“DETOX” it sounds harmless right? I mean, we all want to rid of ourselves of unwanted, harmful toxins. The problem is we’ve been duped into believing the lies. By spending hours each day on mobile devices we, without realising it, are consuming every bit of clever marketing that pops up on our screens. Everywhere we “click” we are bombarded with another advertisement selling us that “THING” that is going to fix everything! Society has basically brainwashed us into thinking that we are all walking toxic death traps that need immediate healing in order to thrive. The sad truth is that most of us will empty our bank accounts searching for the quickest way to fix our problems rather simply doing what it takes to get the results we desire. So what should you do? A good place to start is to learn how the body works and understand that most of what you are searching for, your body already has a mechanism to do naturally and is doing it. (Yes, there are always outliers and circumstances that can alter the body’s ability to function properly but they’re far more rare than most choose to believe so for the sake of this article let’s just stick with the basics)
There is not much research behind the benefits of Dry Brushing. However, there is a ton of anecdotal evidence to show that it has worked really well. Dry brushing before a shower or bath can be an effective way to exfoliate by gently sloughing away dead skin cells. Simply brush the skin in a light, rhythmic fashion toward the chest and neck, rinse off, gently pat the skin dry with a towel and VOILÀ! Your skin is soft, supple and ready to absorb whatever products you apply.
But what if healing is the result you’re after? Can Dry Brushing really DETOXIFY the body by flushing the lymphatic system? Could Dry Brushing aid in the detoxification process? It may be helpful to first see how the body removes toxins and waste. It starts with understanding the lymphatic drainage system.
The lymphatic system is our body's 'sewage system'. It maintains fluid levels in our body tissues by removing all fluids that leak out of our blood vessels. The lymphatic system is important for the optimal functioning of our general and specific immune responses. The lymph nodes monitor the lymph flowing into them and produce cells and antibodies which protect our body from infection and disease. Better Health Channel
Lymph is made up of fluid and protein that comes from body tissues. Lymph drains into small, one way, vessels all throughout the body and gets filtered through the lymph nodes where white blood cells attack and destroy germs. The toxins and waste are disposed of through sweat, urine, breath, and bowels while the clean, filtered lymph fluid continues on through the bloodstream to help fight off infection. So assuming you’re a relatively healthy individual, lungs aside, the three major organs that eliminate waste and harmful substances in the body are the liver, kidneys and colon.
*WARNING: if your lymphatic system is clogged and backed up with toxins, you could feel nauseous or light headed after dry brushing so always make sure to drink extra water to help flush these from the body.
So what do you think? Can Dry Brushing help? Does it actually “detox” the body? When done correctly (following the direction of the lymphatic system moving the fluid toward healthy lymph nodes) it stands to reason that we can encourage the flow of lymph resulting in less fluid retention, possibly better blood flow, and healthier looking skin since our pores will be less clogged (exfoliated) and primed to absorb the nutrients from the products we apply.
Is it safe? Can anyone use a Dry Brush? It is definitely NOT FOR EVERYONE. Specifically, for those who have sensitive or thin skin, broken, inflamed or irritated skin, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or lymphedema. (always check with a trusted healthcare provider if you have any conditions that may be concerning before beginning a Dry Brush regimen). If the practice of Dry Brushing proves irritating to the skin, manual lymphatic drainage is an excellent alternative for encouraging effective draining.
If you want a HOW TO step-by-step guide to Dry Brushing, check out my article “HOW TO DRY BRUSH, A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE”
I always want to encourage you to DIG DEEPER. Don’t believe every headline that you read. Most of what we see online is one person’s opinion copy and pasted by thousands of others and presented a little differently than the last. Do your own research as new findings are always emerging from the science happening behind the scenes. More often than not, the headline you are reading is more about marketing than subject you were searching.
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