Everlasting Essential Oil - The Magic of Helichrysum for Tissue Repair

Most dedicated athletes are willing to try anything within reason (a very flexible term in itself) to overcome injury so that they may resume training and/or competition. 'Rest' is never what they want to hear - they want to get right back into the swing of things. The more common injuries - tendonitis, strains and sprains, and variations of these conditions are found in many sports; they typically include inflammation and some sort of tissue damage. Programs for relief are fairly well-known; they each have their plusses and minuses.

Rarely, however, do athletes or trainers consider the possibilities of 'aroma'-therapy. The name itself presents a very 'touchy-feel' type of medicine, not considered strong enough or truly effective enough for practical application. However, what aromatherapy is really working with are complex phytochemical compounds with a broad spectrum of interaction with human biochemistry. It is under these auspices that athletes and trainers may investigate the usefulness of Helichrysum Italicum essential oil.

From a scientific standpoint, the alternative medicine aspects of aromatherapy deals with the interaction of a wide array of natural plant chemicals with human physiological systems. Each aromatherapy essential oil is many, sometimes hundreds, of individual chemical constituents. These often work in concert to provide a synergy of effects - a result that is greater than the application of each phytochemical alone. A great example is the combination of chemical compounds in Eucalyptus essential oil var. 'Radiata' - it has been called an 'aromatherapists designer oil' because of it's mix of anti-viral, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory components, plus a pleasing aroma, make it helpful in treating certain types of cold symptoms. Helichrysum oil contains a great synergy in it's own way - it's constituent chemicals are known to reduce inflammation, signal tissue regeneration, remove clotted blood, relax tissues and reduce pain.

The physiological basis of many sports injuries, both chronic - from overuse - and acute, from impacts, twists and strains, have many similarities. There is usually some cells that have suffered structural damage - some enough that the cells will die and need to be re-grown. There is typically inflammation, which can be a means of the cells protecting themselves, or a result of fluid leakage into the intracellular space. This fluid can be blood from damaged capillaries, and appear as bruising; either way swelling will prevent proper perfusion - or nutrient and waste exchange - at the damaged site. This can lead to secondary damage - where cells around the originally damaged tendon, ligament or muscle cells are also becoming damaged by lack of oxygenation or nutrient supply. Further damage can occur through the over-production of free-radicals under such conditions. One can imagine the phenomenon of ice being applied immediately after an injury leading to a significantly shorter (and less painful) recovery - a long wait increases the possibility of secondary damage. The ice prevents the secondary damage associated with swelling and oxidation from occurring.

The synergistic effects of the compounds found in Helichrysum oil address the physiological processes involved in such injuries directly. First the anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting effects reduce the secondary damage (occurring in acute injuries, or, for example, just after a training bout that has made a chronic injury flare-up). The anti-oxidant properties also prevent further cellular damage from occurring. The analgesic effects are a nice addition, possibly reducing the need for oral pain-relief medications of questionable toxicity. Finally, the tissue regenerating effects help re-grow all damaged tissue, and can even help prevent scarring from cuts and open wounds.

A recent user of the oil, who had been a professional triathlete, then cyclist, then 'casual' marathon runner, was having chronic pain in an achilles tendon. Overuse lead him to believe that he wound not be able to take part in an upcoming major marathon. The injury hurt every time he ran; he had been a proponent of alternative therapies for many years, though nothing was helping fast enough where he knew he could make the race. For the first time, he gave Helichrysum essential oil a try, applying undiluted (Helichrysum is very well tolerated this way) to the area twice daily. Within two days, he was running without pain, and ran a personal best at the marathon event.

In this instance, the application of Helichrysum reduced pain (and likely inflammation as well) in the area, and supported regeneration of the damaged tendon tissues. The essential oil should prove just as effective with acute injuries as well - it's noted ability to reduce the clotting of blood, along with it's anti-inflammatory and tissue regenerative properties give it a seemingly complete natural arsenal to speed healing in most common sport-related injuries. In fact, this could extend to a very wide variety of trauma injuries, though great care should be taken to use as an adjunct to proper allopathic medical care in such cases.

Helichrysum is a somewhat rare and costly oil. It has been noted in the literature that only pure essential oil of Helichrysum italicum flowers will have this combination of effects. If you decide to try the oil for yourself, be sure of your source, and that the species is correct (there are other Helichrysum varieties, look for ones known as 'Everlasting' or 'Immortelle' - these are synonyms for the 'italicum' variety). For minor injuries, apply a thin film directly to the area one or more times a day. The oil will absorb directly into the skin, and does not cause any reaction or sensitivity for most individuals. The oil can be applied directly for more serious injuries as well, though this should be done only in conjunction with professional medical care. Continue to apply until no longer needed - application to broken tissue is fine, and in fact the oil has been used to speed skin healing and reduce scar formation. A base oil may also be used - Helichrysum combines well with Hazelnut and Rosehip seed oils, and can be diluted down to 5% of the total solution and still be effective. In any case, be aware of how your body is responding, and consult a medical professional whenever there is any question about your healing program.

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The author is a degreed natural health professional and wellness councelor. More information on essential oils is available through her website at www.anandaapothecary.com.