The therapeutic properties and functions of Helichrysum essential oil are ever-expanding. Since the dawn of society, this medicinal plant has been used across the world to promote bodily health and treat conditions. It has been said that during the Middle Ages, Helichrysum was used to treat sickness and the flowers were offered to the gods to pay tribute. The oil of helichrysum plant has been a core medicine in Mediterranean Cultures for many centuries, especially in the Balkans and Corsica.

The impressive potential of Helichrysum essential oil comes from its natural antibiotic, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal properties. Helichrysum oil may improve flare-ups in skin conditions including acne, eczema, psoriasis. Immortelle may be used to aid in healing infections, wounds, to reduce inflammation or to reduce an allergenic response. Soothing on the stomach, helichrysum oil may be considered to for indigestion or upset stomach. This is a super healing essence!

I will touch upon on some of the more common and functional uses of Helichrysum essential oil. As an antibiotic and anti-fungal it is extremely useful for speeding up the healing of wounds, bruises, skin infections and other skin conditions. Experiments show that when the oil is placed on a red or irritated patch of skin one of two things can happen – the area improves, or stays the same. It never has negative affects unless the user has an allergy to Immortelle oil which is very rare. A very important essential oil to have in your personal medicine chest, for sure!

When rubbed into the skin with a carrier oil, Helichrysum can relieve inflammation and speed healing of hives, blemishes, rashes, shaving irritation, poison ivy. Heli even has potential to minimize scarring (most effective shortly after injury). When Immortelle is blended with organic Lavender oil, it can soothe itching and aid in repairing sun burnt skin, especially when blended with Tamanu (Foraha) oil. Consider massaging helichrysum over the chest during onset of a cough or cold to stimulate the immune system or use the palm inhalation method to inhale into the lungs.

As a adjunctive therapy options against candida (an overpopulation of a certain type of fungus in the digestive system which affects a large portion of the U.S) Helichrysum is super effective. There are special compounds in the oil of this plant called acetophenones, phloroglucinols, and various terpenoids which have been shown to have anti-candida properties. In clinical studies these compounds have proven to “soothe the digestive tract, fight inflammation in the gut lining” and speed up recovery from Candida.

Helichrysum essential oil exhibits free radical scavenging activity and inflammatory enzyme inhibition which restores the protective and regenerative properties of cellular tissues making it a powerful medicine in tissue regeneration. Fuzheng therapy is a type of auto-immune disease and tumor treatment that originates from Chinese medicine. Fuzheng therapy features Helichrysum to eliminate fire toxins (responsible for tumors, cancer etc…) in the body. The plant oil does this by strengthening the body’s ability to distinguish “self from non-self, and thus to attack what is foreign” (Schnaubelt, p. 190).

As a final note, Immortelle oil helps to detoxify and support the kidneys and liver. Thus, when blended with lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit and rubbed topically over the lower abdomen, it may aid in flushing the system or built up toxins, and reduce the risk of kidney stones. Always be aware that these citrus oils should be diluted before applying to the skin and can cause a phototoxic reaction when exposed to the sunlight (stay out of direct sunlight when applying citrus oils).