The number one cause of all so-called degenerative diseases and premature aging is to be found in the derangement of cell metabolism and in slowed-down cell regeneration. This derangement is mainly caused by the accumulation of waste products in the tissues which interferes with the nourishment and oxygenation of the cells.

Normally, under ideal circumstances, your body cleanses itself automatically without any conscious effort on your part. It is an ingeniously designed self-cleansing, self-protecting and self-healing mechanism. Self-cleansing work is performed by a large group of specially designed organs, glands and transportation systems: alimentary canal, kidneys, liver, lungs, skin, lymphatic system, mucous membranes of various cavities, etc. But your largest eliminative organ is the skin.

It is estimated that one-third of all body impurities are excreted through the skin. Doctors often refer to the skin as “the third kidney” – and very appropriately so. Hundreds of thousands of tiny sweat glands act not only as the regulators of body temperature, but also as small kidneys, detoxifying organs, ready to cleanse the blood and free the system from health-threatening poisons. The chemical analysis of sweat shows that it has almost the same constituents as urine. Uric acid, the main metabolic waste product and a normal component of urine, is found in large amounts in perspiration. If the skin becomes inactive and its pores choked with millions of dead cells, uric acid and other impurities will remain in the body. The other eliminative organs, mainly the liver and kidneys, will have to increase their labor of detoxification because of the inactive skin, with the result that they will be overworked and eventually weakened or diseased. Toxins and wastes will then be deposited in the tissues. Thus, you must realize the great importance of always keeping your skin in perfect working condition.

The eliminative capacity of the skin is demonstrated by the fact that more than one pound of waste products is discharged through the skin every day. This explains why man discovered the healing effect of sweating very early in history. The Finnish sauna, and the Turkish, Russian and Roman baths have been used for healing purposes for thousands of years. The famous seventeenth-century Dutch physician, Sylvius, said, “One third of all diseases can be cured by sweating.”

In addition to- its eliminative work, skin has many other vital functions. The body actually breathes through the skin, absorbing oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide which is formed in the tissues. Also, certain nutrients are absorbed into the body through the skin. Russian scientific studies show that minerals from the sea water and sea air are absorbed through the skin during seashore holidays. Other scientific studies have demonstrated that the skin is capable of assimilating various vitamins, minerals and even proteins applied directly to the skin. It has been long known, too, that by a mysterious chemical process, vitamin D is manufactured on the skin by the influence of the sun rays on the oils produced by the skin glands. Subsequently, vitamin D is absorbed into the system through the skin.

As you can see, your skin is a living, vital organ with a multiplicity of important functions. The tragedy is that the skin of modern man is the most neglected and mistreated organ. In our sheltered, air-conditioned existence skin is seldom exposed to life-giving fresh air or to stimulating temperature changes. How many times this week have you worked or exercised outdoors hard enough to cause profuse perspiration? Dry brush massage will give your skin stimulation, exercise and cleansing of which it is deprived by your sedentary way of life.

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