The skin, as many of us know, is the largest organ of the body, and yet it often is overlooked when considering detoxification.  Irritation, redness, itchiness, rashes and dryness are just some of the problems that may arise in the skin indicating that there may be a problem on the interior of the body. But attacking the problem from the interior is not the only solution; addressing the exterior of the body, and providing another route for toxins to leave the body can address the problem more quickly.

There are several ways to detoxify the skin. One approach is through dry skin brushing. Skin brushing includes using a soft-bristled brush to gently scrape along the skin in the direction of the flow of the lymphatic system, which flows towards the heart.  This improves circulation at the surface of the skin, and assists the lymphatic system in removing waste from the cells of the body.  This can be done as a daily ritual before a bath or shower.

Another detoxification ritual that can be practiced is hyrdrotherapy, which involves taking a very hot shower for 5 minutes, then turning the water to cold for 30-second intervals. Alternating hot and cold water improves circulation, decreases inflammation, and increases elimination of wastes.

Detoxification of the skin can also be done through a detox bath.  An hour before taking the bath, drink 12-16 ounces of filtered water. Then fill the tub with water as warm as you can tolerate. While filling up the water, add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 cup of Epsom salt, and 10 drops of chamomile essential oil. Empty your bladder before getting into the tub, since you drank quite a bit of fluids in the previous hour. Soak in the tub for 20-30 minutes, while taking deep, slow breaths to increase oxygen flow and relax your mind. Rinse off your skin when you are finished, and drink another 12-16 ounces of water to rehydrate and flush residual toxins.

Adding any of these surface-level cleansing rituals to a detox plan can help boost the efficacy of pushing toxins out of the body, but keep in mind, that the condition of the skin may worsen temporarily as toxins are being pushed out of the body, but once you make it past the initial worsening, you will be left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Buying some pre-made kits or products are also a great idea as long as they are quality purchases. In Chinese medicine many of the organs in the body will manifest to poor skin if they are in need of detoxing. A Bowel Cleanse is probably the most important one to look at for this problem. However, many people have normal and healthy bowels and therefore a Liver Detox or a Kidney Flush is really what is needed for this problem. You can check product descriptions and look at the indications to get a better idea of what your body needs, or ask an herbalist, or seek a Las Vegas Acupuncturist for diagnosis.