Essential oils are amazing, offering benefits for just about everything under the sun whether you’re looking to improve your health, enhance your beauty or simply relax and enjoy a pleasant scent. These super substances are made from the essence of particular plants and have been a part of traditional medicine for ages.
When it comes to unsightly cellulite, that condition in which the skin seems to have areas with underlying fat deposits, giving it a dimpled, lumpy appearance, it can help get rid of that too. An estimated 90 percent of women are affected by it at some point (though some men can be affected too), and while the exact cause isn’t known for sure, it’s believed to result from a number of factors, including hormones, genetics, diet, clothing and lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise and smoking.
Of course, more importantly, is how to get rid of it, which is where essential oils come in. They’re said to help get to the root of the problem by eliminating toxins that can accumulate in the fat cells. They also help boost circulation to get more oxygen to the cells, which assists the body to get rid of it on its own. While there is practically an endless list of them that are available to use, only certain oils can truly help to combat cellulite, including these.
How To Use Essential Oils For Cellulite
The best way to use the below essential oils to get rid of cellulite is to dilute a few drops in a carrier oil of your choice and massage into the skin in circular motions using your hand, or even better an inexpensive cellulite brush, such as this one.
Always use essential oils safely. Most essential oils should not be applied neat to skin, but instead should be diluted in a carrier oil. If irritation occurs, discontinue use immediately. Some essential oils are phototoxic and should not be used two hours prior to sun exposure. Essential oils should not be taken internally. Some essential oils are unsuitable for pregnant or nursing women or the elderly and some essential oils interfere with medications and health conditions.
Top 15 Essential Oils For Cellulite
1. Geranium
Geranium essential oil has a lovely scent similar to roses and is sourced from the geranium flower. It has long been used throughout history, primarily for sanitizing wounds, but it’s also great for improving the texture of skin and is one of the best oils for fighting cellulite, thanks to its astringent, antiseptic, tonic, diuretic, hemostatic, and other properties. In addition, it can address hormone imbalance to help prevent the skin from curdling and lumping up. In addition to getting rid of cellulite, it will help moisturize your skin too.
2. Rosemary
One of the most popular essential oils for use in both cooking and health, rosemary is an evergreen shrub that offers a host of benefits and is considered another one of the best oils for battling cellulite due to its toning and firming properties that reduce the appearance of those unwanted dimples. It also helps to combat lymphatic blockage, further working to get rid of cellulite.
3. Lemongrass
Native to India, lemongrass offers a wonderful citrus scent and is considered to be one of the most versatile oils there is. It offers both stimulant and sedative properties as well as being a strong astringent. Rich in active compounds like terpenes and citronnellal, it helps to remove toxins and enhance blood circulation while its diuretic compounds give it the ability to reduce fluid retention.
4. Carrot seed
Carrot seed essential oil is derived from the dried seeds of the wild carrot plant. It’s also referred to as wild Queen Anne’s lace, its native origins can be traced back to Egypt, France, and India. It’s said to be one of the most underappreciated essential oils, yet it offers antiseptic, carminative, cytophylactic, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, and vermifuge properties. This is a great oil to help slow the aging process, keep the skin hydrated and fight off cellulite. It’s also considered rather remarkable when it comes to toning the skin and even fading stretch marks. It contains powerful antioxidant and detoxifying properties in addition to triggering the production of collagen and promoting blood circulation.
You can apply carrot seed essential oil diluted in a carrier oil directly to your skin and massage it in, or use it as part of a body brushing process. Choose a brush that contains natural bristles and then apply a few drops of the diluted oil. Brush the skin using semi-circular strokes directed toward your heart. You could simply spot-brush problem areas, but by brushing your entire body, it can help prevent future issues. Use just enough pressure so that the skin begins to tingle just a bit, without causing any discomfort. For best results, brush your skin just before showering. After jumping out of the shower, you can get an added boost by rubbing a little into those cottage cheese areas.
5. Grapefruit
Grapefruits have been associated with healthy diets for many years, and with good reason. It helps to eliminate toxins in the body, including synthetic drugs. It can be used in several ways, including massaging a solution diluted with vegetable oil such as olive oil into affected areas of the body. Coconut oil is great too – create your own cellulite rub by mixing grapefruit essential oil with coconut oil and massaging it in once or twice each day.
6. Cedarwood
Cedarwood oil is made from three types of tree families, including cedar, Thuja and juniper. The oils are extracted from the leaves, the bark, and the berries, either using a distillation or chemical extraction. This aromatic essential oil has been used holistically to treat respiratory illnesses, alleviate nervous tension and to repel insects, though it’s also quite effective for balancing the skin and clearing out impurities. As it serves as a diuretic it’s quite valuable when it comes to reducing fluid retention and toxins in the blood, as well treating cellulite. It even helps to decongest problematic tissues by drawing out excess fat.
7. Juniper
Juniper essential oil comes from the dried or fresh needles of the Juniperus osteosperma, and J. scopulorus plants. It stems from Bulgaria and has a very long history of naturally preventing long- and short-term illness as they’re high in ‘polyphenol and flavonoid antioxidants. Juniper berries were long considered to be protectors of both physical and emotional health, used in medieval times to ward off witches.
Juniper acts as a diuretic by decreasing water retention in the body which helps to treat cellulite. It also helps to improve circulation and eliminate toxins that have built up.
8. Celery seed
Celery seed oil is steam distilled from the whole or crushed seeds of the Apium graveolens plant, and among its properties include being anti-rheumatic, antispasmodic, carminative, nervine, sedative and tonic. The oil helps to remove any excess fluid from the body and offers an array of other benefits such as supporting relaxation, stimulating the nervous system, supporting better sleep and tonic properties that provide greater strength and vigor. It’s also a strong blood purifier which cleans the blood and can cure gallstones and kidney stones.
9. Cypress
Cypress essential oil, officially known as Cupressus sempervirens, comes from the needle bearing tree in coniferous and deciduous regions. This powerful oil is extracted from an evergreen, with small, rounded and woody cones, scalelike leaves and tiny flowers. It’s valued because of its ability to fight infections, assist respiratory system, eliminate toxins from the body, and works to relieve nervousness and anxiety.
When used topically, it boosts circulation to support balanced fluid levels in the body’s tissues and is believed to help toxins move out of the body. To use it, dilute the oil with olive or coconut oil and then massage it into all affected areas. If you have those frustrating varicose veins, try massaging it into those areas to as it may help to remove the discomfort.
10. Tangerine
This oil helps to enhance blood circulation as well as digestion to keep toxins moving out of the body. It contains properties such as being an antiseptic, antispasmodic, cytophylactic, depurative, sedative, and stomachic.
11. Bitter orange
Bitter orange is not only outstanding for maintaining or even raising the metabolism to help one shed stubborn pounds, but it is also believed to help eliminate nasty cellulite. It offers anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, while also helping to promote body detoxification.
To use bitter orange, apply it by employing an anti-cellulite massage.
12. Spearmint
Spearmint oil is extracted by steam distillation of the flowering tops of spearmint plants. It offers properties that include being an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cephalic, emenagogue, insecticide, restorative and stimulant substance, which all work together to combat cellulite. While it smells similar to peppermint oil, it contains very little in the way of menthol, though it has served as an alternative when peppermint is not available.
This oil may help fat metabolism and it’s said to be even more effective when combined with grapefruit essential oil in order to target largest areas of cellulite.
13. Fennel
Fennel provides powerful diuretic properties that help the body speed up the elimination of stored up waste materials and decreases the prevalence of water retention in body tissues. It’s also effective for breaking up the fatty deposits under the surface of the skin.
While you can use fennel essential oil directly on your skin, it tends to be most effective when blended with other oils, particularly rosemary essential oil. Just add two drops of rosemary essential oil and two drops of fennel essential oil to three teaspoons of olive or jojoba oil. Blend well. The combination of oils helps to negate any possible skin irritation effects as well as preserving its beneficial properties. To use this solution, after blending warm up the mixture in a pan and then massage it into cellulite affected areas, using the finger pads to apply it in a circular motion. Repeat at least once per week for optimal results. To enhance the effects, be sure to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day to keep the skin hydrated and flush toxins out.
Experts have noted that because aromatherapy oils like these can be absorbed directly into the skin, this treatment helps one to battle cellulite from the inside out. If you’re pregnant, be sure to speak with your doctor first, as rosemary oil may cause unwanted problems.
14. Patchouli
Patchouli essential oil is derived from a large evergreen perennial that is a member of the Labiatae family. It’s been acclaimed for its diuretic properties as well as its exotic scent. While many think of it as a “hippie” oil, it offers a wealth of benefits that can soothe and heal problems on the inside and out. It’s commonly utilized in practices like anti-cellulite massage and battling water retention. Just rubbed it gently right into your skin.
15. Sage
Sage itself has long been a very popular medicinal herb. And, today, you can purchase sage essential oil to get the essence of the herb. This oil is especially effective for treating cellulite by using it with a body brush. Apply it as mentioned before, adding a few drops diluted in a carrier oil to a brush with natural bristles. Then brush the skin utilizing semi-circular strokes that are directed toward your heart, massaging it into the entire body, or specifically on problematic areas. Afterward, rinse in the shower, gently pat dry with a towel and massage in more oil using your fingertips.
source:
http://thehealthylifestyle.net/
