Your skin craves dry brushing

Ellen Wood

Quite a few years ago, I wrote in this column about dry brushing your skin and was amazed by the response. People were stopping me in the supermarket and the post office and in restaurants to tell me about their experiences with dry brushing. Some of you told me you had just bought your first natural bristle brush and loved the results. Others said it was a good reminder to start again with a practice that had fallen by the wayside. So here’s a reprise.

When you treat your skin to the simple act of dry brushing, you’re doing more than just helping your body eliminate toxins. It also makes your skin healthier and cleaner by increasing blood circulation, removing dead skin cells, stimulating your skin’s natural oil glands and helping absorb the nutrients you apply with oils or lotions.

Not only that — it feels good, invigorating your whole body. The most important reason to dry brush your skin, though, is to help the fluid of your lymphatic filtration system clean up the toxins, poisons and metals.

Most likely you’ll be doing your own dry brushing (a lover might get distracted), so get a brush with a long handle that’s part of the brush, not glued on, to reach all areas of your body. Do not brush your face or nipples with the body brush. And of course, your body and the brush should be dry. Why not wet brush while in the shower or tub? Because wet brushing stretches your skin, so always brush before bathing.

Go ahead and try dry brushing. You’ll be amazed at what a loving relationship with your body can do for your health and wellbeing and besides, it sure feels good!

Ellen Wood of Questa is an awardwinning author as well as an artist using the name, Maruška. The website for her books and paintings is www.NorthernNewMexicoArtists. com/ellen-wood. Contact Ellen at ellen@howtogrowyounger.com.