Cellulite is the lumpy, dimpled skin which appears mainly on hips, thighs and buttocks. It is, in fact, the subcutaneous fat deposit or the fat deposit on the conjunctive tissue under the skin. The fatty dimpled skin appearance is also known as the 'cottage cheese' or 'orange peel' appearance. It is mainly a woman specific disorder and not a disease.

Symptoms

• • Feeling of pain at touching
• • Presence of a micro or macro nodules (felt when touched)
• • Stretch marks
• • Wrinkles
• • Feeling similar to pins and needles prick
• • Muscular pain
• • Tiredness
• • Back/neck ache
• • Feeling of coldness/nervousness, etc.

Causes

Aggravated Kapha dosha

Pathogenesis

Cellulite is identified by Ayurveda as 'Vasa'- the heavy, saturated type of fat tissue. When this saturated fat interacts with digestive impurities or 'Ama', it results in cellulite. It is a localized effect. This heavy, sticky substance-the cellulite- when sits in the fat cells, is very difficult to eliminate. The longer it sits there, more difficult it is to remove. The link between the Vasa fat and the Ama impurities have to be broken if one aims at cellulite reduction. For this kapha provoking diet- diet rich in fats- has to be avoided. According to ayurveda, the 'agni' or fiery condition for metabolizing fat is known as 'meda agni.' When meda agni under the skin gets low or does not works properly, the unprocessed fat molecules get deposited under the skin and results in cellulite. Thus, the meda agni has to be activated or kindled to treat cellulite.

Treatment

Ayurvedic treatment for cellulite reduction include a combination of right type of diet, ayurvedic massages (specially gharsana and udvartana), and yoga. However, many herbs are also used to reduce cellulite which are as follows:

• • Dandelion: It flushes toxins out of the body and helps the body to rebuild cells and tissue that had been saturated with and damaged by toxins and other waste matter. Have it in salads or herbal tea.
• • Gotu Kola: It helps the body to heal, giving it power to repair cells and the connective tissue that helps cellulite to become more visible. It also strengthens the walls of veins to ensure that nutrients and toxins do not escape. The nutrients go where they need to go and toxins are flushed out of the body. Gotu Kola can be used in herbal paste for udvartana massage.
• • Parsley: It is a detoxifying agent, cleanses the blood, and eliminates toxins from the connective tissue in the area affected by cellulite.
• • Milk Thistle: It flushes waste products out of the liver. It also helps with the blood circulation.
• • Horse Chestnut: It has anti-inflammatory properties. It soothes any cellulite inflammation and helps the circulatory system also.
• • Grape Seed Extract: It helps the collagen in the connective tissue and skin and make it more elastic thus preventing the appearance of cellulite.
• • Gingko Biloba: It is an antioxidant and oxidises the fatty cells under the surface of the skin. Thus any kind of build ups, like cellulite, can not develop. It also strengthens the veins and boosts blood circulation.
• • Kelp: It is a vital source of iodine which affects the thyroid. The iodine boost the action of the thyroid and helps in fat metabolism thus burn the fats off. It also helps to flush any excess water out of the body.

Recipes

Ayurvedic detoxyfying recipes are useful for cellulite reduction.

• • Kapha Tea: Take 1/4 teaspoon each of dry ginger, dill seed, fenugreek seed, 1 clove , and 1 cup water. Mix all the ingredients. Boil the water and add the herb mixture to it. Steep for 5 minutes. Strain and have it to balance kapha dosha.
• • Kapha Churna Seasoning: Mix fenugreek, cumin, black pepper and ginger and ground them into powder. Add this seasoning to your diet. It reduces Ama- the digestive impurities. Don't take it in excess as these hot spices can aggravate your Pitta.

Panchkarma

Panchkarma is highly recommended for cellulite reduction.

• • Gharsana or the dry massage is done with the help of raw silk gloves. This exfoliates the skin and breaks up fatty deposits apart from energizing blood circulation.
• • In udvartana massage, a herbal powder made up of natural nourishing ingredients such as almond oil, chickpea flour, turmeric powder and fenugreek powder is used to reduce cellulite accumulations, improve circulation and enhance the skin's texture and appearance.
• • Ayurvedic diet for your body type is recommended. Kapha aggravating food is recommended to be avoided.
• • Massage with sesame and mustard oil (in equal proportions) is also recommended for removing cellulite. After this type of massage, the powder of calamus herb or 'bacha' should be rubbed on the skin.

Yoga

• • Dandayamana Dhanurasana
• • Ardha Chandrasana
• • Utkatasana
• • Supta-Vajrasana
• • Dhanurasana
• • Salabhasana