Dry Brushing for Lymphatic Drainage
A step-by-step guide to this invigorating and detoxifying self-care ritual
Dry Brushing
Dry Brushing is an incredible and invigorating self-care ritual that has been around for ages. This ritual of stimulating the skin by dry brushing has been used in several cultures from Ayurveda (an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent) to Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and traditional Chinese medicine. The Ancient Egyptians were the pioneers of extraordinary beauty rituals. They were said to have used the dry body brushing technique going back thousands of years; exfoliating with natural enzymes from sour milk and wine for soft, supple skin.
Ayurveda is India’s 5,000 year old holistic health care system
Ayurvedic dry-brushing, called garshana (pronounced gar-shun-uh) was used to stimulate circulation and blood flow. Garshana is traditionally done using raw silk or linen gloves, though many prefer to use a natural bristle body brush.
History of Dry Brushing
Traditional Chinese dry brushing uses the dried fibres of a gourd fruit called silk squash, commonly known as a loofah. Externally, luffa can be used either alone or mixed with sesame oil to remove dead skin, stimulate circulation and is associated with the Lung, Stomach and Liver meridians.
The Ancient Greeks and Romans used strigils (a bronze instrument with a curved blade) with olive oil, to remove dirt, sweat and oil before they bathed. The famous ancient physician Aristotle – the Father of Medicine was said to be a fan of the strigils Many people in these times were buried with their strigils.
Finnish nutritionist and naturopathic physician Dr. Paavo Airola popularized contemporary dry brushing 30 years ago. He stressed its function to increase digestion and support and to revitalize our organ systems He incorporated objects like sand, sticks and other raw materials to support exfoliation.
"He stressed its function to increase digestion, support and to revitalize our organ systems. He incorporated objects like sand, sticks and other raw materials to support exfoliation."
There is no denying that dry brushing has been around for a while and there is a good reason for it.
Here are just a few of the reasons why you may want to incorporate dry brushing into your routine:
Soft Skin: Dry brushing gently exfoliates and eliminates dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling soft and helping the skin renewal process This encourages cellular turnover and can be really helpful for avoiding ingrown hairs and keratosis pilaris.
Tone and sculpt: The motions of dry brushing help to sculpt and tone muscles and tissues below the skin’s surface These same motions boost circulation, creating supple, rejuvenated, glowing skin.
Lymph Love: The lymphatic system lies just below the skin’s surface Daily dry brushing can stimulate these nodes, vessels and glands to aid in the body’s natural detoxification process, improving immune function and helping keep skin healthy and glowing
Bye Breakouts: By encouraging cellular turnover, stimulating the lymph and unclogging pores, dry brushing helps to keep breakouts at bay. This works exceptionally well for painful cystic breakouts. Brush your way to a healthier you!
Interesting Facts:
The skin is known also as our third kidney. 1. The skin receives one third of all the blood circulated in the body. 2. The skin is the last to receive nutrients in the body, yet the first to show signs of imbalance or deficiency
3. The skin is the largest most important elimination organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day. 4. The skin eliminates over one pound of waste acids each day in the average adult, most of it through the sweat glands
5. Detoxification is performed by a number of organs, glands, and transportation systems, including the skin, gut, kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system, and mucous membranes The dry brushing technique deals with detoxification of the skin. Dry brushing is a way to stimulate all the above organs of detoxification because it provides a gentle internal massage
Benefits and the Science Behind Dry Brushing
1. Dry brushing cleans the lymphatic system. Lymph is considered part of our immune system and is made of white blood cells called lymphocytes and the interstitial fluid that bathe our cells, bringing our cells nutrients and removing their waste. All detoxification occurs first and foremost through the lymph. Our bodies contain far more lymph than blood, so you can see how important this might be.
2. Dry brushing removes dead skin layers. Dry skin brushing helps shed dead skin cells, which can help improve skin texture and cell renewal Dry skin is a sign of detoxification Therefore it’s good to keep the process going by removing the dead skin daily. If this does not occur, a “log jam” can happen where the person ends up with eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff.
3. Dry brushing strengthens the immune system. Dry skin brushing may reduce duration of infection and accelerate the clearing of toxins It helps support the immune system during cancer and other chronic illness treatment. By stimulating the lymph vessels to drain toxic mucoid matter into organs of detoxification we can purify the entire system After several days of dry brushing, sometimes you may notice a gelatinous mucoid material in your stools. This is a normal sign that the intestinal tract is renewing itself Best of all, it feels invigorating!
4. Dry brushing stimulates the hormone and oil glands, thus helping all of the body systems perform at peak efficiency. The skin is your body’s largest organ When improperly maintained, the elimination duties of the skin are forced upon the kidneys. So, give your kidneys a break keep your skin clean and rejuvenated. Bathe daily and do a dry brushing before the bath to help stimulate blood flow to the surface so that toxins can more easily escape.
5. Dry Brushing tightens the skin by increasing the flow of blood which, in turn moves toxins and lessens the appearance of cellulite. Our bodies make a new top layer of skin every 24 hours – skin brushing removes the old top layer, allowing the clean new layer to come to the surface, resulting in softer, smoother skin.
6. Dry Brushing tones the muscles. Dry skin brushing helps muscle tone by stimulating the nerve endings which causes the individual muscle fibers to activate and move. It also helps mobilize fat and helps to even distribution of fat deposits This is a great technique for invalids who can’t exercise.
7. Dry brushing stimulates circulation. Our skin breathes! And yet, in most people, this vital route of detoxification is operating far below its capacity, because it is clogged with dead skin cells and the un removed waste excreted through perspiration. Dry skin brushing increases circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes Increased blood flow begins entering the areas brushed and you will experience an increase in electromagnetic energy that permits you to feel energized and invigorated. By activating the circulation you can also prevent varicose veins.
Dry Brushing & Lymphatic Drainage Tips
Avoid doing dry brushing or lymphatic drainage in these circumstances:
over an area that has a current infection or skin wounds untreated congestive heart failure if someone has a blood clot over an area that has active cancer
Always get clearance from a medical professional for any other health conditions before starting lymphatic drainage -
Try to avoid putting lotion on the right before starting dry brushing or lymphatic drainage. 1 Keep pressure light on the skin. 2.
Discontinue if skin irritation occurs 3 If able, be in a position to let gravity assist with drainage. 4. It's typical to need to urinate immediately following lymphatic drainage. 5
After completing, shower off and/or try to move around for 10-15 minutes 6. Drink plenty of water the rest of the day.
It's generally safe to complete this routine daily if cleared by your doctor. 8 It's ideal to work with a professional locally in your area to learn the correct, personalized sequence, modifications, and technique for personal needs or conditions such as lymphedema. 9.
Dry Brushing for Healthy Lymphatics
Start with 4-5 Deep Breathes
Brush 5-10 circles in the neck, armpit, groin, elbow crease, and behind the knee
Brush 8-10 Strokes in the correct direction the following sequences for all 4 sections o body:
Upper Body:
-Upper Abdomen
-Chest
-Upper Back
-Shoulder
-Upper Arm
-Lower Arm
-Hand/Fingers
-Lower Arm
-Upper Arm
-Shoulder
Lower Body:
-Lower Abdomen
-Low Back
-Hip/Buttocks
-Thigh
-Lower Leg
-Foot/Toes
-Lower Leg
-Thigh
-Hip/Buttocks
Finish with 4-5 Deep Breathes
**Full diagram, front and back on next page to follow along with the above directions.
Lymphatic Drainage Sequence for a Healthy Lymphatic System
1. Placing your hands on your abdomen with light pressure, complete 3-5 deep breathes
2. Massage 5-10 circles over the lymph nodes at your neck, below your ear, in both armpits, and both groin sites
3 For the Lower Body, complete 8-10 of the following:
Guide brush strokes from your lower abdomen towards the groin lymph nodes on the same side
Complete strokes from your low back, hip, and buttocks around the side of the body towards the groin lymph nodes
Brush from the knee to the thigh, directing everything towards the groin where the lymph nodes are
Brush upward around the knee
Complete 5-10 circles behind the knee to stimulate the lymph nodes
Brush from the ankle to the knee on all sides of the lower leg
Brush around the ankle bones, on the top of the foot, and then the toes Direct everything upwards
Reverse the order: toes -> foot -> ankle -> lower leg -> knee -> thigh
4. For the Upper Body:
Guide Brush strokes from your upper abdomen towards the armpit lymph nodes on the same side
Brush from the midline of the chest towards the armpit on the same side
Brush from the midline of your upper back, towards the armpit
Brush the shoulder towards the armpit
Brush from the elbow to the shoulder on all sides of the upper arm
Brush around the elbow bone, upwards
Complete 5-10 circles at the inner elbow crease
Brush from the wrist to the elbow on all sides of the lower arm
Brush the back of the hand and the fingers, upwards
Reverse the order: fingers -> hand -> lower arm -> elbow -> upper arm -> shoulder
5. Placing your hands on your abdomen with light pressure, complete 3-5 deep breathes.
Dry Brushing to the Neck & Face for Healthy Lymphatics
Start with 4-5 Deep Breathes
Massage 5-10 circles in the base of the neck, below the ears, and both armpits
Brush 8-10 Strokes in the correct direction, in the following sequence:
Neck on both sides:
- Ear to the base of the neck
- Midline of the front of the neck to below the ear
- Ear to the base of the neck
Face on both sides, Starting at Midline and directing to the same side:
- Chin to below the ear
- Above the Lip to below the ear
- Nose & Cheek to below the ear
- Under and Above the eye to below the ear
- Forehead to below the ear
Repeat:
- Ear to the base of the neck
Finish with 4-5 Deep Breathes
Dry Brushing to the Neck and Face for a Healthy Lymphatic System
1.
Placing your hands on your abdomen with light pressure, complete 3-5 deep breathes.
2.
Massage 5-10 circles over the lymph nodes at the base of your neck, below your ear, and in both armpits
3. For the Lower Body, complete 8-10 strokes of the following as desired.
Brush from below the ear, down the side of the neck towards the base of the neck, and the clavicle bone. Also, wrap fingers around to the back of the neck, also working downward
Brush from the midline of the front of the neck to below the ear on the same side
Brush from below the ear, down the side of the neck towards the base of the neck, and the clavicle bone
*The following will all start from the midline of the face and be directed just below the ear on the same side
a. Brush from the chin to below the ear
b. Brush from above the lip to below the ear
c Brush from the nose, across the cheek, and towards below of the ear
d Brush very gently under the eye and below the eyebrow towards the bottom of the ear *i prefer to use fingers*
e. Brush from the forehead around and down towards the bottom of the ear
f. Brush from below the ear, down the side of the neck towards the base of the neck, and the clavicle bone
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