Dry Brushing

I ordered a Fab Fit Fun box and I was super impressed that it contained this awesome Daily Concepts Dry Brush. It always makes me giggle a bit when health and beauty techniques that have been used in Chinese Medicine for 1000's of years become mainstream in an instant because Gwyneth Paltrow, Vogue, or Allure rave about it. Specifically they have all recently talked about dry brushing and it's ability to reduce the appearance of cellulite, get rid of dead skin cells, improve digestion, and aide in the body's ability to detox. Let's take a closer look at how and why dry brushing is awesome and not just another Hollywood fad.

What is dry brushing?

Dry brushing is the act of sweeping a natural brush across dry skin in the direction of the heart. It is recommended to dry brush 2-3 times a week, more frequently if you have a sedentary lifestyle or are trying to control specific symptoms. The proper way to use a dry brush is to begin at the feet and sweep in an upward motion, towards the heart. Move onto the arms and with the same concept, sweep the brush along the skin in the direction of the heart. When you get the stomach, go in a counter-clockwise motion. The never areas include your breasts, genitals, or broken skin. The process should take you 3-5 minutes.

Why should you dry brush?

Dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, therefore detoxifying the whole system. Let’s break that down. Lymph is a fluid that contains disease fighting white blood cells. It starts in the heart and is separated from the blood as it is pumped through body. The lymphatic system carries lymph through the body and back towards the heart. Along the way it stops at lymph nodes to be cleaned by lymphocytes. It’s final destination is back at the heart to be remixed with our blood, and the cycle continues. Modern society has most Americans walking around with overloaded systems, which makes it very hard for our lymphatic system to keep our blood clean. As you can imagine, this can lead to a long list of symptoms and ailments. Here is the thing, the lymphatic system does not have a pump like the blood does. It relies on gravity and movement to help it flow through the body. In comes dry brushing, it helps circulate the lymph through the system, keeping the body clean and detoxified. The added bonus is that it also help circulate blood. Poor circulation leads to many chronic illnesses while good circulations supports good health.

From a Chinese Medical perspective dry brushing helps to stimulate the Wei Qi. Wei Qi is our protective bubble that helps shield us from the invasion of external pathogens, negative influences, and builds our immune system. On a non-physical level, our Wei Qi helps us to create healthy boundaries. Knowing exactly where we end and another begins allows us to know our self worth, fully live into our space, and keeps our communication with others clear.

Want to up the benefits, add essential oils.

If you want to add oils to your dry brushing routine, I suggest adding one drop of essential oil and several drops of a carrier oil to your palm and rub your dry brush over the oils before you start. Here are a few options.


Grapefruit Oil- Grapefruit oil is high in bromelain, an awesome enzyme with anti-inflammatory
properties, making it great for red or puffy skin. This same enzyme is what makes it a great oil to help break down cellulite.


Juniper Berry Oil- Juniper Berry is known for its diuretic qualities and it’s ability to move toxins out of the system. It also helps to maintain good circulation, which can help tighten the skin, creating a smoother and firmer appearance. (check my Facebook group for a video about the powers of juniper berry.)


Lemongrass Oil- Lemongrass is well known for its ability to stimulate the lymphatic system, making it an excellent addition to your dry brush routine. It also has antiseptic and astringent properties that will give your skin a clean, even, and glowing appearance.



As always, if you have any questions or you would like to learn more about the wonderful world of Chinese Medicine, feel free to get in touch.


Be Well,
Carrie