answering all questions - adjusting protocols as needed and helping you learn how to listen to and nourish your body so that your body has what is necessary to balance and heal itself.
What Dana does NOT do: Diagnose Disease, Treat Disease, Heal, Cure, or Prescribe Medications for Disease. If you have a medically diagnosed disease, you should consult with a medically licensed professional for treatment.
