Skin Brushing

[ono]

Could you please write a little about skin brushing. What kind of brush? Where can I find a skin brush? Technique. Benefits. Thank you in advance!

[shelley]

Hi Ono! This will be in the FAQ under lymph cleansing, but since that's not up yet, here it is:

Dry brushing: Get a soft bristle brush meant for the bath, but use it dry on dry skin. The kind with a veyr long handle so it's easy to do your back. Brush vigorously in circular movements the stomach and chest, long strokes on extremities, circular on elbows and knees. Pay special attention to under the arms, as there is an important nerve nexus there. Avoid any skin eruptions.

Do before your shower and follow your shower if you take one with a self-massage to rub pure oil (sesame, coconut, avocado) into your still-wet skin.

[chickpea]

Hi, I'm not Shelley but I do skin brushing.
You need a brush that has natural fibres (not nylon or anything else synthetic)......if you're in the UK, you can get them from the Body Shop and probably various health outlets (look up on the net).
For technique you need to brush on dry skin and always towards the heart. Start with your feet, soles then long brushes up the legs, paying particular attention to the lymph nodes behind the knees and in the groin area. Upwards over the buttocks and up the lower part of the back. Over your abdomen do in a circular fashion (clockwise as you look down...the way food moves through the colon) about 10 times. Brush over your palms and the back of your hands and up your arms towards your shoulders, down your chest, though avoiding nipples! Across the shoulders and down the upper part of your back. Don't brush your face with a body brush, but the scalp can be brushed though I've never done this myself.
It should take about 5 mins, can do once or twice a day, first thing in the morning and again later on but not too near bedtime as it will keep you awake!
To enhance the brushing, have a hot followed by a cold shower afterwards.
Skin brushing and hot/cold showering stimulate the circulation and the lymphs so greatly helps with elimination of toxins. You'll feel much more alert and energetic when you start doing it regularly
Anne

[alien]

I learnt recently that upon brushing the heart region one must NOT use a circular motion but only up and down to follow the flow of the blood through the ventricles.

[shelley]

oh goodness, I try not to get too precious about things like that!