Dry Brushing

Lymphatic Dry Brushing

Dry brushing is a friction technique that stimulates and improves lymphatic circulation. What is the lymphatic system? The Textbook of Medical Physiology says it best: “The lymphatic system is a ‘scavenger’ system that removes excess fluid, protein molecules, debris, and other matter from the tissue spaces. When fluid enters the terminal lymphatic capillaries, any motion in the tissues that intermittently compresses the lymphatic capillaries propels the lymph forward through the lymphatic system, eventually emptying the lymph back into the circulation.” 

 

Benefits

  • Stimulation of blood and lymphatic vessels improving circulation
  • Decreases swelling in an injured area by opening pathways for debris and excess fluid to flow
  • Boosts the immune system and function
  • Reduces cellulite by clearing blocked pathways where stagnant lymph fluid and debris may build
  • Exfoliates your skin
  • Energizes and stimulates the body
  • Tightens the skin to prevent premature aging
  • Stress reliever
  • Skin toner

How to Dry Skin Brush

  1. Time needed 5-10 min. Start with a dry body, preferably before showering or upon rising, but really, it doesn’t matter when, just do it!
  2. Expose the area that you want to dry brush, you can do a local area or the full body
  3. (Optional) ‘Wake up and clear’ the appropriate lymph nodes through gentle stimulation (apply gentle pressure [compress and release] 7-10 times). Areas include behind the knee, crease where thigh meets groin, under arms, inner arm at elbow, and terminus (indents just above the collar bone).  Example, if I wanted to decrease swelling in my knee, I would gently “pump” or compress release the inguinal lymph nodes (at the crease where thigh meets groin) several times and then gently behind the knee. Next, brush the skin upwards towards the heart starting at the knee
  4. Using a Natural Bristle Contour Body Brush, apply brisk circular motions or long, even strokes toward the heart.
  5. Repeat brush strokes a minimum of seven strokes.
  6. If doing a full-body dry brush, start with soles of the feet, brush all the way up your legs (front and back), then over your abdomen, buttocks, and hips. When you reach your arms, begin at the fingers and brush up your arms toward the heart. Brush your shoulders and chest down, always toward the heart. Finish with the back.
  7. Brush lightly over sensitive areas like breasts and avoid brushing anywhere the skin is broken or where you have a rash, infection, cut or wound.