Honey wrap

Skin is the largest organ, and taking care of its healthy condition, given its importance for appearance, includes various cosmetic procedures, one of which is a honey wrap.

Indications for the procedure

Honey, as well as any other wrap is not prescribed by a dermatologist, but recommended by a cosmetologist to reduce the visible manifestations of cellulite or at flabby skin on the legs. But honey wrap for weight loss, as well as honey wrap for slimming the abdomen, which allegedly helps to "melt" fat deposits (which is a widespread misconception), in fact gives a short-term effect: a slight reduction in the circumference of the waist or weight (by 100-150 g) - due to the loss of fluid through the skin by sweating. Subcutaneous fat depots (strategic energy stores) are not affected by these procedures: only physical activity - varied and properly dosed - combined with calorie restriction with food burns fat.

Among the numerous cosmetic methods of fighting cellulite is a honey wrap from cellulite - gynoid lipodystrophy (also defined by physicians as deforming dermopanniculosis or edematous adiposis), which is manifested by irregular bumpiness of the skin. It occurs due to changes in the structure of subcutaneous connective tissue and cells of gynoid (concentrated in the thighs and buttocks) adipose tissue. These changes consist in an increase in the size of fat cells (lipocytes), which penetrate into the reticular (connective tissue) layer of the dermis - closer to the epidermis, especially thin on the thighs and buttocks. A certain role is also played by the accumulation of excess intercellular fluid in the tissues due to the deterioration of blood supply to the skin in these areas of the body.

Dermatologists say that it is almost impossible to get rid of cellulite, which is observed in 85-90% of women, but you can correct it a little - with the help of massage (improving lymphatic drainage) and cosmetic procedures in the form of wraps. Although even the best cellulite wraps cannot remove fat from problem areas.

For more information see. - Cellulite: general principles of correction

Honey leg wraps can be done with varicose veins, read more - Folk treatment of varicose veins

But honey wrap for hair is, in fact, a nourishing mask with wrapping the scalp with a film and a towel - to improve their growth, soften the skin and get rid of dandruff. It is recommended to mix honey with onion juice, egg yolk, olive oil, brewer's yeast, decoctions of burdock roots, nettle leaves or any other natural components to strengthen hair.

More information in the article - Hair Treatment at Home

Benefits of honey wraps

To improve the condition of the skin and hair, with cellulite, the benefits of wrapping with honey is unconditional: among the almost two hundred substances that make up its composition, there are vitamins (ascorbic, nicotinic and pantothenic acids, thiamine, riboflavin, tocopherol, pyridoxine); trace elements, including zinc necessary for cell regeneration; flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, apigenin) and phenolic acids (ellagic, caffeic, ferulic), which - together with reduced tripeptide glutathione (GSH) - provide antioxidant activity of honey.

Organic acids in honey are only 0.57%, including acetic, citric, formic, lactic, malic, succinic and the main one - gluconic acid, which softens the stratum corneum of the skin and promotes exfoliation (exfoliation) of dead cells without additional friction.

Under the action of all components of honey the skin is cleansed, nourished, moisturized and softened, while improving local blood circulation, narrowing pores and making the skin smoother and firmer (tighter).

And adding other natural ingredients to honey increases the effectiveness of these cosmetic procedures.

Preparation

Whatever you do - a cosmetic mask for the face or wrapping of problem areas of the body - the composition for them is applied to clean skin. That is, before making a honey wrap at home, you should take a warm shower and dry yourself.

Technique of the honey wrap

The technique is simple: the pre-prepared mixture is evenly applied to the skin (slightly massaging), the body parts treated in this way are wrapped in several layers of food film, warm clothes are put on top; additional insulation with a plaid or blanket will not hurt. The standard duration of the procedure is from 30 minutes to an hour.

With significant manifestations of cellulite it is recommended to make a hot honey wrap - with components that cause local hyperthermia and intense blood flow. This honey wrap with ground red pepper (per 100 g of liquid honey - a teaspoon without a stogie) or mustard. These compositions can be kept no longer than 15-20 minutes.

Honey wrap recipes

Among the recipes for honey wrapping are especially popular mixtures with coffee, apple cider vinegar, salt, mustard, cocoa powder, with the addition of effective for cellulite essential oils (lemon, grapefruit, lavender, geranium, juniper, cypress).

• Honey-mustard wrap: mix two tablespoons of mustard powder with a tablespoon of warm water, add two tablespoons of liquid honey and mix until homogeneous.
• Honey and coffee wrap: liquid honey and ground coffee are mixed in equal proportions; you can add 3-5 drops of essential oil (see above).
• Honey-salt wrap: a teaspoon of salt (common or sea salt) is taken per tablespoon of liquid honey. If the skin is aged or very dry, a teaspoon of raw olive oil is added.
• Chocolate-honey wrap: two tablespoons of cocoa powder (cocoa beans containing theobromine and caffeine are the main ingredient in the production of chocolate) mix with a tablespoon of hot water, stir and add honey (also two tablespoons).
• Vinegar-honey wrap: a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar diluted with the same amount of water and mixed with three tablespoons of thick (but not candied) honey.
• Honey wrap with aloe juice: the ingredients are mixed in a ratio of 1:1.

Contraindications to the procedure

Honey wraps should not be carried out in the presence of an allergic reaction to honey, arterial hypertension, rashes on the skin, infectious diseases and high body temperature, during pregnancy, during menstruation.

By the way, honey wraps at night is not recommended.

And if you are prone to dehydration or kidney dysfunction, any wraps are contraindicated!

Complications after the procedure

A complication of topical application of honey can be a temporary burning sensation - even in the absence of mustard or pepper in the applied composition.

There may also be more prolonged skin irritation.

Care after the procedure

Care after wrapping - washing off the applied mixture under a warm shower.

Testimonials

You can ignore the reviews about honey wraps, where it is claimed that they effectively burn fat and reduce its deposits on the abdomen. But the obvious improvement of skin condition after these procedures, which can be carried out once a week, even avid skeptics do not doubt.

Literature used

• Т. Polenova. 1000 best recipes for treatment with honey and bee products. Vladis, 2009.
• Igor Korkulenko: The Big Book of Honey. Pearls of apitherapy. AST, 2017
• Korzh V.N. Bee honey. Kharkov, Edena. 2010