Despite the image of aromatherapy as having no scientific basis in the United States, the use of pure, therapeutic-grade 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 bruising), stimulate tissue regeneration, act as a powerful antioxidant, and may reduce inflammation. This combination of effects helps a lot with injuries like strains and sprains, bruises, tendonitis and the like. Any dedicated athlete would greatly appreciate such an effective and non-toxic alternative healing remedy!

From a scientific point of view, alternative medicine aspects of aromatherapy are concerned 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 applying each phytochemical alone. A great example is the combination of chemical compounds in Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil: it has been called an “aromatherapist’s designer oil” due to its blend of antiviral, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory components, as well as a pleasant aroma, that 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, clear clotted blood, relax tissues, and reduce pain.

Before we address the potential 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 again. There is often additional swelling and bruising involved, which is usually the leakage of blood from damaged capillaries into the intracellular space. This results in a loss of blood supply to surrounding cells and the 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. Here more cell death occurs, 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 it takes to recover; Here, one can see why icing an injury soon after it occurs can speed healing: it reduces the amount of blood that coagulates (bruises) in an area, and reduces metabolic activity (and oxidative radical production). 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, just after a workout that has led to a chronic injury flare). The antioxidant properties also prevent further cell damage from occurring. The pain-relieving effects are a welcome addition, possibly reducing the need for oral pain relievers of questionable toxicity. Finally, the tissue regenerative effects help 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 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 Achilles tendon pain. Overuse, 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 compete in the next big marathon. The injury hurt every time he ran; he had been an advocate of alternative therapies for many years, with some success using DMSO for tendon-related inflammation. I hadn’t found DMSO (often used on racehorses for similar injuries) to be as effective on chronic as acute injuries, and this Achilles problem was no different: nothing was helping fast enough when I knew I could do the right thing. 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 prove just as effective with acute injuries as well: its remarkable ability to reduce blood clotting, along with its anti-inflammatory and tissue regenerative properties, give you a seemingly complete natural arsenal to speed healing in most conditions. common sports-related problems. injury. In fact, this could be extended to a very wide variety of traumatic injuries, although great care should be taken when 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, although it is of course not a substitute for proper medical attention in any way. The use of the oil in driving with a 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. A thin layer application 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, please be aware of how your body responds to the treatment and consult a medical professional if you have any questions or concerns about its use. In summary, Helichrysum italicum essential oil is a mild topical treatment that can speed healing of many common sports-related injuries. It is considered a very safe oil and is worth a try if you need that support.