Cellulite Reduction by Modified Thai Herbal Compresses; A Randomized Double-Blind Trial

Abstract

Cellulite remains an obstinate clinical and cosmetic problem. In this study, we adapted the Thai traditional noninvasive treatment formulated with 5 additional herbals to improve blood flow, edema, and lipolysis, thereby augmenting cellulite treatment. This was a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled paired trial. Twenty-one women (20-55 years) having cellulite (grade ≥2) were treated with steamed placebo or herbal compresses randomly assigned to one or other thigh twice weekly for 8 weeks with 2 weeks washout. Cellulite reduction was assessed from standardized photographs by 3 blinded evaluators at baseline and every 2 weeks; also assessed were thigh circumferences and cutaneous skin-fold thicknesses, trial diaries, and participant feedback. After 8 weeks, herbal compress treatment reduced Nürnberger-Müller cellulite scores from 12.6 ± 2.0 to 9.9 ± 2.4 compared with 12.5 ± 2.1 to 12.1 ± 2.0 (means ± SEM) for contralateral placebo-treated thighs (P < .0001; effect size [ES] = 1.16, confidence interval [CI] = 0.48-1.83). Thigh circumferences diminished by 2.2 ± 0.9 cm (herbal) and 1.4 ± 0.7 cm (placebo) (ES = 0.96, CI = 0.30-1.61) and correspondingly skin-folds by 5.6 ± 2.2 and 2.4 ± 1.3 mm (ES = 1.72, CI = 0.99-2.45). No adverse actions were reported, and there were no dropouts, no missing data, and 100% adherence. Herbal compresses were efficacious against cellulite and thigh sizes. The herbal formula might be adapted to other delivery options, and rationally added herbals may increase effectiveness of traditional therapies and more sustainable actions.

Effects of Essential Oils and Some Constituents from Ingredients of Anti-Cellulite Herbal Compress on 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Rat Aortae

“…Our previous clinical study showed that the anti-cellulite herbal compress improved cellulite appearance, as assessed by measurement of thigh circumferences, skin thickness and severity of cellulite [ 7 ]. Blood flow enhancement via vasodilation could be one of the mechanisms activated by the anti-cellulite herbal compress.…”

“…The vascular action of the herbal compress could be attributed to some of the major constituents of mixed oil, in particular monoterpenes i.e., α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, 3-carene, D-limonene, camphor, terpinene-4-ol β-citral and α-citral, which were displayed on chromatographic profiles shown in a GC-MS chromatogram ( Figure 6 ). The mechanism of vasorelaxant actions of the mixed oil could involve the endothelium dependent pathway i.e., nitric oxide release, as reported by several studies evaluating vascular actions of the volatile oils and plants containing similar monoterpene profiles [ 7 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…The powder of each plant (50 g) was placed in a round-bottomed flask with 500 mL of distilled water. For the mixed oil, the 150 g of mixture of seven plant herbal compress ingredients in the ratio that reported in previous study [ 7 ] was placed in a round-bottomed flask with 1500 mL of distilled water. The distillation apparatus was set to 100 °C for 3 to 5 h of distillation [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…These compresses contain herbs bundled within a cloth to form a ball which is warmed and applied to relieve muscle pains, stress and strains. In previous studies [ 7 , 8 ], we modified a Thai traditional herbal compress to use as an anti-cellulite product. The formulation contained Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizomes (ginger), Piper nigrum L. fruit (black pepper), Piper retrofractum Vahl.…”

Insights Into the Pathophysiology of Cellulite: A Review

“… 15 – 45 One study assessing durability noted that cellulite severity improvements were short term (<2 weeks). 17 A sugar derivative, sulfocarrabiose, reduced lipogenesis and increased lipolysis in vitro, and a randomized trial of 25 women applying a 3% sulfocarrabiose cream twice per day on the thigh for 8 weeks noted improvement in cellulite severity using a numeric scale (range: 0, no cellulite to 10, maximum cellulite; p < .05). 21 …”