Toxins can age you fast – get rid of them this cheap and easy way
You encounter toxins in everyday living – and they build up in your body. Here’s one way to reduce your body toxins that won’t cost you an arm and a leg: dry brush your skin.
Your body’s largest organ – your skin – craves dry brushing.
In this blog I give you the when, where (never your face or nipples) and how – precise instructions on the correct way to dry brush.
But first, I want to share with you the other benefits of dry brushing. When you treat your skin to the simple act of dry brushing, you’re doing more than just helping your body eliminate toxins.
It also makes your skin healthier and cleaner by increasing blood circulation, removing dead skin cells, stimulating your skin’s natural oil glands and helping absorb the nutrients you apply with oils or lotions.
Not only that – it feels good, invigorating your whole body.
The most important reason to dry brush your skin, though, is to help the fluid of your lymphatic filtration system clean up the toxins, poisons and metals.
Skin is one of the first things we notice in another person and when we look in the mirror. Dry brushing your skin is one of the things that makes you want to look in the mirror.
Tips for Dry Brushing Your Body
• Use a natural bristle brush with moderately stiff bristles – never one with synthetic bristles. Most likely you’ll be doing your own dry brushing (a lover might get distracted), so get one with a long handle that’s part of the brush, not glued on. That way you can reach all the areas of your body. Body brushes are usually found in health food and herb stores.
• If you’ve never brushed your skin, or haven’t in a long time, brush softly and gently every other day for the first week. Your skin needs some time to get used to the rough feeling and you don’t want to stir up the toxins too vigorously when first starting.
• Do not brush your face or nipples with the body brush. Do not brush skin rashes, wounds, cuts, infections or other skin problems.
• Your body and the brush should be dry. It’s ideal to dry brush your skin in the morning before you take a shower. Why dry brush your skin? Why not wet brush while in the shower or tub? The answer is because wet brushing stretches your skin (honest!) so always brush before bathing.
• Every few weeks take your brush into the shower with you and wash it in soap and water. Then let it dry.
• Have fresh, pure water ready to drink.
Okay now, here’s where we start the process:
How to Dry Brush Your Skin
1. Get naked.
2. Always brush towards your heart. This is so important because brushing or massaging away from your heart can cause the little valves in your veins to become blocked or damaged, leading to varicose veins. Your veins are loaded with actual valves that are meant to open in the direction leading back to your heart.
3. While you brush, feel what you’re doing. That means put your consciousness on the part of your body that you’re brushing. This will help keep you in the present moment, because while you’re feeling the sensation of the brush against your skin, your mind chatter will begin to quiet down.
4. Treat the act of dry brushing your skin like a sacred ritual – stay attentive to what you are doing and adopt an attitude of love and gratitude. Love your body. Get into the habit of telling your body you love it. And thank each part. Loving and thanking your body are extremely important aspects of the process because your body’s chemistry will react one way if your attitude is love and another if your attitude is fear or loathing. The loving way will enhance your immune system.
5. Start brushing the soles of each foot. Brush back and forth while feeling the sensation. For the rest of your body, use smooth, upward strokes – always toward your heart. Brush up each leg starting at your toes; then brush your belly, butt and lower back, your arms from your fingertips up to your shoulders, and then brush down your neck, chest and upper back. Thank each part of your body as you’re brushing it and tell it you love it.
6. After you finish brushing, your skin will glow. Take a warm, short shower to wash away the dead skin cells.
7. Drink at least 8 ounces of water to flush away the toxins.
8. Apply my castor oil home remedy. (Write and ask for it if you didn’t see it in a previous blog.)
Dry brushing has become a daily ritual for me the last eight years. I’m on my third body brush, having completely worn out two others.
The best thing about this simple act of skin stimulation and conscious gratitude is that it has helped me relinquish negative judgments about parts of my body. After all, how can you dislike a buddy you’ve gotten to know and love and who sticks with you through thick and thin?
Go ahead and try dry brushing. You’ll be amazed at what a loving relationship with your body can do for your health and wellbeing and besides, it sure feels good!
Please Click to Comment beneath this blog, and tell me how you feel about this tip – or give me any thoughts or advice or questions you have about dry brushing your skin.
Joy and Love,
Ellen
Dearly beloved Ellen, Everyone of us is born with the gift from the Almighty, How ever people like you with your wonderful contributions help to keep the wonderful balance that this planet needs.
Thank you and Keep up the Good work.
Blessings Joy & Light
Your friend for Ever,
Mike
Thank you, Mike. It was so wonderful to wake up to your endearing words. Can’t wait to meet you in person.
Joy!
Ellen
Hi Ellen,
I appreciate your writing about this technique. Brushing toward the heart makes sense. I’ve read about massage techniques and they always say this. Recently I read The Be Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone but she said to do this technique with a wet cloth, so I’m so happy I read that the dry method is better- who wants stretched out skin?!
Warm regards,
Joyce
Right!! Who wants stretched out skin? I’m so glad to hear from you. Thanks, Joyce.
Joy to Joyce!
Ellen
Hello once again my friend. I have been dry brushing my body on and off I must say, for several years. You have kicked started me again and I shall start tomorrow and promise to do this regularly.
You certainly are an inspiration Ellen and the joy you share with the world is immeasurable.
Thank you.
Thank you, Judith, for your delightful comments. And I’m glad you’re starting to dry brush again – it really makes a difference.
Joy!
Ellen
HI Ellen,
I am so grateful for you I have been dry brushing for over a year since I met your website and tell you honestly it speaks volumes. I have people tell me all the time wow you don’t age or there is a glow. Most important my skin feels amazing looks amazing like a teenager at times. Guess what I have a teenager Ha Ha. Love you Ellen and everything you give to us. Blessings.
You’re so wonderful, Jacqueline! Thank you for your kind comments and keep on brushin’!!! Love you too!
Joy and Blessings,
Ellen
Dear Ellen,
I am a fairly new visitor to your web site. You open up a whole new world for me, and I look forward to learning from you and enjoying the wealth of information you have to share, as well as your wonderful attitude. I look forward to getting my brush and trying this!
Ellen,
I used to dry brush many years ago. Thank you for inspiring me to start again. Could you please give me the recipe for your castor oil remedy? Thank you for your clear instructions on the correct way to do the 5 Rites. Bless you for your commitment to educating and inspiring people to be healthier and happier.
with love & appreciation,
Gloria
Hi Gloria. Keep on brushin’. And thanks so much for your wonderful comments. Here’s the castor oil home remedy. Blessings and Joy!
Ellen
Here’s a home remedy for protecting your skin and relieving the itchies in cold, dry weather that won’t cost an arm and a leg. It’s part of a program for growing younger and it’s amazing what it will do for your skin!
Dry Itchy Skin? – Relieve it with a Castor Oil Home Remedy
You don’t have to let the cold, dry weather cause itching, increase wrinkles or damage your skin. Here’s a recipe for protecting your skin and relieving the itchies that won’t cost an arm and a leg.
Here in Taos we’ve been experiencing Himalayan-type cold that makes you want to just curl up in bed with the covers over your head until Spring. But then it’s hard to sleep when the itching all over your body caused by dry heat in cold weather feels like microscopic crawly things chomping on you.
The good news is, you can protect your skin with a low-cost home remedy I’ve been using for seven years that works wonders! It’s part of my program for growing younger and it’s amazing what it does for your skin – in any season!
Ellen Wood’s Castor Oil Home Remedy for Healthy, Young Skin
1. Go to your local health food or herb store and buy an 8 oz. bottle of castor oil and a tiny bottle each of Frankincense and Lavender Essential Oil – all excellent for your skin. Make sure the castor oil bottle has a screw-on cap with a spout that lifts up to pour.
2. Pour about 2 oz. of the castor oil into an extra bottle or jar to save for adding as needed.
3. Add 2 oz. water to the 6 oz. of castor oil. Add 2 to 4 drops each of Frankincense and Lavender.
4. Shake, lift the spout and pour some into your hands and spread all over your face.
5. Close the spout and shake again. Then begin spreading it all over your body. Shake frequently between pours. Add more water if it gets too thick or more castor oil if it’s too watery.
6. Can’t reach your back? Go to the hardware store and get a paint sponge on a stick. Gently pour the oil mixture on the sponge and spread it on your back. Then insert the sponge end into a plastic baggie for use the next day.
Kids’ Faces Need Protection Too
When I was a little kid growing up in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, I remember being so excited about going outside to play in the snow. There we were, my sister and brother and I, dressed in layers of long johns, leggings, sweaters, scarves – two pair of socks inside boots we called goulashes – then a hat covering our head, forehead and ears; jacket; mittens and another scarf wrapped around our neck and chin.
“Stand still,” my mother would tell her three little mummies, who were wondering if they’d be able to bend over to make a snowball, while she anointed the only visible part of each of us with Vaseline – slathering it over little cheeks, noses and lips.
Today we’ve re-discovered the healthy benefits of castor oil for the skin, so go ahead and anoint your kids, too, with my castor oil/water home remedy.
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