2009-02-07

THE TECHNIQUES~ DRY SKIN BRUSHING

What is Dry Skin Brushing?



Dry skin brushing is the practice of brushing the surface of the body to clear away dead skin cells, improve skin texture and tone, enhance blood circulation, and eliminate toxins from the body.
Skin brushing has been a traditional practice throughout Asia, some European countries, and other countries for centuries. Native-American Indians use dried corncobs to brush their skin, while Chinese people use a sponge made of dried fruit fibres, called a loofah. A modern, skin brushing tool is the natural bristle brush with a long handle so you can brush your back and other hard to reach areas.
Dry skin brushing of your whole body takes about 5 minutes and is usually done daily before showering. The face may be brushed using a special, soft face brush, however the breasts and genitals are not brushed at all.
Long-handled, natural bristle brushes like the one below are easy to buy and inexpensive. Try your local health food store, or wherever health and beauty products are sold. Make sure you buy a brush with natural fibre bristles.
With brush in hand you’re ready to see for yourself how immensely beneficial this natural health practice is.


Benefits of Skin Brushing

As mentioned, regular brushing clears away dead skin cells and improves skin tone and texture. The more substantial internal benefits, however, are due to the fact that the skin is the largest eliminative organ in the body.
Regular brushing not only helps the skin to sweat away toxins, it also stimulates the underlying circulation of blood and lymph (a waste-removal fluid), which helps the body eliminate deeper level toxins, via your colon.

With many people these days suffering from clogged colons, allergies, acne, regular colds and other signs of toxic build-up (which are usually due to or exacerbated by poor diet), daily skin brushing is an ideal way to enhance the body’s natural waste removal systems.
Modify your diet and brush your skin daily and you will notice positive changes in your health and vitality.

Dry skin brushing benefits

• Stimulates your lymphatic system to remove waste & toxins via your colon
• Stimulates sweat glands & opens skin pores, which helps the cleansing process
• Increases blood circulation & improves blood quality
• Sweeps away dead skin cells, making your skin look & feel smooth & vibrant
• Improves skin tone & texture
• Encourages more nutrients to your skin, improving its look & feel
• Stimulates nerves in your skin, which enhances skin function
• Improves muscle tone & reduces cellulite & fat deposits
• Alleviates muscle tension – try it for stiff neck, back & shoulders
• Rejuvenates your nervous system & relaxes you
• Improves overall health – your skin eliminates about 1kg (around 2lb) of waste a day


How to Brush Your Skin

As mentioned, it’s important to use a natural bristle brush. It should also not be too hard or too soft - it needs to cause friction on the skin but not scratch it. The basic direction of brushing is from your extremities to the centre of your body, i.e. towards your colon, through which toxins are eliminated. Four or five brushes along each aspect, e.g. along the outside of your arm, or back of your leg, are enough.

1. Remove all clothing, necklaces, bracelets, etc. Brush your legs from your toes up to your hips and groin. Brush every aspect with long, smooth, sweeping strokes - do not scrub your skin. To make it easier to reach down, put your foot on a stool or the edge of the bath. Also brush the soles of your feet, which contain many reflexology areas and pressure points relating to other parts of your body.

2. Brush your arms from your fingertips to your shoulders and armpits. Once again, use 4 or 5 smooth, sweeping strokes. Like your feet, your hands also contain reflexology areas and points corresponding to other body areas.

3. Brush down the back of your neck and across the backs of your shoulders.

4. Brush down one side of your back from the base of your neck to the base of your lower back. Repeat on the other side.

5. Gently brush down the front part of your neck and throat, from below your ear and jaw to the top of your chest, on both sides.

6. Gently brush across one side of your chest (not your nipples though) from the midline to the sides. Repeat on the other side.

7. Brush from below your chest to your belly. Also brush the sides of your trunk from under your armpits to your hips.

8. Gently brush your abdomen in circles, in a clockwise direction as you look down. This follows the path of your colon and helps stimulate elimination.

9. You may spend more time brushing areas of flabby, un-toned, stretch-marked skin, such as your buttocks and hips, and any tight or painful areas, such as your neck and joints. Stop brushing if it starts to hurt, or when the skin turns a pinkish-red color, and always brush towards your colon.

10. You may also lightly brush your ears – including the backs – but only if your brush is soft enough to not overly irritate the skin. Ear brushing is very relaxing. The ears also contain reflexology areas and pressure points, so regularly brushing them has a therapeutic affect on other body areas.


Tips

• If you haven’t done skin brushing before, start gently until your skin adapts to it
• If you are ill, have a cold, or just feel sluggish, brush your body morning and night
• Brush daily for 2-3 months and pay attention to your diet for best overall effects
• Always use a dry brush on dry skin
• Don’t brush over broken, irritated or infected skin
• Wash your brush well in warm, soapy water at least once a week and hang it up to dry


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