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Dry Brushing to Support Lymphatic Health
By Bruce Anderson, RM, CMT, HHP
Each day we may think of doing something about our health depending on whether the lack thereof is keeping us from doing what we want to do. For some, health is an obsession, for others it is incidental to the "important" things that they feel need to do with a, "I don't have time to be sick", attitude.Whether you're obsessed or distracted, your body makes the best work of your decisions to maintain your health.
One of the major contributors to your health is the lymphatic system.Part of the overall immune system, it provides drainage, which maintains fluid balance in the tissues and transports toxins to be removed from the body by the kidneys and by perspiration through the skin. It is extensive. The human body has twice as many lymphatic vessels as it does blood vessels.It also has no pumping mechanism to move this fluid on its own, but relies on the adjacent muscle contraction and movements to maintain flow.
The lymphatic nodes are "way stations" for lymphatic fluid and are home to Lymphocytes, which travel through out the body, to collect and destroy bacteria and viruses.When the body is fighting an infection, these lymphocytes multiply rapidly and produce the characteristic swelling and tenderness of the lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarms, groin, neck, chest and abdomen.Most of these nodes are found close to the skin which makes manual assisted drainage easy through a technique called dry brushing.
Dry Brushing
Our skin is the biggest organ of elimination we have, in fact we get rid of more than 1 lb. a day in waste products through our sweat glands and pores.If our elimination is poor, then the toxins become trapped in the system. One of the major factors in poor elimination is that the skin is being clogged with dead cells. Regular exfoliation is needed to keep these pores open and one of the simplest and cheapest ways to do this isthrough regular dry brushing.It is an easy and effective daily routine that I have found produces immediate and positive results in most people. The action of the brush stimulates the lymph and blood circulation and removes impurities from beneath the surface of the skin. This helps keep your pores clear, and as the bristles work directly on the lymph vessels and capillaries, you are stimulating the circulation so that toxins can be easily expelled through the pores.
Dry skin brushing is suitable for everyone unless they have broken skin, eczema, psoriasis or varicose veins. The right brush is essential. It should have sufficiently hard natural bristles to produce the necessary stimulating effect.
Use a natural bristle brush and take long strokes. Start at your feet, brushing up your legs and thighs towards the groin. Work in toward the centerline of the tummy, then upward to the chest. Then do hands and arms, back and across the shoulders. Use gentle downward strokes on your neck, throat and chest. The direction of flow should be directed to the areas of the chest just adjacent to the arm pits.These are the areas where lymph drains into the bloodstream so the kidneysfilter the waste and toxins out of our bodies.
 
Sources:
The Herbal Home Spa by Greta Breedlove (Storey Books, 1998).
www.whatmedicine.co.uk
http://www.annecollins.com/index.htm
Lymphatic Massage, World School of Massage and Holistic Health, Patricia Cramer |
