Did you know?
- The skin is the largest most important eliminative organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day?
- The skin eliminates over one pound of waste acids each day in the average adult, most of it through the sweat glands?
- That the skin is known also as our third kidney?
- That the skin receives one third of all the blood circulated in the body?
- That the skin is the last to receive nutrients in the body, yet the first to show signs of imbalance or deficiency?
Now, what are you doing to help your skin? Have you thought about detoxifying your system? But how about your skin? Are you one of those that think that basic exfoliation with scrubs or masques do the trick on skin renewal? I did. Until I heard of DRY BRUSHING.Dry brushing is a way to stimulate different organs like the kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system, and mucous membranes. to detoxify the skin by providing a gentle internal massage.
Aside from detoxifying the skin, dry brushing also helps to remove cellulite, strengthens the immune system, cleanses the lymphatic system, stimulate hormone and oil producing glands, tones the muscles, tightens the skin preventing premature aging, stimulates circulation, improves the function of the nervous system, helps digestion AND, it's easy, inexpensive and invigorating!
I was particularly impressed to hear how dry brushing could help the lymphatic system.Dry brushing literally moves the lymph containing large proteins and particulate matter that cannot be transported in any other way back into circulatory system. If these proteins stayed in our systems outside the blood vessels, it would attract other fluid. Pretty soon we’d get swollen ankles, limbs and eventually we’d be leaking fluid out our skin (not a pretty sight.) This is called lymphedema and is why most health programs include some type of exercise and body work.
So, why don’t we die if we don’t do this dry brushing thing? Well, lymph vessels themselves have their own pumping mechanism sensing when the vessels have more fluid in them or in the interstitial fluids. Lymph only goes one way because of the many one-way valves on the insides of each lymph vessel. The body is a fascinating thing. It literally pumps the lymph along its path back to the heart. Removal of proteins from the interstitial spaces is an essential function. Without this happening, we would die within 24 hours. We can help speed this process up when we dry brush or massage toward the heart, contract our muscles and move our bodies (like when we walk or exercise.)Increased lymph flow can also be caused by high blood pressure. This is why it is so important to attend to this malady and why the doctors get into a frenzy of prescribing so many different medications for it. (Currently there are over 140 medications for high blood pressure!)Us a soft natural fiber brush like the one below. I've also provided a link to this product for your convenience.The video below gives a brief explanation on how to properly dry brush.
How to Dry Brush (Easy, Fast Instructions):
- Begin with your feet and brush vigorously in circular motions.
- Continue brushing up your legs.
- Proceed to your hands and arms.
- Brush your entire back and abdomen area, shoulders and neck.
- Use circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen.
- Lightly brush the breasts.
- Brush upwards on the back and down from the neck. Better yet, have a friend, spouse or family member brush your back.
After brushing, take a hot shower with soap (about three minutes in duration), followed by a 10-20 second cold rinse. Repeat this procedure three times. If the hot/cold showers are too extreme, a warm shower can be used. Follow the shower with a rubdown with either a sponge or towel to remove dead skin.
In no time, you will notice a great difference in the luminosity of your skin and overall health. It's amazing what little changes like these on your beauty routine can do!
Slough away!!
