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 Helichrysum Essential
Oil ProfileThe word Helichrysum is derived from the Greek "helios" meaning sun and "chrysos" meaning gold, referring to the color of many of the flowers of species in this genus. Helichrysum as a herb has been revered since the time of Homer and the ancient Greeks for its great wound healing ability. Twenty years ago French aroma therapists started to distill several variations and investigated possible therapeutic uses of this oil. The Helichrysum Italicum plant grows wild in Mediterranean regions, preferring high altitudes and dry, sunny spots. In the eastern part of the Mediterranean a reddish oil is distilled, whereas in the French and Italian Alps a blue-green oil is distilled. After having experimented with many types of everlasting oils, aroma therapists found one variety, the Helichrysum italicum variation serotinum, with absolutely extraordinary healing qualities, but only if the oil is distilled from the flower alone. Helichrysum is more anti- inflammatory than German Chamomile, more tissue regenerating than Lavender, more cicatrisant (helping the formation of scar tissue) than Frankincense. Along with Frankincense, Myrrh, Spikenard, and Rose, Helichrysum ranks as one of the most ancient and valuable healing substances. It heals physical and emotional scarring, it opens the heart ....more |
| Botanical Name: | Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don fil. |
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| Family: | Asteraceae |
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| Synonyms: | Everlasting, immortelle, imortelle, St Johns herb. |
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| See Also: | |
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| Parts Used: | Fresh flowering tops |
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| Extraction Method: | Steam Distillation |
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| Colour: | Pale yellow transparent liquid |
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| Consistency: | Thin |
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| Aroma Description: | Rich, honey-like, slightly leafy. |
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| Historical Uses: | |
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| Modern Uses: | Used for respiratory complaints such as asthma chronic bronchitis and whooping coughs; also for headaches, migraine, liver ailments and skin conditions including burns, allergies, and psoriasis. Anti-allergenic, anti-flammatory, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, hepatic, nervine. |
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| Cautions: | Non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing. . |
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| Main Constituents, % |
| Nerol |
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| Neryl acetate |
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| Geraniol |
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| Pinene |
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| Linalol |
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| Isovaleric aldehyde |
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| Furfurol |
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| Eugenol |
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| Others |
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| Physical Actions |
| Anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitussive, antiseptic, astringent, cicatrizant, diuretic, expectorant, fungicidal, hepatic, nervine. |
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| Toxicity |
LD50 - (oral) rat >not known. (dermal) rabbit >not known.
Irritation/Sensitisation - Not available
Phototoxicity - Not available
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