I read somewhere that dry brushing is a very affordable healthy habit, the only thing you have to do is getting a brush. Well, you also have to do it then, of course.
To start a new healthy habit, some of us have to overcome the inner "Schweinehund", that is a German saying and word by word translated it means "swine hound", which probably makes no sense, but the ones affected by that know what I mean :-)
When a doctor recommends dry brushing because of a heath condition, some of us are more likely to really do the dry brushing for health benefits.
I already mentioned in my last post, that very dry skin can occur due to lots of medication and that dry brushing for the purpose of exfoliating can help with that.
Here I'd like to give another example from a customer review:
"My daughter is detoxing from mold. One of the protocols is dry brushing to remove dead skin cells and activate the lymph system. She had other brushes and didn’t want me to buy this one because of the price. She is very glad that I did not listen!
You can SEE the dead skin sloughing off as dust. Lots of it and when you get done, your skin hums. It feels great and unlike the others we have. It is worth every penny."
This customer review is about the Body Ionic Brush.
Forbes Health explains:
Detoxification: “Dry brushing helps to detoxify the body by stimulating the lymphatic system,” explains Renee Kindler, a board-certified nurse practitioner, functional health consultant and CEO of Aonani Functional Medicine in Garden City, Idaho. The lymphatic system is a fine-meshed structure that includes lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes and certain organs. A well-functioning lymphatic system is essential to the immune system and is also interrelated to the body’s fluid balance and digestive system.
Supports immune system: “The lymphatic system is a collection of organs and tissues with one way valves that move fluids, including white blood cells and waste products through our body,” notes Kindler. “Good lymphatic flow is important to support good immune system health as it is one way our body ‘takes out the trash,’” she says. “Removing the ‘trash’ from our body is one way we detox our system, supporting good immune system function. The light pressure of dry brushing can help stimulate our lymphatic system and support this movement,” she explains.
If detoxification and immune support are your main reason to dry brush, it's especially of importance, doe do it right.
To properly dry brush your body, get undressed and follow these steps in your bathroom before entering the bathtub or shower:
Start dry brushing at the feet and move upwards towards the heart. Use circular motions at the ankles and knees.
Move in long strokes upwards from the feet and legs, always moving in the direction of the heart.
Apply gentle pressure where the skin is thin, such as the underarms, and firmer pressure where the skin is thick, such as the soles of the feet.
Working your way up the body, dry brush the abdominal area, low back, buttocks and hip joint in a clockwise motion.
Brush from the hands to the shoulder using short strokes. At the wrists and elbows, use small, circular motions.
Brush the neck and shoulders using short strokes. Use circular motions on the chest area.
If you’re dry brushing your face, be gentle and use a separate brush made with softer bristles. Lightly dry brush the face, including the ears, using small circular motions, moving from the center outwards. Use very light, gentle pressure in this area.
After dry brushing, shower or bathe, and then apply moisturizer to the skin.
Dry brushing should take about five to seven minutes, according to Dr. Doctor. Keep in mind, brushing for a longer period may irritate the skin, so be sure to only practice for as long as is appropriate for your body. To clean your dry brush, wash it with warm soapy water, rinse and let it air dry in the sun.
But you don't have to have a serious health condition to start dry brushing, better you do it preventative :-)
Have a great day and enjoy dry brushing!
Nessentials
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