STIMULATING SOLUTION

As we are all aware, poor circulation and lymph flow play a major part in the formation of cellulite. Just to remind you why, poor circulation deprives the body of oxygen - when this happens, the fibroblast cells that mend damaged collagen act abnormally, creating thick fibres that make fat stores more likely to bulge from the tops of their 'boxes'. On top of this, a sluggish lymph system increases the risk of water retention and also adds to the thicker collagen fibres with fibres of its own.

Boost lymph and circulation is therefore a vital part of fighting cellulite and, by following the tips in the Stimulating Solution, you aim to do just this. By stimulating the circulation, you could even improve the chance of taking the weight from your hips and thighs rather than focusing solely on your upper body. This is because when the body does not have enough sugar in the blood or muscles to use as energy, it reaches into the fat stores for fuel- and the stores it reaches first are those with the best circulation. By stimulating circulation and blood flow in your hips and thighs, you increase the chance that fat will be taken from there.

There are a number of ways you can stimulate circulation, but the Stimulating Solution focuses on skin brushing, massage, heat and water treatments. These treatments commonly used in health spas and beauty centres to help clients fight cellulite. These techniques are safe and simple enough to be carried out at home and take a matter of minutes to carry out.

In many cases it will take just 10 minutes a day to get results.


SKIN BRUSHING

Skin brushing is the most commonly prescribed treatment for cellulite and one of the easiest to use. It uses gentle upwards movements to help boost circulation and lymph flow.

Skin brushing is best carried out in the morning before you bath or shower (while the skin is dry). As well as improving circulation, it also helps to get rid of dead skin cells that can lead to dry, dehydrated skin, under which cellulite is far more noticeable.

Although you may be tempted to concentrate on cellulite areas alone, a complete body brush will ensure that your overall circulation is improved and will stimulate major lymph areas, including those under the arms and in the neck.

Choose a natural bristle brush with medium-hard bristles. Synthetic bristles or those that are too hard can scratch the skin. The head of the brush should be about the size of your hand, with a short or medium handle to reach hard places. Wash your brush once a week with a little shampoo and hang it up to dry. Mould can easily grow on dirty or damp brush and it will infalme your skin as you brush.

• Take the brush and begin with the sole of your left foot. Use rhythmic strokes to cover the sole several times.
• Next, brush the top of your foot, brushing upwards towards your ankle.
• Move on to your lower leg, brushing the entire surface in a series of upwards strokes.

• Stand up straight and brush the area from your knee to the top of your thigh. Brush your buttock area as far up as your waist.
• Repeat the procedure on the other leg.

• Moving in an upward direction, brush your back several times from your buttocks all the way up to your shoulders.

• Next brush your right arm. Start with the palm of your hand, move up the back and then brush from your wrist up to your elbow, again in an upward direction.
• Brush your upper arm from your elbow up to the shoulder, covering the whole surface several times in a series of strokes.
• Repeat the procedure on the left arm.
  

• The neck and chest are sensitive areas so brush lightly here, again always moving in the direction of the heart.
• Once you have finished brushing, shower or at least rinse the skin.

MASSAGE

When many of us think of massage for cellulite, we think of intense, pummelling massage. Recent research suggests this probably is not a good idea. While a professional massage therapist may be able to use the right amount of force to massage in this way, most of us pinch and pummel too forcefully or use wrong motions. This actually damages the septa, which need to be repaired. Harsh movements can also damage the flow of lymph, causing further stagnation.

The right type of massage, however, can be incredibly powerful. When the body is massaged, the temperature of the skin increases. This widens the gaps between the cells of the body, allowing lymph to flow more easily.

So what is the right type of massage for cellulite? The most beneficial is called manual lymph drainage and uses a mixture of long gentle strokes with pulsing techniques to focus on stimulating the flow of lymph.

Full manual lymph drainage must always be carried out by a specialist or the lymphatic system can be damaged, so ask at your nearest health centre for recommendations. However, you can carry out a very gently form of lymph massage yourself.

Make sure that you keep you strokes long and gentle, so that you do not cause any damage to your septa or lymph.

• Start on your legs, with long gentle strokes from the ankles, moving upwards towards the knees. Work both the front and back of the leg.
• Then move up the thighs, with long strokes front and back towards the groin.
  

• Work around the arms upwards from wrists to elbows.
• Now, move past the elbows, massaging the upper arms towards the armpits.

• Next massage your upper torso with the same long strokes.
• Massage outwards and either upwards or downwards towards your armpits, depending on which area you are massaging.
• If someone is massaging your back, they should direct the strokes on the upper back and shoulder blades towards your armpits; the neck strokes should go towards the ears.

• Lastly work the lower abdomen. The area under your navel should be massaged towards the groin.
• If someone is massaging your back, then the strokes should go upwards and around the hips.
  

HEAT AND WATER TREATMENTS

Heat and water treatments include saunas, steams and hydrotherapy, which can dramatically boost circulation. In fact, during a sauna, blood flow from the heart increases by up to 75 per cent of that blood reaches the skin. Any toxins carried in the blood are therefore closer to the surface of the body, and therefore, it will more likely to be excreted in the sweat, relieving some of the pressure from your lymph system.

STEAM AND SAUNAS

While devotees claim that saunas of 2-3 hours can break down fat stores and help eliminate cellulite entirely, it should not be done without medical supervision. You will get just as positive result by spending 10-20 minutes at a time at a temperature you can bear. Do not eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol before the treatment, but do drink plenty of water before, during and after your session. you can lose 25g (1oz) of water or more in a sauna, which is enough to make you dehydrated.

If you are pregnant or have any medical problems that involve your heart, blood pressure, respiratory system or skin, see your doctor before having saunas or steams to check if they are safe.

HYDROTHERAPY

Hydrotherapy is the therapeutic use of water, and can include baths, showers and water-based massage treatment. Like massage and skin brushing, most hydrotherapy treatments aim to boost the circulation and lymph flow, by using either the force of the water or changes in temperature. However, new research shows that hydrotherapy may even encourage weight loss.

There are many ways you can harness the power of hydrotherapy , the easiest of which is a hydrotherapy bath, which uses the pressure of water from a showerhead for massage. For this you will need a bath with a shower hose that can reach under the water. If your showerhead is attached to the wall, buy a shower hose that will hook temporarily on to a tap.

Remember, always to work towards the heart as you move the showerhead up your legs. If you have heart problems, reduce the temperature of the water very gradually from warm to cold. If you are prone to broken veins, keep the water pressure low and the water just on warm.

If you do not have a bath, it does not mean you cannot use hydrotheray. Just finish each shower with a 2-3 minute warm water massage with the showerhead on the highest pressure you can bear, then follow up with a 1-2 minute blast of cold.

WHAT TO DO WHEN

Treatment + When To Do It
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skin brushing - everyday before a bath or shower

manual lymph massage - once a week

steams/saunas - once a week

hydrotherapy bath - at least three times a week

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HOME HYDROTHERAPY

• Half-fill a bath with warm water and add an anti-cellulite aromatherapy oil blend.
• Soak in the bath for 5 minutes, then start to run warm water through your shower attachment at the highest pressure you can.
• Always working upwards, use low fluid strokes to massage your feet, calves, thighs and hips with the water. Continue this for 3-4 minutes.
• Now, put the water on to cold and continue for another 2-3 minutes. If the bath starts to get overfull, pull out the plug. Get out of the bath and towel yourself down as normal.
  

AROMATHERAPY TIPS

• Essential oils can be very potent, so do not exceed the recommended dose.
• Patch-test all oils before you use them by applying a tiny amount to the skin on the inside of your arm. If you get any stinging, irritation or reddening, then do not use that oil.
• Some oils can interfere with medical conditions including epilepsy and diabetes. If you have a medical condition, seek advice from a registered aromatherapist before treating yourself.
• Many oils are not suitable for pregnant women. Ask professional advice.

Essential oils should never be taken internally.