Among the natural rituals we like to include in our wellbeing routines, plants can have their place. Some are traditionally associated with body care and can be used in herbal teas, poultices or massages. Ivy, bladderwrack, dandelion, meadowsweet, gotu kola, hawkweed… Let’s take a closer look at the plants most often mentioned in beauty routines and how to incorporate them into your everyday life!
But let’s be honest, ladies: these plants are not a solution for cellulite. They can simply be a pleasant addition to a routine that includes a balanced diet, regular physical activity and anti-cellulite massages, alongside good skincare habits!
Ivy
Ivy is one of the plants traditionally used in body-care rituals. To use it, the most common method is to prepare its leaves as a poultice, with 200 grams of leaves in one litre of water. Simmer until the water has fully evaporated. Allow to cool slightly, then apply the leaves to the areas concerned and cover with a cloth or cling film to hold everything in place. Leave on for half an hour, then rinse with cool water. Test it on a small area of skin first.
Bladderwrack
Bladderwrack is a brown seaweed that is very rich in iodine. It is used in some bathing rituals. Simply massage the areas with dimpling gently with the seaweed, ideally in a bath filled with warm or cool water: the massage accompanies this body-care ritual.
Dandelion
Often mentioned in wellbeing routines, dandelion is traditionally enjoyed as an infusion. Simply boil 5 dandelion leaves in about one cup of water. You can drink this infusion at breakfast and after lunch, as a pleasant drink to enjoy during the day.
Five-leaf Dorycnium
This plant is enjoyed as a herbal tea, a simple way to vary your hot drinks. You can have it 3 times a day by adding one teaspoon of dried plant to the equivalent of one cup of boiling water. Feel free to add a little lemon juice to flavour your herbal tea!
Horse Chestnut
This plant is often mentioned in articles about cellulite, particularly as an infusion prepared from horse chestnut seeds. It is not something to prepare without advice: before consuming it, ask your doctor or pharmacist, who can advise you on the appropriate form and quantity, especially if you have a health condition or are taking medication.
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Meadowsweet
Meadowsweet is one of the plants most often mentioned in wellbeing routines. Its infusion is pleasant to drink and helps you stay hydrated throughout the day. As a bonus, it is a good alternative to sugary drinks, to enjoy alongside a balanced diet and your massages. Feel free to have it as an infusion 1 to 2 times a day! If you have any doubts or are taking medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Borage
Borage can be enjoyed as a herbal tea; it is also available in capsule form. Its herbal tea is a simple way to vary your drinks during the day, alongside a varied diet. For capsules, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola can be enjoyed as an infusion: simply bring some water to the boil and add one tablespoon of dried plant. Leave to steep for 5 minutes, then sip the drink slowly. Before drinking it regularly, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Blackcurrant
What interests us most about this plant is its attractive leaves! They contain flavonoids, plant compounds that have been widely studied. Easy to prepare, the leaves are generally enjoyed as a herbal tea, a pleasant hot drink that is ideal for staying hydrated.
Heather
Heather is enjoyed as an infusion. It is ideal for adding variety to your herbal teas and for helping you drink more throughout the day, naturally. Use it by pouring a cup of hot water over a handful of chopped heather flowers, then leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
Hawkweed
Hawkweed is a small perennial plant that is widely used in herbal medicine. In a wellbeing routine, it is mainly enjoyed as an infusion. Its herbal tea is a pleasant drink to enjoy throughout the day. This is why it is often included in wellbeing routines, alongside a balanced diet, physical activity and regular massages, without ever replacing advice from a doctor or pharmacist.
Hawkweed can also be combined with other plants, such as Java tea. As an infusion, the recommended amount is 5 to 10 grams of dried flowers, steeped for 10 minutes in hot water. Hawkweed tea can be enjoyed throughout the day. If you have any doubts, are pregnant or are taking medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Which plant should you choose for a herbal tea?
Most of the plants featured here can be prepared as herbal teas: dandelion, five-leaf dorycnium, horse chestnut, meadowsweet, borage, gotu kola, blackcurrant leaves, heather and hawkweed. Ivy and bladderwrack, on the other hand, are generally used on the skin, as a poultice or for massage.
To include a herbal tea in your everyday routine, follow the quantities indicated for each plant and choose the one you like best. A herbal tea is simply an addition to a wider routine, alongside a balanced diet, regular physical activity and massages. If you are pregnant, are taking medication or have any doubts, ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Related articles
- Herbal plants you need to know: a mini glossary
- Water retention: fruits and plants, what you should know
- Cellulite and natural approaches: what to know
Useful categories: Anti-Cellulite Diet.
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