Dry brushing is the ancient practice of brushing dry skin with a natural-bristle brush in order to stimulate the lymphatic system and exfoliate your skin.
Dry brushing can help detox your body by stimulating your lymphatic system to remove cell waste, environmental toxins, and pathogenic organisms more efficiently.
Other benefits of dry brushing may include smooth clear skin, the reduced appearance of cellulite, and a short-term energy boost.
To dry brush your skin, start from your feet, and brush upward toward the heart in long strokes.
How does dry brushing help you detox?
"One of the most common obstacles to detox is a sluggish lymphatic system," Dr. Sara Gottfried, MD states. That’s where dry brushing comes in. “Unlike the network of arteries and veins which rely on the heart to circulate blood, your lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump and instead relies on muscle motion to improve circulation. If you don’t move regularly with most of your muscles, your lymph can stagnate and waste accumulates,” she says. Dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, which “catches waste from cells, environmental toxins, and pathogenic organisms. Regular dry brushing can help you remove lymphatic waste more efficiently.”
The benefits of dry brushing
1) SMOOTH SKIN
Your skin might be the most obvious beneficiary of dry brushing, thanks to the soft but densely packed bristles that slough off dead skin cells. “Dry brushing is fantastic for skin exfoliation, especially during the winter months when skin is typically dry,” says Jamie Starkey, LAc, lead acupuncturist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute.
In addition to more touchable skin, dry brushing can lead to clearer, brighter, smoother skin, too. Dry brushing removes built-up skin cells and debris than can block pores and lead to acne. It also helps get rid of keratin buildup that causes “chicken skin” (aka keratosis pilaris), according to Gottfried. To boot, by increasing circulation, dry brushing gives skin a rosier, glowier appearance.
2) REDUCED CELLULITE
One of the most touted dry brushing benefits is its ability to banish the appearance of cellulite (you know, that cottage cheese-like dimpled skin that affects 80 to 90 percent of women).[2] But despite the people who sing these praises, there’s not yet much scientific evidence to back up these anecdotal reports. One small study did find that lymphatic drainage massage helped thin subcutaneous fat in people with cellulite.[3] However, there’s an overall lack of studies proving the effectiveness of any cellulite treatment.[2] “What people may interpret as cellulite reduction is probably just a temporary plumping up of the skin from increased blood circulation,” says Starkey.
3) MORE ENERGY
Another possible side effect of dry brushing? A short-term energy boost. Though currently there’s not scientific research that directly links dry brushing to increased energy, by improving circulation and removing toxins, dry brushing may give you a temporary jolt, according to Gottfried. “Dry brushing daily before you bathe in the morning can be an invigorating addition to your morning cup of caffeine,” she says.
How can you tell if your body’s due for a dry-brush detox?
“There are many signs that your lymphatic system may need a dry brushing boost,” Gottfried says. First, look down. “You may notice pooling of lymphatic fluid in your lower legs, near your ankles and feet,” she says. Frequent colds, fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, skin breakouts, or even mood swings may also point to an out-of-whack lymphatic system. Of course, check in with your primary care physician to make sure these symptoms aren’t pointing to another issue, Starkey cautions.
References:
https://daveasprey.com/dry-brushing-how-to-dry-brush/
[1] https://www.jidsponline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)52853-4/fulltext#s0020 [2] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40257-015-0129-5 [3] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03355.x