The Benefits of Dry Brushing

Benefits of Dry Brushing. I absolutely love to dry brush. I find it to be such a sweet act of self-care, a way to connect my mind and body and, not to mention, I feel amazing after I dry brush.

I believe it is a practice that all cancer patients and survivors should implement multiple times a week. I actually think everyone should be doing this practice as it is so good for the body.

So what is dry brushing?

Dry brushing is the process of running a natural soft bristle brush up and down your body in specific motions. Doing this for 5-10 minutes has tremendous benefits for the body.

This can be done before or after your shower. Some people like beforehand because it makes your skin fresher and more open to be cleansed before a shower and some like it after a shower because they like practicing on already clean skin. The choice is up to you!

Let’s explore the benefits.

Benefits of Dry Brushing

Dry Brushing Improves Circulation

I wanted to start off with what I believe is one of the most important benefits you can get from dry brushing. Increased circulation. The sheer act of moving the brush along your skin (especially towards your heart) is believed by many in Eastern Medicine to help improve blood flow.

I will say that when I dry brush, I do feel lighter on my feet. My circulation feels revitalized. Proper circulation = more energy and your body can efficiently work at a more optimal level.

Dry Brushing Improves Skin Texture

This is a nice benefit of dry brushing- it helps the look for your skin. It helps to have a healthier texture, more smooth and glowing. You will notice after dry brushing your skin feels incredibly soft.

After a few days your skin will feel renewed! It’s important to keep body skin healthy because it blocks toxins and free radicals and it is the largest organ in our body.

Dry Brushing Invigorates and Energizes
Anyone who has thyroid issues (or one of the many chronic illnesses out there) knows how taxing it can be on our energy reserves. Much like I said dry brushes makes me feel lighter on my feet- it really does improve my energy.

You feel it zip through your body as you dry brush. Your circulation becomes awake, suddenly fresh blood is flowing. This in and of itself is invigorating!  It is known that increased circulation means you are also increasing energy. Take advantage!

Dry Brushing Naturally Exfoliates The Skin

I love how dry brushing removes dead skin cells. It is a manual exfoliation that works so well and what’s great is that it is completely natural!

Exfoliation of the skin, in health terms, is important because it keeps pores unblocked. When pores are unblocked, we are able to excrete toxins at a more efficient rate.

Dry Brushing Helps Fight Ingrown Hairs

Ugh, ingrown hairs are the worst! They can be so uncomfortable. Thankfully, dry brushing is a fantastic way to keep ingrown hairs at bay.

I’m sure you guessed right- it is because dry brushing does so well exfoliating. That is why it is so great to keep ingrown hairs away. For ingrown hairs and clogged hair follicles, science often points to both chemical and manual forms of exfoliation for treatment. Just a note- do not go over broken skin or irritated skin when dry brushing. Very important to remember.

Dry Brushing Helps Promote Lymphatic Flow and Drainage

Dry brushing is your lymph system’s best friend! The act of dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, which we need to do manually. Even famed biohacker Dave Asprey says this is one of his top practices for circulation and lymph drainage! He states, “Dry brushing can help detox your body by stimulating your lymphatic system to remove cell waste, environmental toxins, and pathogenic organisms more efficiently.”

Again, for cancer patients (and non cancer patients) eliminating toxins from the body is super important, so doing nice things like dry brushing for your lymphatic system are important.

A strong lymphatic system also helps with energy. This article is a perfect example of how everything in the body is connected. Enjoy dry brushing! It is a game changing practice.