Despite the image of aromatherapy as lacking in scientific basis in the United States, the use of therapeutic-grade pure essential oil for medical applications is common in much of Europe. The essential oil distilled from the flowers of Helichrysum Italicum is well known for its wide range of actions, which can help heal many common sports-related injuries. Compounds in the essential oil are known to prevent and relieve blood clotting (useful for bruises), stimulate tissue regeneration, act as a powerful antioxidant, and can reduce inflammation. This combination of effects helps a lot with injuries like strains and sprains, bruises, tendinitis and the like. Any dedicated athlete would greatly appreciate such an effective and non-toxic alternative healing remedy!

From a scientific point of view, the alternative medicine aspects of aromatherapy deal with the interaction of a wide range of naturally occurring plant chemicals with human physiological systems. Each essential oil is many, sometimes hundreds, of individual chemical constituents. These often work together 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 Radiata essential oil: it has been called an “aromatherapists’ designer oil” due to its blend of antiviral, expectorant and anti-inflammatory components, plus a pleasant aroma, which make it useful . in the treatment of certain types of cold symptoms. Helichrysum Italicum contains great synergy in its own way: its chemical constituents are known to reduce inflammation, signal tissue regeneration, remove coagulated blood, relax tissues and reduce pain.

Before we address the possible effects of Helichrysum essential oil on sprains, strains, and other sports injuries, let’s look at the root of these painful conditions. Take, for example, a sprained ankle in a basketball game: what has happened physiologically? Connective tissues (tendons and ligaments) have been stretched beyond their normal length; these tissues have suffered ‘microtears’, which is damage to the actual structure of the connective tissue cells. Some of these cells are so damaged that they die and need to grow back. There is often additional swelling and bruising involved, which is usually blood leakage from damaged capillaries into the intracellular space. This results in a loss of blood supply to surrounding cells and blockage of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products moving to and from those cells. This, in fact, leads to cell damage beyond the primary injury to connective tissue cells. More cell death occurs here, not only directly from the loss of nutrient/waste exchange for these cells, but also due to an increase in oxidative radical activity. The greater the amount of ‘secondary’ injury that occurs, the longer the recovery time; here, one can see why applying ice to an injury soon after it occurs can speed healing: it reduces the amount of blood that clots (bruises) in an area, and reduces metabolic activity (and the production of oxidative radicals) in cells with a loss of nutrient supply; therefore, less secondary cell damage and death accompany the primary injury.

The synergistic effects of the compounds found in Helichrysum oil directly address the physiological processes involved in such injuries. First, the anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effects reduce secondary damage (which occurs in acute injuries or, for example, right after a workout that has caused a flare-up of chronic injury). The antioxidant properties also prevent further cell damage from occurring. The analgesic effects are a welcome addition, possibly reducing the need for oral analgesics of questionable toxicity. Finally, the tissue regeneration effects help to regrow all damaged tissue and can even help prevent scarring from cuts and open wounds.

In ‘Medical Aromatherapy’, Dr. Schnaubelt indicates that the effects of many essential oils cannot be fully explained by the actions of their individual components; the effects of many oils are greater than the sum of their parts. The synergy of the Helichrysum components produces a particularly sensational healing result. A recent user of the oil, who had been a professional triathlete, then a cyclist, then a ‘casual’ marathon runner, had chronic pain in his Achilles tendon. Excessive use, and perhaps a stiff clutch in an old car, led him to believe that, despite his excellent physical condition, he would not be able to participate in the next big marathon. The injury hurt every time he ran; he had been a proponent of alternative therapies for many years, with some success using DMSO for tendon-related inflammation. He hadn’t found DMSO (often used on racehorses for similar injuries) to be as effective on chronic injuries as it was on acute ones, and this Achilles problem was no different: nothing was helping fast enough when he knew he could do the trick. career. For the first time, he tried Helichrysum essential oil, applying it undiluted (Helichrysum is very well tolerated this way) to the area twice a day. Within two days, he was running pain-free and achieved his personal best in the marathon event.

In this case, the application of Helichrysum reduced the pain (and probably also the inflammation) in the area and supported the regeneration of the damaged tendon tissues. The essential oil should also be just as effective with acute injuries: its remarkable ability to reduce blood clotting, along with its anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerating properties, give you a seemingly complete natural arsenal to speed healing in most injuries. sport-related cases. injuries. Indeed, this could be extended to a very wide variety of traumatic injuries, although great care must be taken in using it as an adjunct to appropriate allopathic medical care in such cases.

If you decide to try the oil yourself, be sure of its origin and that the variety is the correct one discussed here. The oil is appropriate for a wide range of injuries, from minor to major, though of course it is not a substitute for proper medical care in any way. The use of oil while driving with prescribed therapy should be discussed with your doctor. The literature states that the oil is very well tolerated and can be applied directly to the skin undiluted. Application of a thin layer several times a day is best, as soon as chronic pain is noted or an acute injury occurs. The oil can be used on broken or damaged skin; in fact, it is included in formulas to reduce scar formation along with rosehip and hazelnut oils (a 5% dilution of Helichrysum can be used in a 50/50 mix of these two base oils to support wound healing) ). As with any therapy, be aware of how your body responds to treatment and consult a medical professional if you have any questions or concerns about its use. In short, Helichrysum italicum essential oil is a gentle topical treatment that can speed the healing of many common sports-related injuries. It is considered a very safe oil and is worth a try if you need that support.