Ladies, Love your Lymph

I get asked a lot by my clients about what they can do to enhance their lymphatic health in the interim of sessions. Ladies, your in luck, as there is a wonderful tool and self-care regimen called Dry Brushing. Your probably familiar with the basic bath brush that has a wooden handle that people use in the shower to exfoliate their skin. Well this is the same idea, but with the intention of stimulating the lymphatic system. Dry Brushing is becoming a popular trend, as women are now seeing the importance of rejuvenating the skin’s dermis by clearing out toxins as a way to maintain health and beauty.

It is the same idea when we exfoliate the face to clean of impurities after a cleanser and toner. Dry brushing for the body is a way we can exfoliate the whole body and help reduce stagnancy and inflammation from our very delicate lymph vessel system.

We have many vital organs that are responsible for detox including the liver, kidneys, skin and colon. The skin being the largest.  Stimulating the lymphatic system through dry brushing helps remove dead skin cell and makes the skin smoother. It helps to improve circulation, reduce stress and provides a relaxing way to connect with a very essential process of the body in removing metabolic wastes.

Whether for health maintenance, reducing water in the body, reducing the appearance of cellulite, lymphatic dry brushing feels good and makes your skin look great.

Our lymph system has no pump and transports lymph via tiny vessels called a lymphangion. These tiny vessels create natural contractions or peristalsis of the smooth muscle which influences lymphangion motoricity. Exercise, rebound jumping, diaphragmatic

 breathing are also wonderful ways to get the lymph system to circulate.

Our lymph can be compromised by trauma, stress, emotional health, diet, tight clothes and other lifestyle factors.  A sluggish system can also mean low immunity, lymphatic drainage with dry brushing can also help stimulate the immune system, which includes the thymus, spleen and tonsils. Having a strong immune system will combat infection, reduce colds and sinus issues and be a preventative against disease and free radicals in the body.

Your lymphatic system lies right under the skin, stimulating the lymph vessels is with a very light and gentle pressure. Think of the weight of a nickel on the skin or petting a cat, that is why the act of dry brushing creates an optimal tool for enhancing lymphatic health.

Some precautions of dry brushing are the following; when you have a rash or other breakage of skin or if you have sensitive skin. If you have a health issues that affects your skin, perhaps consult with your doctor or just work in localized areas to begin and always start light and slow. You can build up at a faster firmer rhythm over time. Be discerning, You can drink a cup of water before and after. Make sure not to use your dry brush on wet skin.

Most dry brush tutorials say to brush distal to proximal, which means brushing from foot to groin or hand to underarm. I think these methods are fine, however, in my lymphatic training I prefer to brush the reverse which is proximal to distal. This means open the drainage areas of the body before brushing lymph fluid into them.

1.    Stimulate your neck by placing both hands under the ear and lightly brush to collarbone. Then with gentle pulsations toward sternum in the hollow of collarbone. You can do this manual or do this with a light bristle brush (vegan or vegetable material preferably.)

2.    Start with Left side of body: Stimulate the left side of upper chest (use circles), then left under arm area. And then brush from tip of fingers to the under arm in a circumferential manner.

3.    Repeat this on the Right side: Stimulate the right side of upper chest (use circles), then right under arm area and then brush from tip of fingers to the under arm in a circumferential manner.

4.    For the breast area, you can do gentle strokes in an upward fashion toward armpit and clavicle. Under the breast go in the direction of the nearest armpit. Do not dry brush over the areola or nipple area.

5.    For the abdominal area and brush up the right side then across to the left side and down to pubic area; so you are completing a full circle with the motions of ascending, transverse and descending colon. You can then complete the stroke by brushing down into crease of groin or inguinal.

6.    Then stimulate the groin area, the crease that runs diagonal at top of the leg. You can then take the brush into the back flank and brush anterior (toward front of body into your groin area.) The same can be done with the buttocks. Do circular motions and then brush to the groin area.

7.    Now that the inguinal area is brushed (groin area), start the dry brushing of the leg. Begin left leg at foot and brush circumferential to the crease of groin. Then move to right leg and repeat.

8.    If you can reach back and back of neck, the bring the motions towards the front of the body. Either to the inguinal (groin), axilla (underarm) or hollow of collarbone.

All dry brushing should be directed towards the heart. Brush strokes can be 

 repeated 5 to 15 times. This can be done daily. If you have a pre-existing health issues you may want to only do the strokes 2-3 times a week to get started. Always contact a qualified lymphatic professional or your doctor with any questions or concerns.

When seeking out a good dry brush, one will usually find boar bristles or vegetable. I personally recommend the vegan/vegetable, as it feels better on the skin and is more gentle. You can visit my website at hoano.com to see some sample of dry brushes.

I am also available to offer a Dry Brush tutorial with/ or without a Lymphatic session. Please call me at 818-522-0417 or email at jenhoano@gmail.com 

Stay tuned next for a Lymphatic dry brushing video and my next blog article on the Kansa Wand for a natural face rejuvenation.