A wonderful way to pamper yourself at home!

Body wraps for cellulite elimination and detoxification have become very popular these days. Spas charge an arm and a leg to do whole body wraps but they are easy to do yourself and certainly do not need to cost a fortune. The ingredients are all natural and safe for use by anyone.

Body wraps can aid in healing of skin problems, tone and tighten the skin, improve circulation, alleviate muscle and joint pain, treat acne, detoxify the body and help mobilize fat so it can be eliminated from the body naturally. The effect of the wrap is determined by the ingredients you chose to use.

You do not need any special equipment other than a mixing bowl, heating pot and wrapping sheets (thin towels will work). You need to set aside about 1 1/2 hours of your time to prepare and enjoy the wrap. It is recommended that you do 1 wrap per week for at least 6 weeks and then 1 per month after that, for maintenance and continued detoxification. It is however safe enough to do a wrap every day or even multiple wraps in one day to quicken the effects.

Body Wrap Instructions

Choose a warm room or turn up the heat so the wrap won't lose its heat too quickly.

• Dry brush your skin with a natural bristle body brush or other scrub.
  
  
• Taking a warm shower beforehand helps to open the pores.
  
  
• Do not shave your legs before the wrap.
  
  
• Remember, body wraps work by infusing minerals through the skin and by breaking down fat cells for elimination so drink lots of water both before and after your wrap to assist in flushing out the toxins and dislodged fat.
  
  
• Boil approximately 64 oz (half-gallon) of distilled water in a stainless steel pot and remove from heat.
  
  
• Add all of your ingredients to it and allow it to sit for 10 - 15 minutes.
  
  
• Allow the mixture to cool until it is comfortable to touch.
  
  
• Get comfortable somewhere where you can clean up easily and have 60 minutes of privacy.
  
  
• Dip your sheets in one at a time and wrap your body starting from your ankles.
  
  
• It is important to stay warm for 60 minutes so make sure the room is not too cold.
  
  
• Keep a tall glass of water nearby so you can sip while you relax.
  
  
• Take a cool/warm but not hot, bath afterwards.
  
  
• Take a hot bath on the second or third day after a wrap to help open the pores and release accumulated toxins from the skin.
  
  
• Repeated use of the wrap should show you results. If you wish, you can take your measurements to see how much you're taking off with each wrap.
  
  
• Lastly, light exercise and paying attention to your diet will obviously help to reduce weight and keep the toxins to a minimum. Try to avoid caffeine, sugar, fried foods, nitrates and soda and drink, drink, drink water.

A wrap does not need to have many ingredients to be effective - the ingredients that you chose should fit the purpose. A wrap can be very simple with a clay, and some salt or it can be more complex with the addition of herbs, essential oils and nutritive ingredients.

The exact proportions of ingredients are not too important here but the repeated use will pay off. For one wrap, you will want to make up about 4-5 cups worth of dry ingredients.

Clay (2 Cups): Choose a clay appropriate for your skin type.

Salt (1 Cup): Choose a salt. Dead Sea salt powder is preferred because of its mineral content but any will work.

Herbs (1 Cup): Choose a combination of herbs of your choice - these can work one at a time or synergistically so go with your instincts for your own skin/health. Once you have chosen your herbs, run them through a processor to make a powder.

Nutritive Wetting Agents: If you choose to use one of these wetting agents, substitute it for the same amount of water. So if you choose to use 1 cup apple cider vinegar, use only 56 oz of distilled water. For milk powders, form a thick cream by adding a small amount of water to a chosen milk powder. The lactic acid in milk helps remove dry skin cells from the surface of the skin and the milk fat acts as a moisturizer.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Flower Water, Milk Powder

Other ingredients from the kitchen:

Fruit Juice, Lemon Juice, Yogurt (softens and cools irritated skin), Cucumber Puree (cools irritated skin)

Essential Oils (1%): These essential oils are all used to combat cellulite and detoxify the body.

Basil, Cedarwood, Cypress, Fennel, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Patchouli, Rosemary, Pink Grapefruit

Other Nutritive Ingredients (optional):

Aloe Vera Gel, Fine Ground Oatmeal

2 Tablespoons Nutritive/Moisturizing Oils (optional): Add a small amount of oil if your skin tends to be too dry but don't add more than 2 Tablespoons to the wrap as it will interfere with the job of the wrap.

Apricot Kernal, Sweet Almond, Avocado, Calendula, Evening Primrose, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Macadamia Nut, Olive, Safflower, Wheatgerm

Fran Loudas is a Certified Aromatherapist, Certified in the Design and Production of Aromatherapy Skin Care Products, Certified in Custom Blending of Essential Oils, an Oriental Diagnostics Specialist and Herbal Remedy Maker. She has taught many workshops on Perfume Blending, Aromatherapy 101, Your Home Spa, Herbal Dream Pillows, Aromababy and Aromatherapy Before, During & After Your Pregnancy. Fran also teaches at the Barnes & Noble University. She owns her company, www.infusionbath.com, using her extensive background knowledge to make these products - something she very much enjoys doing as it allows her to be creative while at the same time making natural body and skin care products.