AcuLAND ThinkTANK

Dry Brushing

Induce a healthy immune system daily with this simple and stimulating technique.

Have you heard of your lymph system? Back in the day when you went to the doctor for a sore throat he/she probably touched under your chin by your neck to see if they were swollen. If you were fighting an infection, you can bet that they were in fact swollen to the touch.

The amazing lymph system is the subsystem of the circulatory system. You can imagine the lymph being the sewer and fresh water passageways in your body's kingdom. Lymph has 3 main functions: collect and move interstitial fluid to the blood to maintain fluid balance (Read up on this in the archived newsletter about FuLing), defend the body against disease, and to absorb lipids (fats) from the intestine and transport them to the blood (think fat absorption). There is a specific technique called dry brushing that stimulates the lymph to do their job efficiently.

Here are some of the known benefits of dry brushing:

  1. Stimulates sweat and oil glands so natural skin oils are able to coat the top layer of skin, alleviating dryness and reducing the need for synthetic moisturizers.
  2. Increases blood circulation and improves blood quality.
  3. Improves skin tone and texture.
  4. Stimulates nerves in skin, enhancing skin function.
  5. Improves muscle tone and reduces cellulite and fat deposits.
  6. Alleviates muscle tension - try it for stiff neck, back and shoulders.
  7. Rejuvenates the nervous system and relaxes you.
  8. Boosts the immune system by improving lymphatic flow.
  9. Helps release toxins from skin- reducing stress on liver, kidneys and colon and even reducing body odor.
  10. May help prevent or eliminate arthritic acid stiffness.

So how do you do this amazing technique?

The short version is come on in and get a dry brush ($4), and do as follows every morning. Stand in the shower or beside it with no clothes on, start at your feet and very gently brush towards the heart in straight motions, from joint to joint. Do not skip any area of skin (except nipples and genitals). It's that simple. Follow this with a warm shower and finish with a one minute rinse on cool (enough to give you goosebumps).

Here is a video on a therapist doing it at a spa. I don't like how she missed the feet at the beginning, but it's still a good demonstration.

Overall, I have personally noticed that dry brushing daily helps keep my skin taut and tone. I rarely get sick, my energy is better in the morning (helping eliminate the need for caffeine), and I am very relaxed and rejuvenated after each session of dry brushing.

I highly suggest it for those of you with autoimmune disorders, those who are overweight, with acne, arthritis, pain, dry skin and much more!