An herbal body wrap provides both therapeutic and beautifying benefits by cleansing the body of toxins, smoothing the skin, and sometimes removing measurable inches off your body simply from the natural detoxification process. Clay-based body wraps are an excellent treatment for anyone that would like to improve the tone and texture of their skin. The process can also help tighten the skin, which is very beneficial for people who have loose skin from recent weight loss or pregnancy.
Professional herbal body wraps for detoxification usually start at around 0. But if a visit to the spa isn't a luxury you can afford (or you're too self-conscious to be wrapped by a stranger), you can make your own herbal body wrap to detoxify in the privacy of your home.
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To make a simple, clay-based body wrap, you'll start with the basic recipe below and add essential oils or herbs as desired.
Basic Clay Body Wrap Recipe
- 1 cup bentonite or green clay
- 1/4 cup sea salt
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 cups water
Directions: Boil the water, add the sea salt and stir gently until the salt is completely dissolved. Add the olive oil and clay and mix thoroughly. Add additional water if needed to create the consistency of wet paste.
Although this basic recipe makes a fine body wrap on its own, adding essential oils or herbs will provide greater detoxification and therapeutic effects. Add several drops of oils to your clay paste or up to two tablespoons of herbs. Not sure which additions to try? Below are some suggestions based on ingredients used in actual spa body wraps.
Essential Oils: lavender, sage, lemon, sandalwood, lemongrass, rosemary, and grapefruit.
Herbs: alfalfa leaf powder, ground basil, chamomile flower powder, rose petal powder, and rosehip powder.
Preparing for Your Detoxifying Body Wrap
Experiencing a body wrap is not a process that can be rushed. So make sure that you schedule at least an hour and a half of uninterrupted bathroom time before you begin.
Gather together:
- Your clay mixture
- Thin cotton towels, spa wrapping sheets or a clean, 100% cotton sheet for wrapping
- An inexpensive thermal foil blanket (optional)
- A tall glass of chilled drinking water (with a lemon wedge if you have it)
- Soothing music
- Scented candles
Take a warm shower to open your pores and pat your body dry. Apply the clay mixture onto your body part-by-part, wrapping yourself snugly as you go along. The object of the wrapping is to create gentle pressure on the body to compress the tissue together for greater release of toxins. (Spa wrapping sheets are specifically designed with this end result in mind, so if you can find a source to buy them, it's not a bad idea.)
As you can imagine, covering your body in clay can be a messy endeavor. That's why, when your application and wrapping process is complete, you'll want to relax in an empty bathtub while you detoxify.
If you haven't done so already, light your candles and turn on your soothing music. Grab a hand towel to support your neck, climb into the tub and relax for 45 minutes to an hour. Sip your lemon water and enjoy the feeling of pampering your body head to toe. If you start to feel chilled, cover yourself with a thermal foil blanket if you have one, or a clean cotton throw.
When your herbal body wrap process is complete, discard the wrappings and take another warm shower (without soap) to rinse the clay from your body. Following your herbal body wrap, drink plenty of water to help your tissue continue to detoxify. For optimal results, avoid caffeine, sugar, alcohol, fried foods and artificial ingredients for 24 to 48 hours after your wrap to give your body a "break" from these common toxins.
Natural Detoxification - How To Make Your Own Herbal Body Wrap
Patty Harder is a Reiki Master, ordained S.H.E.S. minister, and the founder of 5 Minute Self-Help, an online community for women who want to feel better, look better, and live better fast. To learn how you can improve your life in just 5 minutes a day, visit http://www.5MinuteSelfHelp.com