Dry skin brushing is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to detoxify your body. Although relatively self explanatory, dry skin brushing is a bit of a peculiar concept—it involves brushing your body with a “dry skin brush” which promotes the elimination of toxins and improves weight loss and overall health. Because of its effectiveness, dry skin brushing may be the single most important therapy you add to your detoxification program.

7 reasons you should be dry skin brushing:

1. Promotes Detoxification
As the largest organ in the body, the skin is responsible for releasing over a pound of toxins per day and is often the first organ to show symptoms of imbalance. When pores become clogged from toxin exposure from the
environment, food or cosmetics, the skin’s ability to detoxify is extremely compromised. Brushing off dead cells and toxins from your skin opens up the pores allowing the skin to detoxify more effectively. It also promotes detoxification through stimulating circulation and lymph flow, which transports and eliminates toxins from the body.

2. Boosts Immune System
The immune system’s primary function is to clean toxins and other harmful substances from our bodies. When we make efforts to promote detoxification, the immune system has less work to do and fewer battles to fight, thus allowing it to focus on fighting those pesky germs.

3. Reduces Appearance of Cellulite
Poor circulation causes fluid retention in fatty tissue that, in turn, leads to the rippling effect of cellulite. The waste and toxins found in the retained fluid break down the elastin and collagen that keep skin looking smooth. Dry skin brushing tightens the skin by increasing circulation and removing excess fluid and toxins in the tissue, which helps to decrease or eliminate both present and future cellulite.

4. Stimulates Weight Loss
People who engage in daily dry skin brushing are more likely to lose weight faster and more evenly through out their body. Dry skin brushing also helps tone underlying muscle which in turn may contribute to an increased metabolism and a higher rate of calorie burn.

5. Tightens skin
By sloughing dead skin and promoting cell regeneration, dry skin brushing strengthens the body’s superficial connective tissue. This is an especially helpful technique for people who have lost weight quickly and have loose skin as a result. Promoting cell turnover leaves your skin softer, tighter and younger.

6. Rejuvenates the nervous system
Although you might think the process is painful, dry skin brushing actually feels pretty good! The action of removing dead skin with sturdy bristles stimulates nerves on the surface of your body. This tightens and strengthens cells in the brushed area encouraging nerve cell repair and renewal. The increased circulation also assists in nourishing the nerves in order to provide faster more effective transmission of signals creating heightened sensation for healthier and younger functioning skin.

7. Improves Mood, Digestion and Beats Stress
Stimulating superficial nerves activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which, among other things, is in charge of effective digestion and relaxation. When people are saturated with toxins, they tend to be lethargic and irritable. Decreasing the toxic burden and improving nutrient absorption via stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, significantly improves stress management, digestion and overall mood.

Okay so maybe that is 9 reasons to dry skin brush. This technique is your best bang for your daily 5-10 minutes of self care buck.

What you need:

1. Time: 5-10 minutes every morning BEFORE you shower to help eliminate toxins that accumulate overnight.

2. A natural, NOT synthetic, vegetable bristle brush with a long handle that allows you to reach all areas of your body ($10-30 at your local health food store).

How to do it:

1. Prior to bathing or showering, disrobe entirely.

2. Using long strokes, start from the bottom of your feet, brushing towards the heart. Use the same process starting at your hands, neck and navel – always brushing towards your heart. Generally speaking, always brush towards the heart as this moves dirty lymph and blood to their respective processing sites to be cleaned. Try and brush several times in each area, over-lapping as you go.

3. Always avoid brushing wounded, broken or infected skin.

Author: Dr. Karen Lamb, NMD, MC, LPC