4 Effective Detoxifying Herbs For Cellulite Treatments

There are many, many body creams and massage oils available today that promise to rid the body of cellulite and firm up saggy skin, however do these products truly work?

Some brands advertize ‘clinical studies’ that show amazing results, however one must be aware that these ‘studies’ are usually carried out by the actual manufacturer of the product and most often on a limited number of subjects.  What’s more, independent, non-biased, scientific studies that confirm individual products do in fact remove cellulite or firm up the skin of the thighs and buttocks, are hard to come by.

On the flip-side, many individuals and massage therapists swear by some anti-cellulite and lymphatic drainage products, which is a clear testimony to the effectiveness of at least some of them, however without the availability of objective, scientific information, how can the untrained really know whether the anti-cellulite product they are about to purchase is going to have any real effect? 

Perhaps taking a look at some of the most effective natural circulation-stimulating ingredients can help.  Below is a detailed look at some of the most powerful circulation stimulating ingredients currently available.  By understanding the effects of these herbs, it may be helpful in determining whether a product is really going to help firm the skin and/or reduce cellulite, or do nothing more than provide simple moisturization.

Juniper (Juniperus communis)

One of the most documented herbs, Juniper is a powerful tonic, diuretic, antiseptic and stimulant and is used in the natural treatment of cystitis (urinary tract infection).

Juniper is also a strong stimulant and is said to trigger menstruation and increase menstrual flow.  So powerful is its effect on the uterus, pregnant women are strongly warned to stay away from this herb.  In fact, 17th Century herbalist, Culpeper, recommended taking the berries to help speed childbirth.

As an internal medicinal, Juniper has been used to help relieve digestive problems, such as colic, and for general support of the gastrointestinal tract.  As an external remedy, Juniper essential oil has a long history and is still currently used in massage to ease the pain of arthritis, gout and rheumatic problems, due to its warming effect on the skin.

Juniper is indeed a powerful purifying herb. When the essential oil is massaged into the skin it promotes circulation, release of fluid retention and accumulated waste from the underlying tissue.

Cypress (Cupressus sempivirens)

The toning, highly astringent essential oil of Cypress is extracted from the needles and twigs of this tree’s young branches.  It contains various tannins and chemical constituents such as pinene, camphene and cedrol.

Cypress was once used by Ancient Greeks to treat dysentary and respiratory illnesses. It is another herb that is recommended to be avoided by pregnant women. 

As a powerful vasoconstrictor and diuretic, when cypress is massaged into the skin, it tightens blood vessels and, as such, is used in creams, lotions and massage oils for the treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel is another powerful diuretic and another herb to be avoided in pregnancy.  The seeds of this herb contain 4-8% of volatile (essential) oil, with high concentrations of the chemical constituents anethole, fenchone, bergaptene and other coumarins, plus sterols and flavonoids.

Primarily, the use of fennel seeds is for relief of gastrointestinal bloating and stomach pain.  They are also diuretic and anti-inflammatory.  Combined with other urinary herbs such as Uva-ursi or Juniper, fennel seeds help in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

The strong diuretic, astringent and depurative (purifying) properties of organic fennel essential oil make it an excellent candidate for lymphatic drainage massage.

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)

The peel of this large citrus fruit yields a toning, stimulating, diuretic essential oil.   Organic grapefruit essential oil can combat fatigue and muscle stiffness while stimulating the lymphatic system, making it a common ingredient in external depurative remedies to help the body disperse toxic accumulations.

The main chemical constituents of grapefruit essential oil are a-pinene, citronellol, decyl acetate, sabinene, geraniol, limonene, linalool, myrcene, neryl acetate and terpinen-4-ol.

Grapefruit essential oil also helps clear congested skin and firm skin tissue.

Although there are other stimulating herbs not mentioned in this article, the above are certainly among the most powerful in terms of their depurative properties and hence, ability to stimulate lymphatic movement and reduce the look of cellulite and an uneven skin tone.

In conclusion, when searching for a natural anti-cellulite product to combat stagnant lymph, cellulite and poor skin tone, it would be advisable to find a natural, organic skin care product that contains at least one, but preferably all, of the above herbs, and that the ingredient feature fairly high up on the ingredient list to ensure it is in a strong enough concentration to have any real effect.