| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | acetate, a monoterpenoid ester with distinct, relaxing |
| Helichrysum Essential Oil - A Magic Bullet for Sports | | | | effects that can reduce tension of the tissues in the |
| Injuries, Bruises and Tissue Repair: A Primer for Active | | | | area of the injury. The third major component are the |
| Health and Fitness Readers. | | | | regenerative di-ketones, found in significant quantities |
| 'Aromatherapy' has become an extremely misleading | | | | only in Helichrysum oil. "The pain- reducing, analgesic, |
| term in America; the position of 'Aromatherapist' was | | | | and regenerative effect of everlasting (Helichrysum) is |
| ranked as one of the top 100 'BS' up-and-coming new | | | | unique: If applied in time, it prevents hemorrhaging. It is |
| jobs recently on CNN - and most folks think | | | | also very effective for joint pain..." - Dr. Kurt |
| 'Aroma'-therapy is all about smelling something pretty | | | | Schnaubelt, Advanced Aromatherapy. |
| so you can feel better. Much of the rest of the | | | | In 'Medical Aromatherapy', Dr. Schnaubelt indicates that |
| 'civilized' world relies on plants, and their essential oils, | | | | the effects of many essential oils cannot be explained |
| as effective medicines for a wide varieties of medical | | | | completely by the actions of their individual |
| conditions. Aside from the fact that many studies have | | | | components - many oils' effects are greater than the |
| shown that simply smelling natural aromatic oils can | | | | sum of their parts. The synergy of the components in |
| improve test scores, improve your mood and improve | | | | Helichrysum produces a particularly sensational healing |
| your sleep, there is a LOT more to aromatherapy than | | | | result. A recent user of the oil, who had been a |
| just good scents - and here we'll have a look at a | | | | professional triathlete, then cyclist, then 'casual' |
| very practical side of using essential oils - the speeding | | | | marathon runner, was having chronic pain in an achilles |
| of healing of strains, sprains and sports injuries with | | | | tendon. Overuse - and perhaps a stiff clutch on an old |
| Helichrysum essential oil. | | | | car - lead him to believe that despite excellent fitness, |
| At it's basis, aromatherapy deals with the use of | | | | he wound not be able to take part in an upcoming |
| volatile aromatic compounds naturally produced by the | | | | major marathon. The injury hurt every time he ran; he |
| majority of plant species on earth. The difference in | | | | had been a proponent of alternative therapies for |
| the chemical makeup of these 'essential oils' varies | | | | many years, with some success using DMSO for |
| tremendously, and so does the biological effect of | | | | tendon-related inflammation. He had not found DMSO |
| each class of natural aromatic compound. Many are | | | | (often used on racehorses for similar injuries) to be as |
| known as strongly anti-bacterial or anti-viral, others | | | | effective on chronic injuries as acute ones, and this |
| stimulate tissue regeneration, others will reduce | | | | achilles issue was no different - nothing was helping |
| inflammation, some are analgesic (pain relieving), while | | | | fast enough where he knew he could make the race. |
| still others enhance circulation (and the list goes on!). | | | | For the first time, he gave Helichrysum essential oil a |
| The individual chemical makeup of the essential oil | | | | try, applying undiluted (Helichrysum is very well |
| from each plant give that oil it's healing characteristics. | | | | tolerated this way) to the area twice daily. Within two |
| The makeup of one particular essential oil, that distilled | | | | days, he was running without pain, and ran a personal |
| from the flowers of Helichrysum Italicum, includes a | | | | best at the marathon event. |
| very synergistic combination of compounds that are | | | | In this instance, the application of Helichrysum reduced |
| known to be anti-hematomatic (active against blood | | | | pain (and likely inflammation as well) in the area, and |
| clots), tissue regenerative, free-radical scavenging | | | | supported regeneration of the damaged tendon |
| (anti-oxidant), and anti-inflammatory. | | | | tissues. The essential oil should prove just as effective |
| Before approaching it's possible effects of Helichrysum | | | | with acute injuries as well - it's noted ability to reduce |
| essential oil on sprains, strains and other sports injuries, | | | | the clotting of blood, along with it's anti-inflammatory |
| let's look at the root of these painful conditions. Take, | | | | and tissue regenerative properties give it a seemingly |
| for example, a an ankle twisted in a basketball game - | | | | complete natural arsenal to speed healing in most |
| what has happened physiologically? Connective | | | | common sport-related injuries. In fact, this could extend |
| tissues (tendons and ligaments) have been stretched | | | | to a very wide variety of trauma injuries, though great |
| beyond their normal lengths; these tissue have | | | | care should be taken to use as an adjunct to proper |
| suffered 'micro tears', which is damage to the actual | | | | allopathic medical care in such cases. |
| structure of the cells of the connective tissue. Some | | | | Helichrysum is a somewhat rare and costly oil. It has |
| of these cells are so damaged that they die, and need | | | | been noted in the literature that only pure essential oil |
| to be re-grown. There is often additional swelling and | | | | of Helichrysum italicum flowers will have this |
| bruising involved, which is generally the leaking of blood | | | | combination of effects. If you decide to try the oil for |
| from damaged capillaries into intracellular space. This | | | | yourself, be sure of your source, and that the species |
| results in a loss of blood supply to surrounding cells, | | | | is correct (there are other Helichrysum varieties, look |
| and blockage of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products | | | | for ones known as 'Everlasting' or 'Immortelle' - these |
| moving to and from those cells. This in fact, leads to | | | | are synonyms for the 'italicum' variety). For minor |
| cellular damage beyond the primary injury of the | | | | injuries, apply a thin film directly to the area one or |
| connective tissue cells. More cell death occurs here, | | | | more times a day. The oil will absorb directly into the |
| not only directly from the loss of nutrient/waste | | | | skin, and does not cause any reaction or sensitivity for |
| exchange for these cells, but also due to an increase | | | | most individuals. The oil can be applied directly for |
| in oxidative radical activity. The greater the amount of | | | | more serious injuries as well, though this should be |
| 'secondary' injury which occurs lengthens the time to | | | | done only in conjunction with professional medical care. |
| recovery - here, one can see why applying ice to an | | | | Continue to apply until no longer needed - application to |
| injury soon after it occurs can speed healing - it | | | | broken tissue is fine, and in fact the oil has been used |
| reduces the amount of blood that clots (bruises) in an | | | | to speed skin healing and reduce scar formation. A |
| area, and lowers the metabolic activity (and oxidative | | | | base oil may also be used - Helichrysum combines |
| radical production) in cells with a loss of nutrient supply | | | | well with Hazelnut and Rosehip seed oils, and can be |
| - therefore, less secondary cell damage and death | | | | diluted down to 5% of the total solution and still be |
| accompanies the primary injury. | | | | effective. In any case, be aware of how your body is |
| Enter the activity of Helichrysum essential oil. It has a | | | | responding, and consult a medical professional |
| high percentage of anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene | | | | whenever there is any question about your healing |
| hydrocarbons - this compound acts by dissipating free | | | | program. |
| radicals. The oil's other major components include neryl | | | | |