Skin brushing is likely a health treatment you haven’t heard much about. Most of us have seen the brushes in bath stores or health food stores and assumed that they were like a loofah sponge on a stick – for scrubbing during a bath or shower to get you clean and exfoliated.

Skin brushing is done on completely dry skin. It helps to activate your Lymphatic drainage system. Your Lymphatic system collects waste all throughout your body. It can be helped along by way of surface level skin manipulation. By brushing your skin in the proper direction you help the collected toxins to circulate and be disposed of more quickly.

Most of the fluid in your body is lymphatic fluid. It carries nutrients from the food you eat and oxygen from the air you breathe. It also carries and flushes out toxic poisons, bacteria, cholesterol and viruses away from the cells in your body.

Our lymphatic system is primarily responsible for carrying disease-fighting material to cells. When the lymphatic system is blocked, we get sick more easily.

The quicker drainage of toxins happens, the faster you will feel better.  This is where skin brushing can make a difference. The gentle technique enhances and stimulates the lymphatic system to drain stagnant fluids, detoxify, regenerate tissues, filter out toxins and foreign substances.

Directions:

Before you take a shower or bath, with a skin brush, start at your feet and work up, always brushing toward the heart using long but fairly quick strokes that are firm, but not hard. Brushing will make your skin feel alive and tingly, leaving you feeling reenergized. It is a strange sensation at first, but you quickly get used to it and most find it very enjoyable!

Some Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage

¨ Detoxification of the entire body

¨ Relief of chronic pain

¨ Minimizes lines and wrinkles

¨ Restores hydration of the skin and stimulates the overall skin

¨ Promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, sprains, and lessens pain

¨ Reduction in fluid retention and edemas (swelling) of various origins

¨ Helps with post-cancer treatments including Radiation therapy

¨ Regeneration of tissue, including burns and wounds

¨ Enhances body contouring and reduces cellulite

¨ Reduces swollen ankles and legs during pregnancy

¨ Aids in stress reduction by causing deep relaxation

¨ Aids in the reduction of insomnia

¨ Relieves congestion, for those who suffer sinus and allergies

¨ Helps with some forms of constipation

¨ Reduces puffy eyes and “bags” under the eyes

¨ Great for before and after facial surgery to help speed recovery (consult your physician     as to when to begin this after a surgery)

¨ Builds and strengthen collagen fibers and increases tone and enhance facial contouring

¨ Rids the face or body of excess fluids and/or toxins

It is important to note that with this, or any other therapy that releases toxins, it is very important to drink plenty of good clean water both before and after.

Whether you are interested in skin brushing for overall health betterment, skin issues, cancer related issues, or you are considering plastic surgery,  please visit www.IPALC.org and search for locally verified physicians including the best Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons and General Practice Physicians.