Tips to detox your whole life
Hopefully every person reading this will already have heard about dry skin brushing and the genuine benefits it offers to your skin and overall health. It’s been well publicised that supermodels like Elle McPherson and Miranda Kerr swear by it to keep their skin looking amazing and it’s stood the test of time. After all, it’s a practice that’s been going on for thousands of years, or at least as far back as we have written records.
The ancient Greek philosopher Herodotus reported that public bathing houses became popular across many different cultures in the 5th century BC, although there are reports of dry brushing and bathing rituals far earlier than that in ancient Egyptian culture. In ancient Greece the practice was to use a mitt made of a coarse muslin cloth to rubdown the dry skin. That would be followed by an application of oil, sometimes with pumice and ashes, and a curved metal (or reed) scraping tool called a ‘strigils’, which would be used to scrape away the dirt, oils and dead skin cells. After that bathing in the hot pools would commence.
Of course the Romans are probably most well known for their practice of bathing and the use of the olive oil branches to stimulate circulation, by whipping them across the skin. But this practice is still seen today in the Turkish ‘Hammam’ and in the Russian ‘Banya’, where a ‘gentle lashing’ with the branches and leaves of birch or oak or eucalyptus tree branches, aka “venik”, are said to relax the body and invigorate the skin. In fact, some enthusiasts say it will even help you to live longer!
The Chinese used scrubbing stones that were often carved with intricate patterns, or dried fruit and vegetable fibre sponges along a paste made from bean flour and perfumed spices. Whilst the Native Americans are known to have used corn cobs for a similar effect. Here in Australia, bathing rituals have been a closely guarded secret amongst indigenous women, but it is known that they also use oils and plant essences to massage into skin.
So, although widespread, the practice of dry body brushing was particularly revered in the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda. The first records we have of the Sanskrit practice of Ayurveda originated more than 5,000 years ago and says that we should “eliminate that which is not wholeness, that which is disrupting, by that which is suitable for the self, using procedures and preparations to restore the self, to reestablish prakriti (i.e. wholeness or our essential nature) and pacify by that which is conducive to health”.
Essential to that was the elimination of ‘Ama’ which was believed to be the underlying cause of many health issues. There are 3 types of ‘Ama’. The first ama is said to result from digestive problems and is mostly attributed to poor dietary choices. It is caused by the build up of excess digestive toxins, which produce a sticky substance that causes blockages in other parts of the body. The second, called ‘amavisha’, occurs if the ama is left unchecked and leads to a further build up of toxins and becomes more chronic and then there’s the third, the ‘garvisha’, which is associated with an accumulation of environmental toxins.
Of course, texts that were written 5000 years ago might be interpreted from a very different perspective by today’s medics, however in everything I’ve read, it seems to me that the ama seems quite similar to our lymphatic system.
So, what’s the issue with having ‘ama’? Well, essentially it means the build up of toxins in your body will start to cause long and short-term issues and is underlying any common health issues.
An Ayurvedaic practitioner will aim to reduce and get rid of this ama in their patients by eliminating the causes, i.e. changing the diet and increasing exercise and perhaps by suggesting digestive aids such as drinking lemon water or ginger tea.
Another valuable tool is to practice dry brushing, which in Ayurveda is known as Garshana (pronounced ‘gar-shan’), which in Sanksrit means “friction by rubbing”. Ayuverdic practitioners credit dry skin brushing with the following benefits*, and who am I to argue?
- removes ama and helps enliven alertness
- stimulates blood flow to deeper tissue cells by increasing the circulation
- promotes healthy lymphatic circulation
- removes blockages in the physiology
- nourishes the mind and nervous system
- exfoliates the skin
- alkalizes the blood, helping to eliminate stagnant impurities
- detoxes the liver (massage releases impurities in the skin and blood vessels)
- gently dissolves cellulite over time by breaking down impurity deposits in the fat tissue
- boosts skin glow
So all you need to know now, is how best to preform garshana/ dry skin brushing.
Ideally, try to make dry skin brushing part of your routine every day (or every two or three days). Your skin and body will thank you for it. First grab a good quality dry brush, ideally with bristles made from natural materials such as boar hair (soft) or cactus (aka agave, tampico or sisal) which are a bit more firm. You can buy one here: www.peninsulaendermologie.com
Then, 5 or so mins before you hop in your shower, brush your skin lightly starting from your feet and working your way up your body, always brushing towards your heart. You can use gentle circular movements over the joint areas and any particularly stubborn areas of cellulite, but then continue with long strokes over the rest of your body. The idea is that you’re moving the lymph fluid along towards the lymph nodes and eventually your kidneys and heart. Avoid brushing your face (unless you have a special softer brush) or your breasts, genitals any broken skin or varicose veins.
There’s no need to apply too much pressure, just do what feels comfortable. Some areas like the inside thighs will be more sensitive, so be gentle and don’t feel like you need to ‘scrub’. Your skin should look a little pink but not scratched or red. Ideally, it’s nice to allocate around 5 to 10 minutes to this self-care ritual, but just 2 mins will do!
Then hop in the shower and afterwards pop on some natural, organic moisturising body lotion (grab one next time you’re in, or again, head to www.peninsuaendermologie.com to order one) to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.
The brushing action gently increases the circulation to your skin, stimulating your lymphatic system and the elimination of toxins. It also helps to exfoliate your skin, encouraging new cell renewal, and may even help to soften the fibrous fat deposits below the skin, therefore gradually smoothing out cellulite.
The result leaves you feeling energized, lighter and with smoother, healthier skin. In Ayurveda, they say it will also give you a “better digestion and enlivened metabolism. There is lightness in the body, clarity of mind, more happiness and satisfaction in life*. “
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your brush and get brushing right now!!
* Source: https://www.mapi.com/blog/reduce-ama-with-garshana-lymphatic-massage.html
