Ivy anticellulite oil

How to prepare an excellent natural anticellulite remedy at home with proven effectiveness?

Just two simple ingredients: Ivy leaves and extra virgin olive oil.

Ivy (Hedera helix L.) is a climbing shrub commonly found attached to other trees, walls, or rocks. Its name derives from the Latin haerere, meaning “to be attached”; in ancient times, it was a symbol of the god Bacchus, while in popular tradition, houses covered with Ivy were considered protected from evil spirits.

Internally, Ivy is used in treating bronchial conditions due to its balsamic, expectorant, and antitussive properties. Externally, it is commonly found in most cellulite treatment remedies. Ivy leaves possess vasoconstrictive and astringent properties that counteract congestion and vasodilation, which play a role in cellulite development. The anticellulite property is attributed to saponins, while flavonoids are important for improving venous insufficiency. Ivy leaves used are from sterile branches, which are distinguished by their rootlets used to attach to trees or walls. They differ from flowering branches because the latter do not have roots and are erect. They are often found in herbal preparations associated with other plants that act on microcirculation, such as Butcher’s Broom, Horse Chestnut, and Calendula.

The leaves are collected from spring until early summer.

Below is a simple recipe to make an Ivy-infused oil for massaging an affected area.

If used consistently and continuously (for at least one month of continuous local application), combined with physical activity, adequate hydration, and a balanced diet, excellent results can be seen.

The addition of Rosemary or Juniper essential oil strengthens the plant’s action on microcirculation, enhancing its anticellulite action.

Ivy infused oil: recipe

Ingredients:

Ivy leaves (from sterile branches)

Extra virgin olive oil (can be substituted with other vegetable oils as desired)

Rosemary or juniper essential oil

Materials:

Glass jar of preferred size

Funnel

Fine mesh strainer

Cotton gauze or linen cloth

Absorbent paper

Procedure:

Collect ivy leaves and let them dry. Place them evenly on absorbent paper and let them dry for a day in a sheltered environment.

Hot method

In a saucepan, place the dried Ivy leaves and add the vegetable oil until completely covered. Heat gently in a double boiler. Once the temperature reaches 50°C, turn off the heat and let it infuse overnight. Then, using a strainer or cotton gauze, filter the infused oil into the glass container, being careful to recover all the extract. It is then recommended to press the leaves to extract the residual oil (rich in active ingredients). Once filtered, add 1% Rosemary or Juniper essential oil to the Ivy infused oil, depending on the preferred fragrance (that is, if you are preparing 500 ml of infused oil, add 5 ml of essential oil).

Cold method

Place the dried Ivy leaves in the glass container and fill it with vegetable oil until completely covered. Close the lid tightly, and if you don’t have a dark glass jar, cover the entire jar with aluminum foil. Let it infuse for 21 days, remembering to stir thoroughly every day. Filter and recover the oil absorbed by the plant, then add 1% Rosemary or Juniper essential oil.

Tip: To increase the preservative power of the infused oil and prevent oil oxidation, before macerating the leaves, spray them with pure alcohol. If using the cold method, it is recommended to place a tablespoon of pure alcohol on the oil surface before letting it infuse.