Dry Skin Brushing: Flow, Detoxifying & Vitality

jessikaherbalist
Aug 3, 2020
4 min read

Updated: Aug 27

Dry skin brushing is one of those simple yet powerful rituals I love for myself — and one I recommend to many of my clients. Not only does it feel invigorating, it also supports circulation and the healthy flow of our lymphatic system. This practice is especially beneficial for anyone who tends to retain fluid or feels sluggish in their body.

I was first introduced to skin brushing by my grandmother. She gave me a body brush when I was in my early teens and taught me the practice along with its many benefits. Decades later, I still have that brush, along with a few others collected over the years. When I brush my skin, I think of my grandmother and how healthy her skin felt.

The Rivers Within: Your Lymphatic System

Our lymphatic system is the body’s largest fluid network. I like to think of it as our inner rivers or estuaries — a life-sustaining tide that carries nutrients where they’re needed, while filtering out toxins and pathogens. It is both a cleansing stream and a vital part of our immune system.

Like any river, our lymph must flow freely. When it stagnates, the body can hold on to waste and fluid, leading to congestion, inflammation, swelling (oedema), fatigue, and a general sense of heaviness. Some people store a lot of fluid in their bodies and this is where extra weight can be seen and felt. Weight loss might need to come in the form of moving stored fluid in the body.

Why Brush the Skin?

The lymphatic system lies just beneath the skin. Because the skin is also our largest organ of detoxification, brushing it becomes a direct way to stimulate lymph flow. By doing so, you encourage drainage, circulation, moving excess fluid and the clearing of toxins.

Benefits of dry skin brushing:

✨ Exfoliates dead skin cells — leaving your skin soft and glowing.

✨ Unclogs pores — allowing the skin to breathe and detoxify.

✨ Encourages lymphatic drainage — supporting your body’s natural detox pathways.

✨ Improves nutrient delivery — helping every cell to be nourished and functional.

✨ Boosts immunity — stimulating B cells (our defenders) and T cells (our warriors).

✨ Feels good — light, energised, with an aliveness to the skin and circulation.

How to Dry Brush

What you need: A wooden brush with soft natural bristles, or a woven mitt made from natural fibres.

When to do it: Before a shower or bath. Once to three times a week is plenty, though daily brushing for a week or two can help if you’re feeling particularly congested.

How long: 5–10 minutes.

Method:

Always brush towards the heart.
Begin at the feet and work upwards with gentle circular strokes, going over each area about 3 times.
On the abdomen, brush in a clockwise direction.
For the arms, start at the hands and move upward toward the armpits and around the breast tissue.
Use light downward strokes on the neck.
A long-handled brush is perfect for reaching the back.

Seasonal & Lifestyle Flow

In winter or during sedentary periods, lymph flow naturally slows. Brushing can help keep circulation strong, warm the body, and boost immunity. Carrying this practice into spring — paired with a gentle detox or seasonal cleanse — is a important and necessary cleansing act we can do to give our bodies the chance to regularly move out the build up of waste and toxin accumulation that we accumulate on a daily basis.

Tip: Drink plenty of water, ideally warm or hot. Adding a pinch of mineral-rich salt helps the body absorb water more effectively so it hydrates your cells rather than passing straight through.

Movement is also key: brisk walks, swimming, and bouncing on a mini trampoline are excellent ways to move lymph.

A Mindful Brushing Ritual

Dry brushing can be more than just a physical practice. Done mindfully, it becomes a ritual of presence and self-connection. As you brush, breathe deeply and ask yourself:

Am I holding onto emotional stores I need to release?
Where in my life am I feeling stagnant?
Am I letting life flow, or am I resisting?
Do I feel connected to my emotions and to the element of water?
Is my life moving in the direction I need?

The lymph carries not only physical waste but can also mirror our emotional flow. Brushing becomes a gentle way to release what no longer serves us — physically and energetically.

Herbal Therapeutics

Certain herbs are medicinal for the lymphatic system, helping to move, cleanse, and nourish it. Some of my favourites include:

🌿 Echinacea🌿 Calendula🌿 Cleavers🌿 Poke root🌿 Dandelion🌿 Kelp🌿 Astragalus 🌿 Fenugreek

Herbal infusions are an effective way to combine daily hydration with gentle lymph support.

In Closing

Dry skin brushing is such a simple practice, yet its effects ripple through body. It’s a reminder to keep our rivers flowing — to release what is stagnant, invite lightness, and connect to the natural rhythms within and around us.

So, perhaps it’s time to dust off that old brush, or find a new one, and make this part of your self-care ritual. Your skin will glow, your body will feel lighter, and your inner rivers will thank you.