10 Reasons to Try Vinotherapy

Everyone knows that having a glass of Merlot or Cabernet at the end of a long day can be a great way to kick back and unwind, but relaxation is far from the only benefit of wine. Vinotherapy is an emerging trend being used in spas for potential rejuvenation and healing. These spa treatments utilize the by-products of wine such as the skins, stems, and seeds of grapes to create concoctions and elixirs that are believed to revitalize the body.

Wine has been known for its potential medicinal qualities for centuries. It has also been the beverage of choice in sacred ceremonies and rites of passage since ancient times. It’s only natural that wine would show up as vinotherapy, an exclusive treatment on spa-therapy menus. There are plenty of ways that wine may enhance your well-being or the healthiness of your skin. Below, we have outlined ten ways that vinotherapy is thought to enhance your skin.

Special Note

It is important that we note that all of these health benefits listed below have not been fully supported by any scientific study. Vinotherapy is a new concept, so many of these practices are in their infancy and have yet to be proven to have a real benefit. That being said, there is no reason not to try these therapies if you are in the care of a licensed and professional spa staff.

1. Offers Protection

Scientists posit the idea that various parts of the grape, such as the stems, seeds and skins, contain certain compounds that might be excellent for protecting the skin. These compounds are:

• Polyphenols, which are contained in grape seeds. These are flavonoids that are packed with properties that might protect you from free radicals.
• Resveratrol, which is obtained from grape skins. This compound might slow down the aging process, firm up skin, and promote new cell growth.

2. Provides Antioxidants

The by-products of wine also have intense antioxidant properties, which are thought to play a part in defending skin against detrimental free radicals. Antioxidants could potentially:

• Defend the skin
• Promote tissue elasticity
• Create a more vibrant looking complexion

3. Reduces Wrinkles

Vinotherapy is marketed as a method that might be able to create more youthful looking complexions, as the properties of these wine facials could help relax wrinkles naturally. The therapeutic properties of crushed grapes might be able to:

• Stimulate collagen production
• Create healthier capillaries
• Improve circulation
• Reduce facial wrinkles

4. Reduces Acne

Not only are wine facials thought to revitalize complexions, they might also be able to get rid of blemishes and reduce facial acne. When individuals have oily skin that is prone to clogged pores and breakouts, wine facials mixed with aloe could potentially:

• Relax the skin’s muscles
• Heal infections
• Clear pores

Red wine has shown promise as a beneficial method of eradicating blemishes and clearing up skin. For those who have dry skin, yet still suffer from acne, almond can be added as a natural moisturizer.

5. Adds Glow to Complexion

Who doesn’t want a glowing complexion? Radiant, bright skin tones are beautiful because they look so healthy. After wine facials, complexions seem to glow from the inside.

In addition to exfoliating and scrubbing with crushed grapes, red wine is being used as natural blusher. To have pink, glowing cheeks, add a couple of drops of red wine around your cheekbones, and your face will have a natural-looking rosy blush.

6. Tightens and Tones Skin

Wine is being used as a natural astringent, too, so it might be able to tighten up and tone your skin. To attempt to create tauter, youthful, and vibrant skin, follow these steps:

• Soak a cotton ball in wine
• Apply it to the skin
• Let this solution sit on your skin for half an hour
• Wash it off with clear water

7. Prevents and Repairs Sun Damage

Because wine is so rich in amino acids, it is thought that it might help prevent and repair skin damage that has resulted from the sun’s harsh rays. Because this is only a theory, it is obviously still important to wear sunscreen, of course, but the by-products of grapes might provide an additional layer of defense by:

• Creating a protective barrier against the sun’s powerful rays
• Boosting skin renewal processes
• Providing one more tool in your arsenal against solar damage

8. Soothes Nerves

Not only can you soothe your frazzled nerves by sipping a glass of wine, you might be able to ease your stressed-out muscles and body by bathing in it. Taking a wine bath in addition to full body exfoliation and facial can be a blissful way to potentially:

• Ease tension
• Relax muscles

Bathing in red wine can be an expensive luxury, but it might provide the ultimate experience in relaxation to soothe your nerves.

9. Improves Hair Health

Vinotherapy might also be beneficial to your hair. You hair might become silkier, shinier, and more luxurious for some of the same reasons that wine by-products rejuvenate skin. All you need to do is shampoo, condition, rinse with clear water, and then use red wine in your final rinse. This treatment might:

• Thicken your hair
• Add luster
• Prevent hair loss
• Reduce frizziness
• Encourage hair growth

Drinking a moderate amount of wine might help your tresses, too, because wine is thought to increase the circulation of blood to your scalp, strengthen blood vessels, and reduce flakiness and dandruff.

10. Increases Overall Well-being

There are multiple potential health benefits associated with drinking wine, other than relaxing socially. When wine is moderately consumed, it has been thought to:

• Reduce cardiovascular risks because of the antioxidants, which might prevent the accumulation of fat in your arteries. This could lead to fewer heart attacks and strokes.
• Protect against the effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapeutic treatments may kill cancer cells, but they also wreak havoc on other cells in the process. Wine is believed to counteract some of the negative aspects of chemo.
• Decrease prospects of developing Alzheimer’s disease because wine might be able to boost brainpower and enhance memory.
• Promote peaceful sleep because of a substance it contains called melatonin. Melatonin could potentially be a helpful sleep aid.
• Lower your cholesterol count, because it helps reduce the accumulation of saturated fats.
• Prevent lung cancer because it contains guercetin and resveratrol, which might reduce the growth of cancer cells.
• Strengthen your teeth, because it could harden enamel and prevent the inflammation of gums.
• Curtail diabetes, because it possibly stimulates insulin secretion from your pancreas, which could reduce the level of glucose in your blood.

It’s no wonder that people are flocking to spas to rest up and become rejuvenated by the nearly magical treatments that have been created by using stems, seeds and skins of the almighty grape. Sipping, bathing in and being slathered with wine could possibly create a sense of well-being you’ll experience long after leaving the spa.

Once again, keep in mind that all of these practices are only thought to work, and none of these claims have been officially supported by scientific studies.