The Benefits of Dry Brushing for Lymphatic Drainage
Dry brushing is an important self-care practice that offers numerous health benefits. [Photo by Sun Studio Creative]
Dry brushing is a popular self-care practice that has been around for centuries and is an excellent tool that can be used in lymphatic drainage massage. It offers numerous health and beauty benefits ranging from toxin removal and improved circulation to reducing cellulite and exfoliating skin, among others. Many spas include dry brushing as part of their full-body treatments and you can also perform it on yourself at home as part of your wellness routine.
Discover the Benefits of Gua Sha for Skin
Plant-based body care brand nativaSPA offers a range of skincare products and tools including dry brushes and gua sha tools that are designed to enhance overall wellness and improve lymphatic drainage. We chatted with Daniela Dressel, General Manager and Head of US Operations at nativaSPA’s parent company Boticário Group, to learn more about the benefits of dry brushing for lymphatic drainage, best at-home tips, and more.
What is lymphatic massage and how is it different from a standard massage?
Lymphatic Drainage is a type of massage that focuses on stimulating the lymph nodes' natural drainage to eliminate waste and toxins, detoxing the body on a cellular level by improving your lymphatic system. from the body, which is different from traditional massage in that therapists work to break down the fascia underneath the tissue and stimulate the lymphatic system. With Brazilian lymphatic drainage, you immediately notice your energy levels increase, a significant decrease in water retention and bloating, a reduction in the inches of your waist and a more sculpted body with the help of improved circulation.
nativaSPA’s Energize & Tone Set replenishes skin with nourishing ginseng and caffeine.
What are the benefits of lymphatic drainage massage and why is it important?
There are many benefits to Brazilian lymphatic drainage massages, including stimulating blood circulation, reducing swelling and water retention, improving your digestion and immune system, minimizing the appearance of cellulite and much more. Also, lymphatic massages are helpful for post-surgery recovery and for people suffering from chronic health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Chronic venous insufficiency and fibromyalgia. It’s so beneficial that women in Brazil are known for their weekly lymphatic massage rituals, caring for their bodies from head to toe.
How often do you recommend getting a lymphatic massage or performing it at home?
An individual's metabolism, health, and lifestyle can affect how long the benefits of the massage last, but frequently at-home massages can help extend the results. Women in Brazil will go as often as twice a week! So, it’s not surprising that celebrities in the United States are catching on and regularly getting lymphatic massages.
How does one perform lymphatic massage at home? Any tips, do’s and don’ts?
Brazilian Lymphatic drainage only requires a little preparation. Start with an excellent dry brush and hydrating oil, such as the ones included in our Energize & Tone Set. Use the brush to create gentle strokes upwards, starting on your arms. You'll want to repeat this on your legs working from your legs up to your bum. Lastly, you're going to create downward strokes on your torso. Next, you'll want to lather your skin with the oil and glide the paddle over the skin, using those upward strokes towards the glands and, of course, downward strokes on your stomach. All of this should be accompanied by a healthy diet, exercise and minimal alcohol consumption, as that will increase inflammation in the body. For convenience, our website blog has a complete self-massaging guide to creating a wholesome at-home routine here.
nativaSPA’s 2-Step Quinoa Set features a super concentrated formula rich in omegas and nutrients that provide deep nourishment and improve stretch marks.
What nativaSPA products and tools do you recommend incorporating into one’s at-home regimen?
Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting your lymphatic drainage journey, our Energize & Tone Set, Smooth & Soothe Set and 2-Step Quinoa Set are excellent tools for creating the perfect at-home lymphatic massage regimen. NativaSPA’s hero ingredient is nutrient-rich quinoa oil—30x more moisturizing and skin-firming than coconut oil. In addition to bestselling sets, our luxurious body oils work amazingly as each evens out skin texture, boosts massage effectiveness in sculpting the silhouette, tones and energizes the skin, and helps stimulate the skin and reduces cellulite. I also love our Dry Brush and Gua Sha Stone self-care tools to boost the lymphatic system further.
Our Dry Brush gently softens and unclogs pores through exfoliation, detoxifies the skin by improving blood circulation, helps the lymphatic system detox the body more effectively, leaves the skin soft and glowing, and gives a feel-good energy boost.
Our Gua Sha Stone is a great self-care tool to use by gently scraping the body with a smooth-edged tool to relieve tension, stimulate circulation and activate the lymphatic system with a relaxing, bright sensation from head to toe. for lymphatic drainage, including facial sculpting.
Gua sha are popular tools that improve circulation, release muscular tension, and more. [Photo by Cherrydeck]
Is there anyone who isn’t a candidate for lymphatic massage?
Overall there are no limitations. It is recommended for everybody, but if the person has unique health conditions, we always advise them to check the doctor before incorporating lymphatic drainage massage into their routine.
For more information about nativaSPA, visit their website. Follow on Instagram: @nativaspa_official
[Photos courtesy of nativaSPA]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk