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How To Dry Brush

Dry body brushing has been used for years because the health benefits are so extensive.  It can improve venous blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, release toxins, exfoliate dead skin, reduce ingrown hairs and many other health benefits.  Many people use dry brushing successfully to assist with the relief of arthritis, improve poor circulation and remove bumpy skin from backs of leg and buttocks. (see testimonials)

Bodecare Dry Body Brushing System has been developed to aid the body’s lymphatic drainage and for that reason all brush strokes are toward the major lymph nodes in the body.

Before Dry Body Brushing please take note of the following precautions:

  1. Never Skin Brush over active inflammation or during an active cancer state or over enlarged lymph nodes.
  2. Do not brush on sunburnt skin.
  3. Avoid breasts & genitalia area.
  4. If pregnant seek doctors advice first before skin brushing.
  5. Wash brush before use.
  6. If an allergic reaction appears stop brushing.
  7. Dry brushing does exfoliate skin, therefore regular washing of brush is essential to remove dead skin from the bristles.
  8. A slight reddening of the skin (erythema) is normal, it is the blood circulation responding to the skin brushing.

General Rules of Dry Skin Brushing

  1. Always use a natural bristle skin brush, for optimum results use a plant bristle.
  2. Perform on Dry Skin only.
  3. Generally stroke upward in one movement.
  4. Light strokes repeated 7 times.
  5. Adjust pressure to your comfort levels.
  6. Best to follow brushing with some form of hydrotherapy i.e. shower or bath
  7. Don’t brush more than you need to.  Over doing it does not mean better results.
  8. Work from left to right side of body.

Arrows indicate brush stroke direction, toward the lymphatic nodes.  Diagram Reference available at end of document.

 

Steps of Dry Body Brushing

Feet

When brushing feet it is recommended to use a firmer bristle, start on left side.

  1. Start at soles of feet, stroking brush from toes to heel follow each brush stroke with a soothing sweep of the other hand.
  2. Continue on top of foot from toes to ankles and ending at Achilles tendon behind ankle. Cover both sides of foot.

Leg

When brushing legs, buttock, back, abdomen, hand and arm it is recommended to use a body brush that meets your comfort levels(refer to the Bodecare brush range in  Soft-Medium-Firm bristle)

  1. Continue upward brush strokes up the leg, moving from ankle to calf and shin, up to hamstrings and quadriceps, ensuring to cover entire leg, up toward the lymph groin area (see diagram, arrows are pointing in the direction of brush stroke)

Buttock and Back

  1. Move to buttocks, starting at top of buttock, brush down to the gluteal fold (where buttock joins the leg) and sweep back again to top.
  2. Then from base of buttock sweep upward to outside of hip.
  1. Once reaching the lower back, start your brush stroke from spine and sweep brush stroke up and out to side of torso, all the way up to the shoulder blades and finishing from spine to over the shoulder.

Repeat on right side

Abdominal

  1. Lower abdominal: Starting left side, hold brush at navel and brush stroke downward and toward the lymph groin area, and then from navel outward to hip joint and side of torso. Repeat on right side.
  2. Upper abdominal: Starting on left side, hold brush at navel and brush stroke upward and outward from mid to outer torso, under the breast line.  Repeat this on right side.
  3. Complete abdominal area with the concentric circular brush stroke.  Starting at navel move in small circular clockwise strokes, not leaving the skin, gradually increase the circular strokes until reaching the outer abdomen.  Then work in anti-clockwise brush strokes from large to small until back at the navel.

Hand and Arm

1.     Brush from wrists to fingertips.  Turn hand over and brush from fingertips (and in between fingers)  to wrist and continue up the arm to the shoulder, working from inner to mid and to outer arm. Finish brush strokes over the armpit, with light strokes in small circular, clockwise direction.

Décolletage, Neck and Face

When brushing décolletage, neck and face it is recommended to use a softer brush for this area, due to the sensitivity of most skin around this region.  Avoid brushing over breasts. (for sensitive skin refer to “The Natural Face brush” in Bodecare range, and this is still used dry )

Décolletage and Neck

  1. Starting on left side hold brush just above the breast line and brush upward to collarbone. Working from mid to outer décolletage. Repeat this on the right side.
  2. From left side, at base of neck brush very lightly up to the jaw line and curve down to the collarbone, the point at which the head and neck drain into the lymph nodes. Repeat on right side.

Face

  1. Small circular brush strokes, ending the stroke going down (toward the lymph nodes).  Ensure to use a soft bristle brush, avoiding the eye area. Starting circular strokes at chin, and then above lips, side of nose, cheeks, temples an forehead.

Scalp

  1. Switch to a Firm bristle body brush or a hairbrush with wood pins, see Bodecare’s Hair brush range. Place brush behind ear and brush upward to temple.  Place brush at base of neck and brush upward to top of head, covering the entire head. Place brush behind top of ear and brush down to side of neck.

What to Expect

In completion to the dry body brush a slight reddening of the skin (erythema) is normal, it is the blood circulation responding to the skin brushing.

 

Brush Care

As so much dead skin cells sloughs off while dry brushing and works its way into the brush bristles, it’s important to clean your dry skin brush regularly.  Wash in hot soapy water with a Tea Tree Oil Soap and leave in the sun to dry or well ventilated area, with bristles facing down.  With regards to the Natural Face brush, it is best to hang this brush to dry. Resting this brush face down on the delicate goat’s hair bristles will bend them out of shape.

“We hope you can make dry body brushing a part of your daily routine and thank you for taking the time to contribute to your health!”

References:

  • Dr Bruce Berkowsky: The Journal of Nature-cure: west/east fusion, Vital Chi Skin-brushing System. Vol.4 No.1.
  • Gunther Wittlinger: Textbook of Dr.Vodder’s Manual Lymph Drainage. 7th Edition 2004.
  • Diagram: Tappan F 1988, “Healing Massage Techniques: Holistic, Classic and Emerging Methods” 2nd Edition Publisher: Appleton & Lange: Norwalk Pg 295-296