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Spring clean the natural way!

Who needs a detox?

Tell-tale signs are feelings of sluggishness or lethargy - less get-up-and go! Our complexion often loses its appearance of vitality, freshness and radiance, and becomes lacklustre, with spots or dry patches, showing that the body is out of balance. This is particularly common after a period of excess (such as Christmas), added to an unbalanced diet and insufficient sleep.



When’s best?

Many people try a radical annual post-Christmas detox, but consider a more regular bi-annual detox at the change of season – spring into summer, and summer into autumn. This helps promote and maintain inner wellbeing and is less demanding on the body than a major annual overhaul. To detox at the point where summer turns to winter is the hardest, and needs more determination, but will pay dividends.



So, how do we start?

To kick start a natural detox regime, scatter two handfuls of good quality sea salt in the bath. For maximum benefit, take two salt baths per week, for six weeks. This draws out impurities and stimulates the skin’s circulation.


When showering, a blast of cold water after the hot can stimulate circulation, and make you feel awake and revitalised.


Review your beauty bag. Swap products with synthetic chemicals for natural ones. Synthetic chemicals aren’t sympathetic to skin function and merely superficially treat the skin. Natural/organic alternatives actually work with the skin.



Does exercise help?

Of course, physical exercise stimulates blood and lymph circulation, and burns fat. Regular, sustainable activities are best, so never miss an opportunity to walk or use stairs, to keep muscles working.



Tips for body brushing from Weleda’s Beauty Advisor, Loraine Murry

Dry brushing is widely recommended to exfoliate and stimulate circulation in areas prone to cellulite. To get started:

•  Buy a good quality natural bristle brush or loofah

•  Commit to brushing every day and do it before your daily shower

•  Work from toe to top, making sure that strokes are always towards the heart

•  Moderate pressure. Go lighter on areas like the chest and firmer where skin is thicker like the soles of the feet

•  Use a circular motion five to size time for each movement

•  Avoid any areas where you have a skin infection, rash or open wound



And for the inside?

Drink green tea or water instead of tea or coffee, and keep well hydrated. The minute you feel thirsty you’ve already gone too long without fluids.


Cut out or at least reduce dairy foods and red meat during the detox period. Eat oily fish twice a week and take a food supplement of essential fatty acids (consult your local health store).


For vegetarians, enjoy a daily handful of seeds and unsalted mixed nuts, eat legumes, and use linseed, rapeseed and/or walnut oil. For vegetarians and vegans it’s easier to maintain the body’s acid/alkali balance.


Why not try Weleda Birch Juice as part of your detox regime – see step 3 below for more information >



Birch for the body

The birch is traditionally linked with purification. The old-fashioned approach used birch for rods in corporal punishment, and flagellants used to whip themselves with birch to cleanse the soul. Today we take a gentler approach, preferring to use birch in our bodycare and immune support products for its ability to purify and cleanse.


Weleda’s birch products are made from organic silver birch (Betula alba) grown in South Bohemia (the Czech Republic) and gathered from certified collection. Tender young birch leaves are hand picked in late spring and gently air-dried for a full five days. They are then dispatched to Weleda France, where the extract is obtained using a traditional pharmaceutical process known as decoction, to release the active substances. The flavonoids extracted encourage the flushing of toxins to restore skin radiance. Read more about Silver Birch.



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Cellulite - the truth – and solutions


It’s not a sign of overweight. Thin, fat, average, short, tall - dimply thighs appear on 90% of women, and only women. The cause is the difference between male and female elastic connective tissue that hold fat cells in the skin’s lower layers. Women’s is softer and more relaxed than men’s, causing an effect a bit like a comfy mattress. Female hormones add to the cellulite-producing mix.


Prepare to bare

While we can’t change any genetic propensity, gender peculiarities, or hormones, we can limit any additional problems caused by the storage and breakdown of fat becoming unbalanced. A whole body approach is likely to work best. Beauty and massage therapist, Loraine Murry, Weleda’s natural beauty consultant, offers advice on a whole body approach to tackling cellulite, starting with a detox. Find out more >



Does exercise help?

Of course, physical exercise stimulates blood and lymph circulation, and burns fat. Regular, sustainable activities are best, so never miss an opportunity to walk, use stairs, and keep the muscles in the legs and bottom toned.



3 step action plan to smoother thighs


1. Gently exfoliate

Harsh exfoliants can disturb the skin’s regeneration rhythm and damage its protective barrier function. Gentle, natural treatment is what’s needed.


Birch Body Scrub (150ml) unburdens the skin, gently massaging away only dead skin cells. Used regularly, it leaves skin feeling silky, cleansed, and ready to receive oils and lotions.


The unique blend of natural ingredients is so kind it’s suitable even for sensitive skin. Beeswax, carnauba wax and castor oil plant wax, bound into round pearls, gently massage skin, and are held in a creamy, gentle plant cleanser base derived from coconut.


Other ingredients include organic sesame seed oil, apricot kernel oil, ruscus, organic rosemary and fresh citrus essential oils. The key ingredients - organic birch leaves - are known for their purifying and detoxifying effects.


Recommended use: Once weekly



2. Invigorating massage

In 56 days cellulite can be significantly improved - so found trained independent assessors asked to study ultrasound images of daily use of Birch Cellulite Oil (100ml). Even within 28 days tests showed significant improvements in skin elasticity and firmness.


Young, organic birch leaves, rich in flavonoids, are the key ingredient, used for their ability to purify and encourage metabolic activities.


Other organic ingredients are rosemary leaves, to stimulate circulation and metabolism, ruscus (Butcher’s Broom) traditionally used for anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects, apricot kernel oil, a rich source of essential fatty acids, wheat germ oil for its skin-friendly vitamin E, and jojoba oil to nourish and keep skin smooth and supple.


To massage in the oil, use moderate pressure and in circular movements work upwards, towards the heart.


Recommended use: Daily



3. Support from

Birch Juice (200ml) has the authentic taste of birch and a touch of biodynamically grown lemon juice.


Organic silver birch taken internally is an excellent supplement to help cleanse the system, bring you rediscovered vitality, and leave skin looking clear, bright and healthy. Shed the rigors of winter and bounce into healthy, active spring.


Shake the bottle, then add a tablespoon of juice to a glass of water as a healthy drink, or add two tablespoons to a bottle of mineral water to drink throughout the day, or even stir a tablespoonful into yogurt.


This 100% organic juice contains no artificial flavours, preservatives or other additives, and is suitable for diabetics and vegans.


Recommended use: Two to three times daily, for three to six weeks, to cleanse the system.



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© Weleda 2011

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