Supercharge Your Lymph

July 25, 2014
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

dry brush massageBrush Your Way to Summer Beauty.

Last week’s blog was so popular, it inspired me to discuss another—more advanced lymph flow technique—that is perfect for summer beauty!

The dry skin brush massage is a wellness technique highlighted in my books, The Fat Flush Fitness Plan and Fat Flush for Life.

One of  the most effective detox techniques, dry brush massage can help you achieve your weight loss goal by stimulating lymph flow, increasing circulation, and activating your skin’s oil-producing glands.

Skin brushing can dramatically help in reducing the appearance of cellulite, rebuilding strong connective tissue, and promoting toned skin, especially important as you continue to lose weight.

Dry brushing is best done early in the day. Plan enough time to take a shower or a relaxing bath after dry brushing because you will want to wash off the dead skin. Do not brush the sensitive skin on your face, and of course avoid any areas that are bruised or irritated.

Dry brushing will leave your skin glowing and your body feeling invigorated!

 

Dry Brush Massage

Follow these simple steps and remember to always brush toward the heart.

dry brush1.  Use a medium-firm vegetable brush with natural bristles (can be purchased in health food stores) that is as large as your hand and has a long enough handle to reach your back.

2.  Start by opening the primary lymph ducts (just below your collarbone and on the right and left groin areas) with a gentle finger massage. Next, begin to brush the soles of your feet vigorously in a circular motion. The amount of pressure depends on the condition of your skin. Using short upward strokes (toward your heart), slowly move up over your feet and legs. Continue up over your abdomen and over your buttocks to your waist.

3.  Move to the palms of your hands using circular motions, then use short strokes up your hands and arms. Continue brushing down your neck—out to your shoulders and then down your chest and your back.

4.  This can be followed with a sesame oil massage then a shower.

 

Note: It is important to keep your brush clean. Wash it often with warm soapy water, then allow it to air dry. Once per week treat your brush to a 30-minutes soak in a solution of one quart of water and a few drops of Clorox bleach.

 

 

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

12 Comments

  1. Cynthia Bobick

    I go to work almost everyday, am I accomplishing the same thing by using mesh shower gloves in the shower?

    Reply
  2. Ann Louise

    Cynthia: You can also stimulate the lympth with the mesh gloves in the shower but dry brushing is more effective due to the increased friction that actuvates the delicate lympth channels more effectively.

    Reply
  3. Beverly

    Thank you for this information. My mom used this years ago but I didn’t know the reason for her using it. Now I will try it tonight. One more thing. I am on the fat flush program, but can’t follow it as I should because I travel a lot. Any suggestions?

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Ann Louise

      Hi Beverly: Many of my followers are on the road for business and pleasure yet are able to incorporate many of the Fat Flushing signature elements. Do make sure to bring along some dandelion root tea as your coffee substitute and enjoy hot water and lemon as often as you can. Lots of steamed veggies, poached fish, broiled poultry, lean beef, fresh salads, and the recommended fruits should pretty much fill up your plate with some friendly carbs thrown in for phases 2 and 3. Lots of Fat Flushing herbs and spices like garlic, cumin, cayenne, mustard, and dill are terrific for appetite control and fat burning while anise and fennel help to relieve water retention. You can do this – I have for years 🙂 Daily exercise, bed by 10 PM (as much as possible of course) and you will be on your way to continuing vibrant health.

      Reply
  4. Ann Louise

    PS: If you can locate a good health food store or natural foods grocery, then do stock up on cranberry juice concentrate for your daily cranwater. The concentrate is easier to travel with than the juice. Super GI-Cleanse is a great way to get your daily flaxseed fiber into your life and flaxseed oil caps can substitute for the liquid oil when away from home 🙂

    Reply
  5. Kelly

    I am trying to find an alternate to soy lecithan tablets as I read I should avoid soy when trying to ‘Flush”. Is the soy amount negated when it becomes lecithan?

    Reply
    • Ann Louise

      Hi Kelly:

      Soy lecithin does not contain the soy-based proteins that are problematic in many individuals. That being said, you will want to select a non-GMO and organic source of soy lecithin.

      Reply
    • Mrs. King

      You can avoid soy altogether and get sunflower lecithin instead. I just ordered mine from Amazon, but they do have it at other websites like Iherb. They for some reason do not have it at any local retail stores near me. But it’s out there!

      Reply
  6. Ann Louise

    Soy lecithin has the documented ability to emulsify fats more completely than sunflower lecithin – which is also often rancid – due to the fragile nature of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in sunflower oil. A non-GMO lecithin is preferred for reaons!

    Reply
    • Carla Cazzell

      Does this still hold true that the soy lecithin is preferred over the sunflower? When trying to purchase the soy most did not say non-GMO so I assume that they most likely would not be non GMO.

      Reply
  7. Reni

    Iś very intersting info. But I do have a question 🙂
    I am with hypo functie of my thyroid due to RAI and I am using Levothyroxine for that.
    I can drink or eat anything within a 3-4 hours rich on calcium, iron or magnesium, because they lower the Levothyroxine or something like that they told me. I do have dairy intolerance . If I eat cheese or drink milk a get bloating and some acid ruflex. I find that I feel better if I cut dairy, coffee and gluten. Ok now for my question 🙂 Can I follow the Fat Flush Plan? Pardon my bad english. Thanks in a dravce. Reni

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Hi Reni, The Fat Flush Plan would be a wonderful dietary plan for you to follow! Many others with thyroid dysfunction have been incredibly successful on this plan.

      Reply

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