Dry Brushing to Detoxify Your Body:
Dry brushing your skin may be one of the easiest and best ways to detoxify your body on a regular basis. The skin is estimated to eliminate over a pound of waste each day through its pores and through the elimination of dead skin cells from the body. Dry brushing is an effective way to maximize the toxin elimination channels of the skin.
The integumentary system is made up of a network of dead epidermal cells forming the skin, hair, fingernails and toenails. All of these are a form of pulling toxins out of the body. The hair is often used to measure the level of toxic heavy metals in the body. The sweat glands also play an active role in flushing toxins out through perspiration.
Detoxifying Through Your Skin Cells:
As skin cells get closer and closer to the outer surface of the body, they lose their blood supply and die. This is an effective strategy of the body to eliminate wastes in these cells by sloughing off these old dead cells. Every minute we lose over 30,000 dead skin cells which are replaced by new healthy skin cells.
Bathing and good personal hygiene practices enhance the normal eliminatory patterns of the skin. Dry skin brushing helps to improve circulation, stimulates lymphatic drainage and firms the skin. The improvement in circulation improves brain function and gives an individual more energy.
By improving lymphatic flow, it can help prevent the formation of unsightly cellulite. Dry brushing also sloughs off old dead skin cells and the toxic debris within them while initiating the development of new healthy skin cells.
How to Dry Brush Correctly:
It is important to find a brush with soft natural bristles. Synthetic bristles often contain chemicals that are best to avoid. The brushes are typically available at a local health food store in the price range of six to ten dollars.
It is best to begin with light, gentle brushing and overtime the skin will be able to handle brushing a little deeper. The strokes should move toward the heart to improve lymphatic flow back through the venous system towards the heart. When dry brushing the stomach it is best to go in a clockwise motion as that works with the natural digestive flow.
The Dry Brushing Rules For Success:
The skin may be slightly flushed afterwards but should not be red or sore. Be sure to avoid brushing over fresh wounds, burns and cuts. The skin should be dry but not excessively dry when brushing.
One can use coconut oil during the brushing process if the skin is very dry but be sure to clean the brush thoroughly after finishing brushing. Shower after brushing to help remove exfoliated skin cells.
Most individuals notice that they feel refreshed and energized after dry brushing. This is due to the elimination of toxic debris and improved circulation. The skin also glows and feels smoother after the whole-body exfoliation experience.
Here is a great brush to get started with that is perfect for dry brushing because of the soft and natural boar bristles with a Beachwood handle. This brush has extra length for hard to reach areas. It is also great that the company offers a money back guarantee if you are not fully satisfied.
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Hi Dr. Jockers
So glad to find your website. I am new at this dry brush thing.
Wonder if :
1. I can use loofah instead of brush ?
2. Why it’s recommended to dry instead of wet brush ? If the idea were to stimulate the lymph system, so it shouldn’t matter if it ‘s wet or dry ?
Thank you for the englightenment.
Kind regards,
Maria
Hey Maria,
Yes you can use either one but a brush may be better for getting the desired exfoliant effect! Dry brushing also helps get your top layer of dead skin cells off so you can move toxins through your pores easier.
Blessings!
I have watched 15+ dry brushing videos. Not one is the same. Can you make a detailed, total brush & strokes, lympnatic dry brushing video. Just you saying brush to the heart is very miss leading. Starting on left side because 3/4 drainage. Also the drainage paths are not always towards the heart. Will it would be nice to have the most accurate information.
You sound like a real know-nothing.
Smh, is that all you have to add? Thanks for nothing. Janice had some good points, but you contributed nothing but an insult.
Thank you Dr Jockers for a most interesting article.
Thank you for your support! Blessings!
I followed the link you have for a brush you recommend on Amazon. You like it because of the boars hair bristles. But in the Q&A section they say the bristles are made from agave leafs. Do you think they have changed since you posted your article? Do you still recommend this brush?
Thanks so much,
Cindy 🙂
I think the brush works well!
Thank you so much for all your helpful self care education.
~ maggi in Windsor CA
Thanks Maggi! Blessings to you!
Dr. Jockers,
Thank you for educating me on dry brushing. Do you have any videos that can show us the correct way of dry brushing? God bless you! I am so delighted to have found you webpage and receiving emails from you.
Great to have you in our online community Paulette!
I always look for a brush where the head doesn’t come off. Those detachable brushes are the most frustrating things. I’ve been brushing for decades, and you get so used to it soft bristles are just not stimulating enough. I like hard bristles with strong wood handles.
Yes great advice!
It’s important to start brushing at tge top of the trunk and work gradually down the body always brushing upwards so that you start to clear the lymph duct into the venous system & so make space for the lymph from lower down the body to move into, otherwise you are trying to move the whole column if you start with the feet!!
Thanks for sharing!
I’m trying to visualize “clock-wise”, is it:
1. looking at a clock – moving right to left on the stomach
or 2. clock on my stomach – moving left to right
Dry brushing does nothing to stimulate the lymphatic system. To activate/speed up the lymphatic fluid flow, one must stretch the skin which causes the anchoring filaments under the skin, attached to the lymphatic vessel walls to become taut which pull open the walls and that causes a suctioning effect whereby the body pulls in excess lymph that has escaped to be pulled back into vessels and on its way back to the throat. Dry brushing is great for exfoliating the skin, so if you then have a hard exercise session that causes you to sweat a great deal, you’ll release toxins through the skin more easily, but don’t misunderstand dry brushing’s purpose.