Browsing Category:

Wellness

Beauty, Wellness

A Step-By-Step Guide To Dry Brushing {January Jumpstart}

14 Comments

Dry Brushing

If you’ve been following my January Jumpstart series, you will notice I am hitting on the topic of DETOXING. We have Detoxing Water, Detoxing Soup, and even a Detoxing Bath. Is everyone detoxed out yet? But what if I told you there was a wellness trick that took only five minutes a day, improved your health, and cost nothing? Would you do it? Well, guess what? There is …. Dry Brushing! Some of you may be asking, “what is that?” I am here to answer that question and give you ‘A Step-By-Step Guide To Dry Brushing’. It is so simple to do and has a number of health benefits.

So how does it work?

Your skin, the largest organ in your body, is an organ of elimination. One-third of your body’s toxins are excreted through the skin. Through dry brushing, you unclog pores and excrete the toxins that have become trapped in the skin.

To get started, follow these simple steps:

1. Purchase a natural (not synthetic) bristle brush with a long handle so you can reach all areas of the body. I use the Yerba Prima Skin Brush. I prefer using my brush with the handle removed, but this can make it more difficult to reach around to the back. Find what works best for you.

2. Get naked and stand in a bathtub or shower to catch the falling skin. It’s a bit gross, but once you start doing this everyday, you won’t even see the dead skin droppings.

3. Begin brushing by starting at your feet, moving in long sweeping motions towards your heart. Remember, always brush towards your heart.

4. Brush several times in each area, overlapping as you go.

5. Take care as you brush over more sensitive areas. Note that your skin will become less sensitive the more you dry brush.

6. Once you’ve brushed your entire body, jump in the shower. I like to alternate between the hottest water temperature I can tolerate and the coldest. This stimulates blood circualation, bringing more blood to the top layers of the skin.

7. After getting out of the shower, pat your skin dry and apply a body oil (preferably natural). I like L’Occitane Supple Skin Oil and Jason Vitamin E Skin Oil . Both these products smell WONDERFUL! You could also use rose hip, almond, or coconut oil.

8. Continue to dry brush your body every day. Like everything, once you get the routine down, it’s easy-breezy.

Remember to periodically clean your brush with soap and water. Leave it out to dry in a clean, sunny spot to avoid any mildew accumulation on your brush. If you self-tan, your brush will get slightly discolored.

Dry Brushing

Benefits of dry skin brushing:

1. You’ll exfoliate dead skin. As much as I still love my loofahs and my Tree Hut Detoxifying Mediterranean Salt Scrub, you will not get all the benefits from those products that dry brushing can do.

2. It stimulates your Lymphatic System. Dry brushing your skin will kick start your Lymphatic System, which helps you remove toxins from your body. The stiffer the bristles on the brush, the better the Lymphatic stimulation you’ll create.

3. Dry brushing helps to reduce cellulite. This benefit generally catches people’s eye. Don’t expect miracles, but improvement! Simply put, cellulite is a toxic material that has accumulated, and are trapped in your body’s fat cells. Unfortunately, they are unable to be eliminated from the body. Forget lipo, Ladies! Dry brushing helps to break down any trapped toxins from within the body and also help your body eliminate them through its elimination channels. If you want to see remarkable differences in your skin texture this year, incorporate dry brushing, drinking this Lemon-Ginger Water, add in 3-4 days of resistance training, 4-5 days of cardio, and a CLEAN diet …. TRUST me, you will see results in no time.

4. It unclogs pores and de-congests skin. Dry brushing unclogs your skin’s pores and helps your skin absorb more nutrients. Daily skin brushing promotes healthy, breathing skin. It’s a real TREAT for the largest organ in our bodies.

Dry Brushing

There you have it, ‘A Step-By-Step Guide to Dry Brushing’. I hope you enjoyed this post and give this wellness trick a try. Let me know what benefits you notice. Since we’re on the topic of exfoliating and showering, you may enjoy taking a peek at What’s in My Shower {Body edition}.

Yerba Prima Skin Brush // L’Occitane Supple Skin Oil // Jason Vitamin E Oil // Tree Hut Detoxifying Mediterranean Salt Scrub

xoTracy

Lifestyle, Wellness

Ultimate Detox Bath Soak {January Jump-start}

11 Comments

Detox Bath

There are plenty of detox bath remedies out there for many different ailments. The detox bath I have been using for years is great because it can be used to remedy a bad cold, a bad diet, or even a bad night of partying. I thought my ‘January Jump-start’ series was a perfect time to introduce you to this detox bath. A detox bath is one of the easiest healing therapies we can do to facilitate our body’s natural detoxification system. In this day and age, our bodies are subject to more toxins than ever. It’s also that time of year where it seems everyone is either sick or on the verge of getting sick. Blame it on the stale air floating around those airplane rides home from holiday vacations or co-workers bringing it in to the office, but either way, it’s out there! Whether it’s been a year of nothing but processed food in your diet, or you’re dealing with the nasty crud, whatever your ailment, I have just the thing to help you get back on your feet and feeling better in no time.

A Detox Bath.

Detox Bath

As a health-nut I hate to admit this, but I’m a skeptic about many of the ‘home remedies’ out there. But take it from me – this one is a keeper! Whatever my reasoning for taking this detox bath is, my symptoms actually subside and I feel better by the next day. The ingredients below facilitate the elimination of toxins which cleanse the liver, kidneys, and thyroid. In other words: it gets that cold over quicker, and helps facilitate the healing of those organs that we’ve put through the ringer with all the toxins that consistently enter the body.

Detox Bath

How does it work?

Sulfate is in Epsom salt and baking soda. When absorbed in the skin, it rids the body of toxins we pick up from pollution and processed foods. I add ginger to enhance the detox process, because it has anti-mucus properties, is a natural decongestant, and opens up the pores. Just a little word to the wise: the ginger in this detox bath will make you sweat your ass off! Luckily for us, that’s a good thing. Sweating is one of the best (and cheapest) ways to detoxify, and if you don’t have access to a sauna, this is a fantastic alternative. Another bonus: it’s a powerful antioxidant with potent anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s amazing for your skin as well.

A few words of advice before getting started:

If you’ve never done this before, I’d say that 20 minutes is plenty. With the added ginger, the bath will cause you to sweat more than usual and it will feel quite hot. Any longer might be too intense for a newbie. Also, don’t feel badly if you can’t stay totally submerged the entire time. Honestly, I move around a lot and try to distract myself with reading so I can stay in long enough to get all the benefits it promises. That being said, I have to reiterate, you will sweat! Even after you get out of the bath, you’ll probably continue to sweat (a lot) for the next hour or two, so wear light clothes or a towel so you can easily change. Just like you would after a massage or sauna treatment, drink plenty of water afterwards.

I cannot stress enough, this is an intense treatment. I even have my kids do this if they have a bad cold. If you weigh less than 120 pounds, add less Epsom salt and ginger. Conversely, if you weigh more than 175 pounds, add a bit more to your comfort level. I strongly discourage this detox bath, if you’re pregnant.

Detox Bath

What’s your favorite go-to home remedy for a good old fashion detox or cold? Please share in the comment section below. I would like to encourage you to scroll, not only through mine, but other bloggers comment sections. You can get some of your greatest tips and advice from utilizing that tool. We are a community of helping one another. Let’s make the best of 2016 by opening ourselves up and sharing our personal gifts, as well as welcoming the gifts others bring to this health-driven circle.

If you are looking for other ways to hit the detox button this new year, please check out this blog post and this blog post.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Detox Bath

Save Print

A therapeutic detoxifying bath to induce sweat and improve circulation. The ingredients in this bath facilitate the elimination of toxins which cleanse the liver, kidneys, and thyroid.

Author: Tracy Hensel

Recipe type: Detoxification

Ingredients

1 cup epsom salt
½ c. baking soda (yes, the kind you keep in the fridge)
4 T. ground ginger (more or less depending on your tolerance)
15 to 20 drops of essential oils of choice (I always use lavender, and pair it with at least one other. I like ylang ylang, tea tree, and eucalyptus.

Instructions

Fill your bathtub with hot water - as hot as you can tolerate it. Once it fills about half way, sprinkle in your ingredients and give it a few big stirs with your hand to help it all dissolve.
Once it's full, get in and submerge yourself to your neck.
Soak for at least 20 minutes. but you can stay as long as 40 minutes. The first 20 minutes is to extract toxins while the second 20 minutes is when the body begins to absorb the minerals.
Once you're out, simply towel off and rest for about 30 minutes before showering.

Notes

Do NOT do this detox every day, but instead once or twice a week and build to three times a week from there if you want to do so.