Hi there, I have been treating and teaching a lot of people these last few weeks who are sick, tired, sluggish and not feeling 100% their best. It doesn't help that as we move into cold and flu season we are also experiencing record levels of cedar allergies in the south Texas region.
One easy way I personally take care of myself all year round but especially in the winter months is with dry skin brushing specifically for lymphatic stimulation. I hope you find this video helpful.
The idea behind a dry skin brushing routine is simply to help stimulate the movement of lymph fluid through your body so that cellular waste can be eliminated and allow for the transport of white blood cells to help your body fight off infections.
The body contains approximately 15 liters of lymph at any one time and with adequate hydration , can reproduce about 3 fresh liters per day. When our lymph system is not functioning optimally, or we are in pain, have swelling, or lack energy your lymphatic system is likely sluggish.
The best way to dry brush your skin is to use some simple principles:
1. Light rhythmic pressure - just enough to move the skin under the dry brush or your fingers.
2. Brush or massage toward the heart The rule of thumb is starting close in toward your midline and work your way out toward your hands and feet.
3. Brushing or massage direction should be to begin distally and work your way medially, in other words work .high to low (ie jaw to collarbone) / out to in (ie shoulder to heart).
4. Couple your brushing with dIaphragmatic breathing where the lower abdomen and the ribs expand your trunk with each inhale and deflates your trunk with each exhale.
For the routine in this video you will brush in this order:
1. below the collarbones 2. the sternum, 3. above the collarbones and neck.
There are many other ways to help your body move lymph through your system, this is only one small method in one small region of the body. The easiest way to move lymph is through normal human movement. Breathing is our most basic human movement. Walking, yoga movement that emphasizes joint mobilization and massage including self-massage are great ways to assist in lymphatic drainage. Click here to see the video!