dry brush
Want to have smooth, drool worthy, silky skin? Can't get rid of cellulite? Have you ever tried dry brushing? This ancient technique, that only takes five minutes, is considered helpful for detoxification and supporting lymph flow, as well as balancing hormones and immune function.

Dry brushing is also known as an Ayurvedic practice called gharsana. It is commonly combined with drying and stimulating powdered herbs like trikatu (a blend of black pepper, long pepper, and ginger), triphala ( a blend of haritaki, bibhitaki, and amla fruits), or ginger to assist in unclogging pores, improving circulation and excreting toxins that get trapped beneath the skin.

Benefits of Dry Brushing

Our skin is our largest organ. We both detox and absorb through our skin. The job of our lymphatic system is to filter our blood and dispose of toxic and acidic waste. Without it, our tissue, organs, and cells would become overloaded with toxins. An unhealthy or sluggish lymph system could lead to a chronic fatigue, weakened immune system, bloating, aches and pains, cellulite, fibromyalgia, poor digestion, and so much more.

So the dry brushing is beneficial for:

1. Unclogging the pores

Dr. Cynthia Thaik, MD, a Harvard-trained cardiologist says that over time, our pores can get clogged with pollutants, cosmetics, and dead skin cells. This causes the kidneys and liver to work really hard to get rid of impurities. By unclogging our skin's pores dry brushing helps our skin absorb more nutrients, and promotes healthy skin.

2. Balancing the Immune Function

Dry brushing supports lymph flow and our lymphatic system which ultimately helps prevent you from getting sick by removing toxins from the body. This is essential to immune function.

When we get an infection like a wound, it stays localized to that area. That's because the body uses lymph fluid to draw the virus or bacteria into a nearby lymph node, which is standing by with T and B cells. Those cells as part of our adaptive immune system are capable of adapting to address the specific infection rather than mount the generalized response you see from macrophages.

3. Balancing hormones

The lymphatic system helps to circulate hormones throughout the body, so if the lymph is stagnant it may not effectively get hormones where they need to be. Manual lymphatic drainage is a technique that supports lymph flow and sometimes is recommended by fertility experts for couples that are trying to conceive. (1)

4. Detoxification

Our body has two circulation systems - one is the cardiovascular system the other is the lymphatic system. While the job of the cardiovascular system is to pump blood, the lymphatic system collects blood that leaks out of vessels and returns it to its place. But the lymphatic system also has another job - it distributes hormones and immune factors while carrying away toxins and metabolic waste.

5. Relaxing and stress relief

Along with the other benefits of dry brushing is that it provides much needed natural stress relief. One study shows that whole body massage was effective in stabilizing vital signs of patients with acute coronary disorders and reducing anxiety. (2) Similar to massage, dry brushing helps you to relax but the best thing is that you can do it yourself.