Herbal body wraps are fantastic for people who want to improve the body's tone and tighten the look and texture of the skin. This is particularly true for people with loose skin from weight loss or pregnancy. A body wrap is often considered an all-natural alternative to plastic surgery.

People who suffer from inflammation and joint pain will also profit from the therapeutic effects of body wraps.

A mixture of a clay and natural sea salt can be used to made a simple homemade body wrap. You can also add other ingredients like herbs and two tablespoons of an essential oil.

Essential oils and herbs usually used in body wraps include:

Essential oils: lavender, lemon, sage, lemongrass, sandlewood, grapefruit, rosemary, olive oil.

Herbs: Alfalfa leaf powder, chamomile flower powder, ground basil, rosehip powder, rose petal powder.

Here is a body wrap recipe that is popular among spas. You will need:

2 cups of water

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 cup of bentonite or green clay

1/4 cup sea salt

Begin by boiling water and adding sea salt until it is fully dissolved. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir. You may add some more water in order to form a wet paste.

Massage the mixture over your entire body and wrap yourself with thin towels. You can also use a clean white sheet. You can try special wrapping sheets for the reason that the compaction helps to squeeze the tissues together for better results. Lay in the bathtub for a minimum of 45 minutes to 1 hour.

There are some things that you should know to make sure that the body wrap session is a pleasant one. Follow these tips to make certain that you have the best experience possible.

- Herbal body wraps are typically very messy so keep the experience in the bathtub.

- Before you apply the wrap, take a warm shower in order to open the skin pores.

- Drink plenty of water both before and after the wrap session to help flush out all of the toxins better.

- Cover yourself with a cheap foil thermal blanket to keep yourself warm.

- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, soda drinks, sugar and fried fatty foods for the next two days.

- It is very boring to lay in the tub and stare at the ceiling for 45 minutes. To make the experience more exciting, you can listen to your favorite music on a walkman or bring in a portable TV.