What is helichrysum?

Helichrysum is a plant native to Europe and Asia, with over 600 species. The essential oil extracted from the Helichrysum italicum plant, also known as the "immortelle" plant, is used for medicinal purposes.

How does it work?

Helichrysum oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and analgesic properties. The oil can reduce inflammation and protect the skin against oxidative stress. It can also improve blood circulation and speed up the healing of wounds.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The essential oil of helichrysum contains several active ingredients, including neryl acetate, alpha-pinene, and gamma-curcumene. Neryl acetate has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, while alpha-pinene has antimicrobial properties.

What forms does it come in?

Helichrysum is available in essential oil form and as a supplement in capsules.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Helichrysum has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. The Greeks and Romans used it to treat wounds and respiratory infections.

What does Helichrysum Essential Oil help with?

Helichrysum oil is steam-distilled from the flowers of Helichrysum italicum. This small yellow plant grows around the Mediterranean. The oil is costly, and sellers often call it 'liquid gold'.

The library holds no human trial for any use listed below. What we have is tradition, lab work and user reports. The overall grade on file is D, so read every line with care.

• Bruises and knocks to the skin
  Not yet tested in people — traditional use and user reports; lab work on the oil's compounds, no human trial on file. This is the oil's best known use. Users report that bruises look lighter within a day or two of steady use. Lab work credits compounds called italidiones, which may help the body take back pooled blood and mend tiny capillaries.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Sore muscles and stiff joints
  Not yet tested in people — laboratory anti-inflammatory work only; no human trial on file. Many people add it to a post-workout massage blend. Others rub it on for long-term, low-grade joint aches. In lab studies its compounds damped inflammation signals, but no human trial of this use is on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Red, irritated or reactive skin
  Not yet tested in people — laboratory anti-inflammatory work plus tradition; no human trial on file. People use it on flushed or irritated skin, including rosacea, eczema flares and contact dermatitis. Lab studies show anti-inflammatory activity. No human study on file has tested it on these skin problems, or compared it with steroid creams.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Nerve pain, tingling and burning
  Not yet tested in people — early laboratory research plus long traditional use; no human trial on file. Tradition uses it for tingling, burning or shooting pain. Early lab research suggests its compounds may calm overactive nerve signals and ease inflammation around nerve tissue. Human studies of this use are not on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Wounds and scars
  Not yet tested in people — traditional medicine use plus lab antimicrobial and tissue-repair work; no human trial on file. Mediterranean tradition used it to help wounds close cleanly and scars fade. Lab work shows antimicrobial action and effects on tissue-repair cells. Whether it keeps scars from turning raised or dark has not been tested in people.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Fine lines, dull tone and sun-damaged skin
  Not yet tested in people — cosmetic use and lab antioxidant work; no human trial on file. It is a favourite in high-end anti-aging skincare, hence the name 'liquid gold'. Fans report softer fine lines, more stretch in the skin, a brighter tone and lighter sun spots. This rests on lab antioxidant work and user reports, not on trials in people.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Tension headaches
  Not yet tested in people — traditional and aromatic use only; no human trial on file. Some people dilute it and rub it on the temples, forehead or back of the neck. Others simply breathe in the scent, which many call calming and grounding. No human trial on file has tested it for headaches.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Stuffy nose and chest congestion
  Not yet tested in people — traditional Mediterranean use only; no human trial on file. In old Mediterranean practice this was a go-to oil for colds and coughs. People steam it or diffuse it, as a gentler stand-in for eucalyptus or peppermint. No human study on file has measured breathing or congestion.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1
• Stress and low mood
  Not yet tested in people — traditional aromatherapy use; general scent-and-mood science, not a trial of this oil. The scent is warm, honey-like and a little herbal. Many people find it calming in a diffuser or during massage. The link between scent, the limbic system and mood is well established in general, but this oil has not been trialled for stress.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1

What Helichrysum Essential Oil has not been shown to do

• No human study on file shows it makes bruises clear faster than leaving them alone.
• It has not been shown to work in place of steroid creams for eczema or dermatitis.
• It has not been shown to fade sun spots or even out pigment in any human study on file.
• It has not been shown to treat the cause of nerve damage, such as diabetes.
• It has not been shown to prevent infection in deep or dirty wounds, which need medical care.
• It has not been shown to help asthma, chest infections or any lung disease.
• It has not been shown to treat an anxiety disorder or depression.
• No study on file supports swallowing the oil for any of these uses.

How to read this:

Grades run from A to D, plus 'insufficient'. A means several good human trials agree. Insufficient means no human study is on file, so the case rests on lab work, tradition or reports. Every use on this page is graded insufficient, and the oil's overall grade is D. These are options people try, not advice and not a treatment plan. Essential oils are strong and are usually diluted before skin use. Talk with your doctor first, and read the page on who should avoid it.

What does it help prevent?

There is no known preventative effect of helichrysum.

Which foods are rich in helichrysum?

Helichrysum is not found in food.

What are possible side effects of helichrysum?

Helichrysum is generally considered safe when used as directed. Possible side effects include skin irritation and allergic reactions.

What’s the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of helichrysum oil is 1-2 drops, diluted in a carrier oil and applied topically. The recommended daily dose of helichrysum capsules is 300-600mg per day.

How many days does it take for helichrysum to work?

The time it takes for helichrysum to work depends on the condition being treated and the individual's response. Topical application of helichrysum oil may provide immediate relief for some symptoms, while other conditions may require several weeks of use for noticeable improvement.

What time of day is best to take helichrysum?

There is no specific time of day recommended for taking helichrysum. It can be applied topically as needed or taken orally with meals.

Is it best to take helichrysum with or without food?

Helichrysum capsules should be taken with food to improve absorption and reduce the risk of digestive upset. Topical application of helichrysum oil does not require food.