Ask A Healer Healthy Weight Loss Series

Beyond the Hype of all the Ads - What health benefits can an herbal body wrap provide?

Exploring the Benefits of Bodywrapping with herbs - Do Herbal Body Wraps Work?
Copyright, Neva J. Howell

Do Body Wraps at Home

Please also read the introduction to this series: do body wraps really work? and herbs used in herbal body wraps

Most people get body wraps to lose inches and weight. Nothing wrong with that but there are many benefits besides those two, in a quality, therapeutic herbal body-wrap.

Herbal body wraps are great for the following purposes, provided the right herbs are used in the wrap mixture:
* Clear up skin problems Related: Skin care tips
* Detox Related: More on detoxing
* Relieve Aches and Pains
* Tone and firm the skin
* Reduce Cellulite

You will notice I did not include weight loss on that list. While regular body-wrapping can help you tone and firm the skin, significant and permanent weight loss can only be achieved with a combination of regular fitness, healthy diet and other beautifying practices such as wrapping.

Herbal wraps that also contain detoxifying clay are most apt to give you the best results in the areas listed above. An herbal wrap featuring organic ingredients is best by far since part of what you put on your skin will be absorbed into your skin.

After a series of herbal body wraps, you could reasonably expect to see younger looking, more firm-looking skin and to have experienced a noticable level of detox effects, such as a healthier glow to your skin and hair.

You may also notice slight weight loss with herbal body wraps though, as I mentioned above, weight loss would not be my goal with an herbal body wrap. However, these types of wraps can be detoxing and when the body is clear of toxins, it naturally gravitates toward a healthy weight.

Body Wraps Work Best In A Series

The key to getting the benefits of wrapping is consistency. The biggest misperception about bodywrapping is that you can do one and be done with it. It doesn't really matter what type of wrap you are doing, you will still need to do more than one to get true benefits.

If your goal is just to fit into your wedding dress or that hot outfit you want to wear to your 20th high school reunion, then one wrap (particularly the ones where you are wrapped up like a mummy in a mineral solution and have to keep moving for a solid hour) may help you lose enough inches to make a difference that day.

That kind of temporary water weight loss may be ok, provided you are an otherwise healthy individual. The temporary inch loss may be enough for you, for that special occasion.

Featured Body Wrap Resource:
Home Body Wrap Ebook Guide

However, if you want real results, you will not get those with one or two wraps whether those wraps use herbs, minerals, enzymes or other bodywrap ingredients.

I'd be ready to pay for and do at least a dozen while also sticking to a well-designed exercise, fitness and weight loss program.

One of the best, most basic benefits of getting mineral or herbal body wraps on a regular basis is that body wrapping helps tone at each level of inch loss, so there is better looking skin without the flab that can accompany weight loss.

In fact, most people report better looking skin, period, with body wrapping in a healthy, well-constructed body wrap solution.

Quality herbal body wraps can help you reach your weight loss goals more quickly by detoxing the body and by toning the skin over time.

The most important reason for bodywrapping with herbs:

Although weight loss and inch loss, temporary though it may be, is the most common reason that people do herbal body wraps, I believe the most beneficial property of a really good body wrap is detoxing.

Herbal body wraps are uniquely effective for detoxing, provided the right herbs are chosen and, optimally, when combined with detoxifying clay.

I am of the firm belief that a toxic body cannot function well on any level, including the absorption of nutrients and the maintaining of ideal weight.

Most good herbal body wrap solutions work to detox the body in some way, in addition to beautifying and toning properties. I must again repeat that I'd look for organic ingredients. It makes no sense to attempt detoxing with an herbal body wrap that isn't pure.

Detoxing your body is someting to consider as an important first step in successful weight loss, whether or not you achieve that detox through a body wrap, a detoxing cleanse, juicing, etc.

Why a Doctor's Release?

In many body wrap salons, and specifically those that offer infrared body-wraps, you will be asked to sign a release saying you have checked with your doctor so get that out of the way before you make your appointment.

The goal of a qualified body wrap technician should be inch loss and weight loss along with better health, not disregarding better health.

Most healthy people can do body wraps unless pregnant. However, if under a doctor's care for any known condition, it is always best to talk with your doctor.

Body Wraps - Do They Work? Part Four:
Myths About Wrapping - What's Reasonable to Expect

Body Wrap Weight Loss * Body Wrap Tips * Herbal Body Wrap

Important Note about body wraps: Although most people tolerate the herbs in herbal body wraps and most mineral wraps are comprised of minerals the body needs and uses effectively, those on medications should always check with their doctor before doing a body wrap where topicals can soak into the skin. According to a beauty consultant I talked with, when an herbal body wrap is put on, the skin will absorb about 40 percent of the active ingredients. Same with a mineral wrap. No type of body wrap should be used by those who are pregnant or nursing, unless your doctor approves.