How Dry Brushing Detoxes the Body and Decreases Cellulite
Dry brushing is terrific for your lymphatic system, and it helps to increase blood flow, exfoliate and brings oxygen to the skin and aids in the detoxification of the body. It also helps decrease cellulite by breaking down and removing toxins that have built up in fat deposits, which is the leading cause of cellulite. An additional perk is that it’s a straightforward and inexpensive way to provide self-care with a significant number of benefits.
A naturopath recommended that I try dry brushing to aid my body’s detoxification process, and I noticed a few things right away. One being puffiness decreasing all over my body, and another was how much softer my skin became. Something I found pretty interesting was the dry brushing exercise I was told to do to show the effectiveness of dry brushing. It included two hand towels and my dry brush. The first step was to rub the first-hand towel over my entire skin surface, then perform the dry brushing routine. After dry brushing, I waited 2–5 min and then use the second-hand towel to go over my entire skin surface once more. You will notice that the second-hand towel used after dry brushing has a more offensive odour to it because of the enhanced excretion of toxins due to skin brushing. So obviously, something is working when you practice dry brushing.
Dry brushing aids the lymphatic system by helping to unclog our pores and move lymph fluid towards the heart, where it can re-enter the circulatory system via the venous system. When dead skin cells and dirt clog the skin’s pores, it puts a lot of unnecessary stress on other eliminative organs, such as the kidneys, liver, bowels and lungs. Because our skin is responsible for one-quarter of the body’s elimination capacity, we must keep our skin healthy. Dry brushing does this by encouraging our bodies to discharge metabolic waste, which means toxins won’t stay in our bodies. In a Holistic Health Report by Matthew Scott B.Ac, he notes that regular dry brushing can help the body eliminate up to one kilogram or 2 pounds of waste per day and help relax tense muscles.
Dry brushing is a type of Ayurvedic medicine that has been around for thousands of years, and it focuses on cleansing the body and bringing balance to the body, mind and spirit. Many cultures have been practiced, including the Egyptians, Greeks, East Indians, Romans and many more. All of them using a type of tool that exfoliated the skin. Some of them used corn cobs, sand or even a metal scraper to remove dirt from the skin. The goal of the practices was mutual throughout each culture and focused on detoxifying unwanted substances from the body. At the time, unwanted substances were understood to be undigested food or emotions that manifest into toxins and sticky substances. To be honest, that’s not that far off from what it actually detoxes.
List of Benefits
- Stimulates the lymphatic system
- Reduces cellulite
- Assists digestion
- Stimulates circulation
- Strengthens the immune system
- Aids in eliminating dead skin cells
- Firms the skin
- Aids elimination of toxins
- Increases cell renewal
Dry Brushing Routine
- Start the routine 5 min before your shower.
- Brush underneath and on top of feet.
- Brush up each leg from ankle to hip.
- Brush upward over buttocks and up the back.
- Brush abdomen in a clockwise direction.
- Brush palms and tops of hands.
- Brush up each arm from wrists to shoulders.
- Take a warm shower.
- End the shower with a cold rinse to provide further circulatory benefits.
Helpful Tips
- Use a natural fibre brush with a long handle to reach all areas of the body. Natural fibre bristles are easier on the skin were as synthetic brushes can cause damage to the skin.
- Start by using light pressure, so you don’t irritate the skin. Aim for firm but gentle.
- Always brush on dry skin and do not scrub the skin, only long, light, swift movements.
- Always brush toward the heart.
- Avoid brushing the face or any sensitive skin.
- Spend extra time brushing cellulite-prone areas.
- Make sure to wash your brush regularly.
Remember to only do what feels good and to listen to your body.
Sources
Gordon, R. (2017, September 29). Dry Brushing: Benefits, Risks, and More. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/dry-brushing.
Prana Brush. (2018, June 22). Dry Brushing Skin: Everything You Need to Know. Prana Brush. https://www.pranabrush.com/blogs/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-dry-brushing.
Ozdowski, L. (2021, May 9). Physiology, Lymphatic System. StatPearls. https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/24563.
Prior, J. A. (n.d.). Dry Brushing Technique. JoAnn Prior Relax4health Massage Therapy Holistic. https://relax4health.com.au/Blog/Dry-Brushing-Technique.
