Feel Better Now (female kickboxing) with Helichrysum Essential Oil
No commentsBy Erica Allen
The essential oil distilled from the small yellow flowers of the Helichrysum plant is quickly becoming one of the most popular essential oils used in aroma-medicine (perhaps the more appropriate term than ‘aromatherapy’ for the growing medicinal use of volatile plant extracts in the United States). Other monikers for this important oil include Everlasting and Immortelle — they all refer specifically to Helichrysum italicum — one of more than 500 known Helichrysum species. What’s making this oil so popular? It’s not due to its somewhat medicinal aroma — Rose or Jasmine it is not (though many people do love the scent). It has to do with its fantastic healing potential. Helichrysum has an array of therapeutic effects, all supported by the science in its natural chemical makeup. Here’s a look at the marvel of healing found in the chemistry of Helichrysum…
Healing Muscles, Joints and Connective Tissue
Reducing pain and healing of the tissues of the body require several concurrent actions for the best results. No other oil manages to do so much all at once: Reduce inflammation, loosen stiff muscles and connective tissue, relieve pain and stimulate healing. Helichrysum italicum does it all; and while proponents of conventional medicine still claim the oil to be unproven, this doesn’t prevent one from experimenting, and reaching their own conclusions about its efficacy. The oil is considered one of the safest in aromatherapy — it is listed as ‘non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing’. The only known contraindication for the oil is refraining from use if one is using wafarin or similar blood thinners, as Helichrysum has anti-coagulant properties. Now here’s a review of what the aroma-scientists know about this exceptional essential oil.
Soothing Inflammation
A great many drugs today, including the most popular over-the-counter pharmaceutical medicines, are made to specifically reduce inflammation. Swollen, irritated tissue will tend to both HURT, and cause MORE INFLAMMATION — which of course HURTS MORE! And that’s just the surface of it — inflammation not only causes pain, but ages our body more quickly. Inflammation has been targeted by pain relieving drugs as well as anti-aging medicines. Curcumin, the extract of the spice Turmeric, has become a very popular dietary supplement to treat inflammation. Helichrysum essential oil is high in a related compounds also with strong anti-inflammatory activity: alpha-, beta- and gamma- curcumene. The essential oil can be made up of 10-25% curcumenes, depending on the region where the plant is grown (Serbian and Croatian varieties may have the highest values of curcumenes). One of the oil’s most important uses is the application during the initial stages of physical trauma, greatly reducing slow-healing hematomas from forming.
Getting Muscles to Let Go
The first place where the ’serotinum’ sub species shines is in the area of relieving tight muscles. Much back and neck pain, for example, is the result of the muscles being chronically cramped. Helicrysum contains a natural chemical called ‘neryl acetate’ which acts to relax these cramped muscles. Helichryum italicum essential oils contain in the range of 5% to 50% neryl acetate. This natural chemical is from a group of compounds called Esters, found in a great many relaxing essential oils — most notably that of Lavender, the most widely-studied and highly revered ‘relaxing’ essential oil.
The ’serotinum’ sub-species is nearly all grown on the island of Corsica (the island is well-known for its bounty of many high quality, therapeutic essential oils). The Corsican variety has the highest neryl acetate levels of all, in the range of 25-50%. Some aromatherapists believe this makes this Helichrysum type the most valuable for its more esoteric applications, that of relieving deep emotional wounds. And this may have a solid foundation, in that many therapies, such as yoga and massage, acknowledge that emotional trauma is often ‘held’ in the physical body. Releasing muscle and connective tissue tension (which can happen even on the smallest, cellular levels) is crucial to the healing process, as it allows the movement of damaged material OUT, and new healthy material IN.
Regenerative Effects
Helichrysum contains molecules regarded for their ability to signal our cells to heal and regenerate. These compound are called ‘di-ketones’, of which Helichrysum specifically contains several Italidiones. You’ll find the essential oil an ingredient in nearly every wound healing and scar reducing formula in aromatherapy. (It should not be used on open wounds due to its anticoagulant effects, but is suitable once an injury is no longer likely to bleed). These same regenerative di-ketones make the oil an excellent choice for all sorts of skin-care recipes; the regenerative action can be complemented by a carrier oil like Rosehip seed, whose carotene content also supports skin healing — these two oils together form the foundation of many anti-aging skin care blends.
Taking Care of Bruising
Helichrysum essential oil is called for at 100% strength in one particular use: preventing the formation of bruises and hematomas. When an impact injury occurs, one of the first physiological responses is the filling of the damaged tissues with fluid, and the blocking of further blood flow through the area. Blood already in the area will stagnate and turn dark, resulting in a bruise. This is a natural response to prevent us from causing further damage. However, it also slows the healing process. One ore more applications of the essential oil will prevent the initial swelling from occurring, and limit the formation of a bruise. This typically gets one ‘back into the game’ much more quickly, as many avid users who are also fitness addicts will attest to. Twist an ankle, apply some oil. Bump your head, do the same. Works every time!
Anecdotal Experiences Count!
The use of Helichrysum essential oil on the world stage of medicine has been very brief. While use in aromatherapy has been significant, the cross over into the greater world of natural health is only just happening. As a result, formal testing of its efficacy is limited. However, because the oil is so safe, its really worth a try to see if it works for you. The critics of natural health say over and over that so many plant medicines are ‘unproven’ — we counter that so many ‘proven’ medicines are actually dangerous, lack truly unbiased scientific backing, and don’t actually result in healing, but rather a temporary cessation of symptoms. A fairly small amount of Helichrysum essential oil will either give you the results you’re looking for or it won’t. MANY users HAVE reported excellent results: profound relief from back pain, neck pain, joint pain scar tissue tightness. Extreme sports enthusiasts have called it ‘the magic oil’ for its quick pain relief. If Helichrysum sounds like it may help you, there’s every reason to give this wonderful, effective, organic natural medicine a try!
Delightful organic and wildcrafted aromatherapy blends designed by Naturopath Tarah Cech.
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