Essential Oil of the Month: Helichrysum

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The name itself is derived from the Greek word helios meaning 'sun' and chrysos meaning 'gold'. The plant reflects the earth in its warm aroma and the sun in its golden flowers. Indeed, it has proved as valuable as gold in my personal experience.

Helichrysum is commonly known as Immortelle or Everlasting, the “flower that never fades.” This is due to the fact that the flowers’ delicious golden yellow color and comforting scent last long after it has been picked and dried.

Unrivaled in its regenerative effects, it is often used in high end skincare to smooth out signs of aging, scars, and other physical characteristics we incur while living our lives. Helichrysum is a healing and restorative powerhouse. It soothes inflammation, while also reducing pain with its analgesic properties. Immortelle is renowned for both its restorative properties and its effectiveness on scarred or damaged skin and is often used in the treatment of acne scars and inflamed blemishes. Immortelle oil is also known for reducing redness while restoring a healthy glow to skin by renewing the skin through detoxification and collagen production.

It is interesting to note that there are several other essential oils available distilled from other varieties of Helichrysum, particularly Helichrysum bracteiferum, Helichrysum gymnocephalum and Helichrysum splendidum. Each species of Helichrysum essential oil has very different aromatic and therapeutic properties, so it's important to ensure that you doublecheck the botanical name of the oil that you are working with.

Helichrysum Throuout History:

Helichrysum’s powers and properties have been valued since ancient times. Ancient Greeks considered it the symbol of love. It was reputed to heal the wounds of warriors and to clear the lungs. Both ancient Romans and Greeks decorated the statues of gods with wreaths of Helichrysum flowerheads, a practice mentioned by classic writers since the 7th century BCE. Its distinctive odor note was mentioned in the 1st century CE by Pliny the Elder, who, in his work Naturalis Historia, described it as not-at-all unpleasant and as being able to protect clothes from moths and that it resolves hardness and inflammation, relieves burns in local application, lumbar pain and snakebites.

According to the Odyssey (Homer), the hero of Greek mythology, Ulysses, was shipwrecked on an island. He eventually met a woman named Nausicaa, the beautiful daughter of the king of the Pheacians, who took in Odysseus by order of the goddess Athena. Her beauty secret? The oil of Helichrysum Italicum, of course!

Greek mythology also associates Immortelle with the god Apollo, who is said to sometimes wear a tiara of the golden flowers to remind everyone of his own immortality.

In today’s world we treasure Helichrysum for its anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, analgesic, and anticoagulant properties. In effect, it is good for pains, sprains, bruises, and inflammation. You may notice it in many expensive skincare products.