Immortelle essential oil, the “arnica” of aromatherapy

The yellow or Italian immortelle (Helichrysum italicum ssp italicum), also known as yellow perpetual or helichrysum, grows naturally in France (Mediterranean region and Corsica), Italy (Sicily, Sardinia) and Croatia mainly. We also find it in the Balkans, where it is cultivated. From it you get a highly aromatic essential oil with valuable properties and benefits for health, considered in aromatherapy one of the main analgesic and anti-wrinkle essential oils.

Plant It usually blooms from May to June. and it is especially aromatic. Its botanical name already gives us clues about the plant: Helichrysum comes from the Greek and means “golden sun”, while italics refers to the country, Italy, where it was first described.

Its common name, both immortelle and perpetual, is also very revealing: it refers to its flowers, which remain dry for a long time and they remain very aromatic even after cutting.

Yellow immortelle, an ancient beauty secret

the plant is Known since the Grego-Roman era. In Greek mythology, the immortelle was one of the many attributes of the god apollogod of the Sun (Helios), who to symbolize his immortality wore a crown composed of the flowers of this plant.

In the Odyssey, they say that the beauty secret of the beautiful Nausícaa it was an immortelle oil.

The immortelle has also been used to adorn the heads of statues of Greek deities. Theophrastus, Pliny and Dioscorides They attributed to the plant the virtue of bringing fame and glory.

Just over twenty years ago, the yellow evergreen aroused the interest of distillers in Corsica. On this French island (where they call it “murza”), it was considered an invasive weed and lused as a bactericide during the Spanish flu epidemic and to burn the hairs of the pigs after the slaughter. They also already knew the plant for its anti-traumatic properties and applied it to animal fractures.

On this island we find the immortelle Originally from the Balaña regionbeing the reference on which they have subsequently relied to cultivate the plant.

Properties of immortelle oil

The biochemical composition of the essential oil of the Italian immortelle native to the Balaña region is very specific and unique and it is what gives this essential oil its very interesting therapeutic properties. It is basically distinguished by its estersand specifically neryl acetate, and the ketonesespecially the Italian ones.

It is common to believe that yellow evergreens from other places produce the same essential oil and have the same therapeutic properties. The truth is that it is not so. When buying an essential oil of yellow immortelle, it is very It is important to ensure that it conformsand whenever possible it should be from Corsica.

The essential oil of yellow immortelle is particularly appreciated for its anticoagulant properties. It is used to prevent the appearance of bruises or to eliminate them. Some say that the immortelle is the arnica of aromatherapy. It is also a powerful anti-pain, especially useful in case of sprains, fractures and also in arthritic and arthritic pain. Another of its benefits is the skin care. It has exceptional healing and regenerative properties, which is why it is included in firming aromatherapy formulas and to treat cellulite.

The aroma of immortelle essential oil is very unique and difficult to describe. In an attentive nose we can observe its great aromatic richness. We can say that it has a luminous, solar, warm, rich and very fine aroma. It can evoke the color yellow or orange, also dry grass and sweet notes like honey.

How to use the yellow immortelle

Immortelle essential oil will be very useful in the following situations:

1. For bumps and bruises

Yellow immortelle essential oil allows to avoid the appearance of bruises if we apply it immediately after suffering a blow. It also facilitates the removal of bruises when they have already appeared.

How to apply it:

In adults: In these cases it is possible to use pure essential oil. 1 drop is applied to the area to be treated and penetrated with a gentle massage.In children from 12 months: We will have to use the essential oil diluted with vegetable oil. The proportion for this type of application in children is 30% essential oil and 70% vegetable oil.

2. For sprains and joint pain

The essential oil of yellow immortelle is of great help whether we have sprained ourselves or suffer from joint pain. In both cases we will use it diluted:

dilutes 1 drop of essential oil with 6 drops of arnica oil and apply to the affected area. Reapply after about 20 minutes and it would even improve remarkably (maximum 4 applications in a row).

3. To heal wounds

Yellow immortelle essential oil is an excellent healing agent. It can be applied even on open wounds.

dilutes 1 drop of essential oil with 8 drops of rosehip vegetable oil.Apply to the affected area 3 times a day.

4. To prevent or eliminate wrinkles

Yellow immortelle essential oil is a luxury anti-aging active. Use it together with an immortelle oleate, adding essential oil in up to 2% of the total volume of oleate. For example, for 30 ml of oleate we will put 15 drops of essential oil.

you apply 3 or 4 drops on the face In the morning and evening.

If you can’t find immortelle oleateyou can use a combination of these vegetable oils instead: borage, argan, evening primrose, pomegranate, rosehip.

5. In Raynaud’s disease

Raynaud’s disease is characterized by symptoms such as feeling cold in the extremities, with a change in skin color caused by vasoconstriction.

Yellow immortelle essential oil is very useful in case of suffering from this disease. Ideally it we will combine with the essential oil of rosemary qt cineole for an even optimal result:

We apply some 6 to 8 drops on the extremities3 to 4 times per day.

Precautions and contraindications

Yellow immortelle essential oil can be used from the second trimester of pregnancy and in children from 12 months as long as the indicated dosages are respected.

The people taking blood thinners should avoid prolonged use of this essential oil.