The Health Benefits of Dry Brushing are numerous and vast in their results. This small daily habit can bring about bit changes in your overall health.

 Health Benefits of Dry Brushing

The practice of dry brushing is growing in use and popularity. Your skin is the largest organ in the human body.  The skin is an elimination organ. Toxins are excreted through the skin. Dry brushing benefits the skin by helping excrete the toxins and unclog pores. The practice has shown to improve the drainage of the lymphatic system, as well as over all skin smoothing.

1. Natural Energy Boost

Dry brushing gives a natural energy boost. Start your dry brushing routine in the morning to help set the tone and your intentions for the day. Dry brushing is not recommended at night, before bed.

2. Improving the Lymphatic System

A large contributor to the body’s immune system is the lymphatic system. It is made up of white blood cells called lymphocytes and the interstitial fluid that bring our cells nutrients and also remove their waste. The lymphatic system is responsible for moving lymph throughout the entire body. Vessels, ducts, organs and lymph nodes are the transport system. As several of the lymph vessels are located right below the skin, dry brushing regularly  improves a normal flow and helps detoxify naturally.

3. Exfoliating the Skin

Dry brushing helps exfoliate skin. By using a firm bristled brush on the skin, it will remove and loosen dead skin cells. Removing dead skin cells can help improve the texture of the skin and also promote cell renewal. You can also use a recipe like this DIY All Natural Coconut Orange Sugar Scrub to help with the exfoliation of dead skin cells.

4. Help with Cellulite 

Cellulite is a non-scientific term defined as toxic deposits of subcutaneous fat material and fibrous tissue that are not able to be eliminated and which cause a dimpling effect on the overlying skin. These deposits most commonly occur on the thighs and hips of women. Cellulite can affect men and women of any body weight or size. What causes the toxins? Well, some think that we store the breakdown product of cells as toxins in this subcutaneous tissue. Others think that toxic emotions can be stored in the subcutaneous tissue which then builds up as cellulite. (source)

Research is still somewhat limited in evidence that dry brushing helps cellulite. However, personal accounts and testimonials show that brushing regularly does improve cellulite over time and with consistency.

5. Cleans and Minimizes the appearance of Pores

Using a smaller soft bristle brush for the face helps exfoliate the more delicate skin. It also reduces the size of pores by cleansing and removing oil and residue. When you dry brush, it opens the pores and allows your skin to absorb nutrients, while also eliminating toxins.

6. Increase Circulation

Dry brushing your skin helps increase circulation, by encouraging the elimination of metabolic waste. By activating your circulation, you can also help to prevent varicose veins.

7. Stress Relief

Many have found dry brushing brings on a sense of meditation comparable to the feeling of getting a full body massage. It has shown to bring calmness to the mind, reduce tension in the muscles and promote stress relief.

See article: 5 Ways to Control Excessive Stress and Worry

8. Improve Digestion and Kidney Function

With consistent dry brushing the support can go further to help your organ function including kidneys and digestive tract.

9. It’s Invigorating and helps to tighten and tone the skin

The common feeling of dry brushing is that it feels good and is invigorating right from the start. It has shown to make skin tighter with a natural glow. It helps to tighten the skin by increasing blow flow to the area being brushed. In turn, this removes toxins and helps to lessen the appearance of cellulite.

10.  Rejuvenates the Nervous System

The act of dry brushing has proven to stimulate nerve endings, helping to rejuvenate the nervous system.

11. Reduction of Stretch marks

Stretch marks have been known to lighten in some cases and other practically disappear.

12. Relief of Keratosis Pilaris

There is strong anecdotal evidence that dry brushing improves Keratosis Pilaris, also know as chicken skin. Applying the essential oils Lemon, Geranium and Tangerine after dry brushing might also help. Learn more about essential oils here.

Selecting a Dry Brush

A firm, handled, natural bristle brush should be used on the back, legs, bottoms of the feet and arms. Try to find one with a long enough handle that you can reach your whole back.

For your face a small soft bristle brush is ideal. Here is a great combo pack for a face and body dry brush.

How to Dry Brush

Here are some simple steps to get you started dry brushing:

1. Purchase your natural bristle brushes. Here are some great dry brushes to choose from.

2. The best place to dry brush is in the shower or bath tub as dead skin and cells will be removed during the process.

3. Begin at the feet,  moving up your legs in long circular motions leading up towards your heart. You should always brush from bottom to top, towards your heart.

4. You will want to brush over the same area several times.

5.  Your skin may be sensitive at first, especially in delicate areas like th inside of arms, breasts and neck area. Sensitivity will lesson with consistent practice.

6. If you have broken or irritated skin avoid brushing those areas.

7. Remember to use the softer bristle brush for your face. Use softer, gentler strokes.

8. When you have finished your entire body, take a shower. To help stimulate the body and blood circulation, alternate water temperature from the hottest you can stand to the coldest.

If you are feeling ill, increasing the treatments to twice a day is good. You can also dry brush areas of cellulite five to 10 minutes twice a day to achieve cellulite dissolving but the technique needs to be done consistently for a minimum of five months.