🌟 WHAT I’M LOVING LATELY 🌟 Body Brushing with Epsom Salts

Sept. 2024 Edition:

Inspired by the fresh, citrus, zesty way I feel a after using Dr. Teals Glow & Radiance, I took this photo using a monochromatic peach backdrop.

Hi everyone! I recently read online that September is self-care month. I love the topic of self-care but honestly, self-care was a practice I didnt really develop until I was older, like say in my late 30s. Giving to myself was a concept I struggled with. I thought "If Im doing for myself, then I am being selfish". For years, I believed this message. Now I am wiser and realize how important it is to make time for YOURSELF. One thing I have learned in my ever evolving journey with anxiety is that self-care is paramount in helping to ease anxious and negative thoughts, reduce stress and increase your energy (especially if you are an introvert like me). Having a variety of healthy things that you can use whenever you like is part of building a well rounded self-care practice. I have a bunch of self care tools in my knapsack and I want to share them with you, because maybe they will help someone somewhere out there.

My goal is to use my monthly "What I'm Loving Lately" posts to share these resources and tools with you. AND it is a way to build my product photography portfolio because I will be incorporating my photography into these posts to help illustrate them.

This month, I am sharing the practice of body brushing with epsom salts.

What is Body Brushing:

Body brushing is really known as dry brushing. Dry brushing is an ancient health practice in which you literally brush your skin with a natural bristle type brush to stimulate and clear toxins from the body. Typically, dry brushing is done before bathing or showering, on dry skin and some who practice dry brushing also use oils.

Dry brushing was utilized by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. In Chinese Medicine, dry brushing is regarded as a method that helps to stimulate the body’s energy, or "qi". In India, dry brushing is referred to as "Garshana" which translates to "friction by rubbing". It is a long time-honored self-care practice.

Why practice Dry Brushing

One of the clear benefits of dry brushing is exfoliation of skin. But that is not the only reason to add dry brushing to your self- care routine.

Dry brushing can help flush out toxins and reduce water retention by stimulating the lymphatic system.

The practice of dry brushing can be meditative, providing a moment of self-care that promotes relaxation and reduces stress.

Dry brushing is energizing, making it a great addition to your morning routine.

And finally, the brushing motion stimulates blood flow and circulation, which can enhance skin health and promote a glowing complexion.

My story with Dry Brushing

I first heard about dry brushing years ago but I thought the concept was honestly, weird, and the idea of using oils outside of the shower too messy. But then in 2021, I was diagnosed with a number of health issues due to stress, grief and poor diet. This included gastritis, an ulcer and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. I was experiencing a lot of pain in my tummy and the liver thing scared the shit out of me. Before I was diagnosed, there were nights where I sat on the couch with Charlie holding his hand in pain from the ulcer freaking out that I was going to die. My health anxiety was at an all time high. So, in addition to medication for the gastritis and ulcer (there are no meds for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), I embarked on a mission to find holistic ways to heal my tummy and liver. Enter the brush.

This photo was taken against the same orange backdrop as in the photo above, but I decided to change the tone of the background in Adobe Lightroom Classic.

During my bout with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, I learned that part of the livers job is to eliminate toxins from the body and that it plays a role in bolstering the immune system. I had also learned that the liver can regenerate itself and that was my goal. I wanted a regenerated, happy liver.

I thought back to what I learned about dry brushing years ago and on a whim in the shower one day, I decided to give this practice of brushing my skin a try. I had a loofah and instead of using oils, I decided to try epsom salts. Epsom salts have been used in bathing and showering due to their therapeutic properties that help relieve muscle tension, reduce inflammation and help relax the mind and body. But I don't take baths so I literally rubbed the salts on my body and began brushing.

The results were honestly amazing. I felt energized, balanced and very clean.

How I practice body brushing with epsom salts:

I'm happy I went back and took this shot the following day. Taken against a blue monochromatic back drop and playing around with some different types of light sources.

In the shower, after I wash myself and while I have conditioner in my hair, I move the shower head away from me so that it does not wash off the salts. I then take some epsom salts in the palm of my hand and rub the crystals onto my skin. I start with small sections and using circular, clockwise motions, I begin to use the body brush to brush my skin, working my way up to my neck and then down to by heart. I like to spend time on the areas where I feel pain the most and focus a lot on the parts of my body where I know my lymph nodes are - under my pits, on my chest, neck, groin and tummy. Once I finish body brushing, I rinse my self off. My skin literally glistens after and feels amazing after. No. I do not have any photos of this.

I prefer doing this practice in the morning and love using citrus or eucalyptus scented salts. The Dr. Teals Pure Epsom Salts Glow & Radiance use citrus essential oils which are so invigorating.

Body brushing literally feels amazing. It has busted me out of negative moods. It is energizing. And it makes me feel super relaxed and balanced. I currently try to body brush at least once a week but there have been times when I have fallen out of practice. But that's okay because I have the tools available for whenever I am ready to begin again.

Are you willing to give this practice a try? Let me know if you do and how it goes.