The ABCs of Whole-Body Detox & Rejuvenation

This vibrant silhouette of an active runner sprinting forward represents dynamic energy, physical wellness, healthy lifestyle & holistic nutritional cleansing. This is what I wish for you.
 

In this interview mentioned above on the popular program This Week in America with host Ric Bratton — The ABCs of Whole-Body CLEANSING: Simple Ways to Detoxify & Rejuvenate Your Body & Life, I discuss this most essential wellness practice with hands-on steps for you to start today.

 

 

As well, I talk about all the channels of elimination in your body, including the liver. The liver's main functions are detoxification and regulation of metabolism. The kidneys can get rid of toxins and spare the liver if they have sufficient purified water every day. This allows the liver to metabolize more fat and help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
 

For More Info about Infrared Sauna Therapy or to Order the Best One for Your Home — The Same One I Use

To ask questions about my favorite Infrared Sauna, TRANSCEND, or to order one, call High Tech Health in Boulder, CO: 800-794-5355 (US & Canada) or 303-413-8500 (Intl).

Mention my name ("SSJ") and get $500 EXTRA OFF the purchase of their premier Transcend Infrared Sauna — which I've also used for over 20 years and wouldn't be without!

To read my article on the 10 Benefits of Infrared Sauna Therapy, click HERE.

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During your personal detox program, as I discuss in great detail in the interview on This Week in America, remember to include lots of purified water with fresh lemon juice sprinkled in (helps to remove toxins) and delicious raw foods in your diet such as salads with loads of leafy green veggies. Eat your foods as close to the way Mother Nature made them as possible. Produce (fresh fruit and veggies) is the most important health care your money can buy. Make these gems of nature the cornerstone of your nutritional program with emphasis on vegetables -- and lots of them in different forms such as salads, juices, smoothies, steamed, sauteed and combined with other foods. In my book A HUG IN A MUG, I devote an entire chapter to 15 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Eating More Veggies Daily.

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DRY SKIN BRUSHING:

Why Lymphatic Flow Slows in Winter: Colder temperatures and less movement can slow circulation. Because the lymphatic system depends on muscle activity to move fluid, winter can leave the body feeling heavy or congested.
 

The longer days of springtime with more movement helps circulation return naturally, making this season ideal for clearing, resetting and supporting the body's rhythm again.
 

Dry skin brushing is a simple way to support lymphatic movement. With gentle upward strokes, it encourages circulation and leaves skin feeling refreshed and energized. In the interview on The ABCs of Whole-Body Detox with host Ric Bratton on This Week in America, attached here again, I discuss how to dry skin brush.
 

Questions I get often are these: "Why are you so enthusiastic about dry skin brushing, how long have you been doing this and where do you get your brushes? 
 

My grandmother taught me about dry skin brushing when I was a teenager and since then, over the decades, this practice has been part of my healthy living lifestyle. While I don't brush daily anymore, I still usually skin brush 2-3 times weekly.
 

Where to Purchase and Cleaning: I usually purchase my brushes for myself, and also to give as gifts to others, from either my local beauty supply stores, health food stores, wellness or day spas or sometimes Amazon when shipping elsewhere. I prefer to get them at my local stores so I can touch and feel them before purchasing. And once a week or so, I clean them off this way: I dip them into a sink of warm water to which I've added a few drops of Tea Tree Oil, swish it around, rinse well and then drain on a towel upside down so the bristles face the absorbent towel. Make sure the brush is dry before you use it.
 

Exfoliation: One reason why I am so enthusiastic about this simple, effective process is because it easily exfoliates the skin. Like a good body scrub, the brush's stiff bristles buff away dead skin cells, leaving the skin smoother and softer than it was before. This process also allows for better penetration of moisturizers.
 

Circulation: There are multiple ways to get the blood flowing, and dry brushing is one of them. Efficient circulation is crucial to maintaining good health—it helps the body deliver vital oxygen and nutrients to all of our muscles and organs. Okay, that's not to say dry brushing will get the blood pumping in the same way a lengthy walk can, but it does provide stimulation that leaves behind a plumping effect on the skin. This is why some people do dry brushing for cellulite.
 

Lymphatic Drainage: Another reason I am so enthusiastic is what I mentioned above. It will help to activate your lymphatic system. When performed in the direction of lymphatic flow—towards the heart—it helps to increase lymphatic drainage.

 

RED LIGHT THERAPY & RenewMe! Total Body Blend:

After I do my dry skin brushing, I'll always shower or bathe afterwards to wash off and slough away all of the residue from dry skin brushing. Then I moisturize my body within 3 minutes of pat-drying my skin. This is usually followed by drinking a large glass of purified water to which I've added in a teaspoon of the powder of RenewME! Total Body Blend. If I'm rushing off somewhere, I'll take 2 capsules with water instead of the powder. Either way, I always get both the powder and capsule forms so I can take this excellent, daily nutritional supplement whether working at home or outside at clients' homes or traveling.

 

Next, I like to follow it up with doing Red Light Therapy. Click HERE to read my detailed article about the benefits of Red Light Therapy. Briefly, when using light therapy on your face, neck and décolléte areas a few times a week, using the Hooga desktop device—pictured here, or the full-body panel—pictured here, (I use both of these devices at my home), you'll see the following: A reduction in the appearance of fine lines, aging, sun damage; a reduction of pore size; an improvement in skin texture; and more! I also use it on the back of my hands and forearms to help keep them youthful. Your skin will look healthier and younger within 12 days.

 

Click HERE to find out how to get the same devices that I use and with my same 12% discount. This amazingly effective therapy is for much more than skin health, including reduction in inflammation, mood elevation, improved circulation, relief in pain, overall skin beautification, increased energy, total brain and vision support and so much more.

 

🌟 To listen to my captivating interview on the program Living in the Solution with host Elaina George, MD, on The Healing, Whole-Body Benefits of Red Light Therapy, please click HERE. 🌟
 

Relaxation: Best of all might just be this: The ritual of dry brushing is a welcome indulgence after a long day, if that's the best time for you, or a very positive way to start off your day with a positive tone. Relax and partake in a few minutes of loving self-care.
 

Brushing Location: I only do my dry skin brushing in the shower or tub areas before I turn on the water. This way all of the dry skin cells that are sloughed off can be rinsed away when the water gets turned on rather than land all over the floor of the bathroom or elsewhere. And if I'm about to take a bath instead of a shower, I'll rinse off my body after skin brushing in the shower before I get into a relaxing bath with clean water.
 

Precautions: Just like over-exfoliation can wreak havoc on your face, too much dry brushing can do the same on the rest of your body. Brushing too hard or too frequently may leave the skin irritated and may even cause abrasions. If performed over a wound or skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis, the condition may worsen and even become infected. If you're concerned you might have a skin condition, it's probably best to avoid dry brushing and check with your doctor first and, of course, make sure you avoid any area of the skin that's irritated. Avoid your private parts and underarm area. And I never use these stiffer bristles on my face. I use other softer brushes designed to exfoliate the face and also use exfoliation products 2-4 times a week on my face/neck.
 

Frequency: Keep in mind that it takes approximately 2-4 weeks for skin cells to die off. If you are just starting off with this healthy living practice, I encourage you to commit to daily brushing for about 3-4 weeks and you will really see a positive difference in the quality of your skin. Then you can cut back to 2-4 times weekly instead of daily, if you wish. Make sure you do not dry skin brush more than once a day.
 

Overall, this exfoliating, relaxing ritual may be worth doing to amp up your self-care routine with a practice that's both meditative and skin-loving and oh, by the way, a centuries-old Ayurvedic technique that can whisk away the dullness of your skin and maybe even your life, too. At the very least, it's a low-cost (just need to purchase a quality, natural bristle brush), invigorating sensory experience with myriad benefits for body, mind and spirit.

 

ENJOY!