Helichrysum: The “Everlasting” Oil for Skin, Bruising & Tissue Support
Let’s take a closer look at Helichrysum italicum—an extraordinary plant with a long history of use for supporting the skin and the body’s natural healing and repair processes.
This highly fragrant plant grows up to about 20 inches tall and produces beautiful golden-yellow flowers that retain their color even after they’ve been dried. That characteristic helped give Helichrysum italicum its romantic common names: Everlasting and Immortelle.
It’s also sometimes called the Curry Plant, but honestly, that name takes a little of the romance out of it for me, so I tend to stick with Everlasting!
Helichrysum belongs to the botanical family Asteraceae (Compositae)—the daisy family. It thrives in hot, sunny climates and prefers dry, rocky, sandy soil. In the plant world, you could say Helichrysum is one tough cookie. It can flourish in places where many other plants simply can’t.
And I love it for that, too.
What Makes Helichrysum Essential Oil So Interesting?
The aerial parts of the plant are distilled to produce an essential oil with a distinctive warm, spicy and herbaceous aroma.
According to Ayurvedic tradition, Helichrysum is considered balancing to all three doshas—Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Helichrysum italicum essential oil is produced in several parts of the world, including Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and France. Croatian Helichrysum italicum is particularly highly regarded by many in the aromatherapy community, and Croatia is one of the primary regions where Young Living grows this remarkable plant.
But what really makes this oil fascinating is its chemistry.
The biochemical composition of Helichrysum italicum can include significant amounts of esters such as neryl acetate, along with sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. It also contains some particularly interesting compounds known as diketones—including italidiones.
These constituents are part of the reason Helichrysum has become so highly valued for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and tissue-regenerating properties.
And that brings us to what Helichrysum may be most famous for:
Bruises, Hematomas & Traumatized Tissue
Helichrysum italicum has earned a reputation as a remarkably effective oil for bruising and hematomas.
I have personally experienced how quickly undiluted Helichrysum can help stop minor bleeding when applied to fresh wounds, and I have seen how effectively it supports the body's natural wound-healing process.
But bruising is where this oil really shines.
Helichrysum is frequently described in aromatherapy literature as one of the strongest natural anti-hematoma agents available. If you’ve ever used it immediately following a bump, fall or other trauma to the tissues, you probably understand why it has earned that reputation.
Timing matters.
When possible, Helichrysum should be applied to the traumatized area right away. Immediate application may help minimize the development of a hematoma and support the body's natural process of clearing the familiar black-and-blue discoloration that follows tissue trauma.
It’s truly unlike any other oil I’ve used for this purpose—and it may also provide welcome soothing and pain-relieving support to the affected area.
One of my favorite combinations for fresh bruising and hematomas is Helichrysum essential oil with Tamanu oil.
Helichrysum for Red, Irritated & Inflamed Skin
Helichrysum is also highly valued for rosacea and other inflammatory skin concerns.
Redness, flushing, acne, dermatitis, allergic-type skin reactions and general skin inflammation can benefit from the inflammation-modulating and soothing properties associated with this oil.
Rather than simply thinking about “getting rid of redness,” think about what is happening underneath it.
Inflamed skin is skin asking for help.
Helichrysum can gently support the skin as it calms that inflammatory response and works toward returning to a healthier, more balanced state.
What About Scars?
Helichrysum is also one of my favorite essential oils for supporting skin following an injury.
Scar formation is part of the body’s normal healing process, but excessive scar tissue can contribute to changes in the flexibility and mobility of surrounding tissues and, in some circumstances, the development of adhesions.
The fascinating thing about tissue is that it isn't necessarily static.
Tissues remain responsive and malleable. With thoughtful care—including gentle local massage and appropriate topical support—we can support circulation, tissue remodeling and the body's natural regenerative processes.
This is one reason an appropriately diluted massage oil containing Helichrysum italicum can be such a valuable tool when supporting healing skin and existing scar tissue.
And Then There’s Aging Skin…
The same characteristics that make Helichrysum so interesting for damaged or inflamed skin also make it an exciting ingredient for mature and aging skin.
Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cell-regenerating properties lend themselves beautifully to skin rejuvenation and helping protect against premature signs of aging.
Helichrysum has long been appreciated for supporting healthy cellular renewal, but there’s another interesting piece to the story: collagenase and elastase.
These enzymes are involved in the breakdown of collagen and elastin—the structural proteins that help give our skin firmness, strength and elasticity.
Research into Helichrysum italicum has found inhibitory activity against collagenase and elastase, which helps explain why this plant is so interesting for formulations designed to protect the skin's structure and slow the visible signs of aging.
So when you see Helichrysum appearing in high-quality skin-care products, there’s a biochemical reason it belongs there.
And the Research Goes Beyond Skin
One of the things I love about studying essential oils is discovering that a plant we associate with one particular use often has a much broader story.
Helichrysum is a great example. I found these links to research:
Researchers have investigated Helichrysum italicum and Helichrysum extracts for a variety of biological activities, including:
Intestinal antispasmodic activity
Researchers have studied the mechanisms behind the traditional use of Helichrysum italicum for digestive and intestinal spasms.
Researchers have studied the mechanisms behind the traditional use of Helichrysum italicum for digestive and intestinal spasms.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity
Published research has investigated the anti-inflammatory and free-radical-scavenging activity of Helichrysum italicum, providing additional insight into some of its traditional applications.
Published research has investigated the anti-inflammatory and free-radical-scavenging activity of Helichrysum italicum, providing additional insight into some of its traditional applications.
Metabolic and weight-management research
Research has also examined extracts of Helichrysum and grapefruit in relation to weight management and metabolic markers.
Research has also examined extracts of Helichrysum and grapefruit in relation to weight management and metabolic markers.
These studies don't mean that every finding from an extract or laboratory study automatically translates directly to using a bottle of essential oil at home. What they do show is something I think is incredibly important:
There is real biological activity behind this plant.
And the more researchers investigate Helichrysum, the more we begin to understand the chemistry behind many of the properties that traditional herbalists and aromatherapists have valued for generations.
One Important Detail: Not All Helichrysum Is the Same
This is incredibly important.When we simply say “Helichrysum,” we can easily give the impression that every Helichrysum plant—and every bottle of Helichrysum essential oil—is interchangeable.
They aren't.
There are numerous Helichrysum species, and even within Helichrysum italicum, chemical composition can vary depending upon subspecies, geography, climate, growing conditions, harvest and distillation.
Those differences matter because different chemistry means different biological activity and potentially different therapeutic properties.
This is one of the reasons I care so much about knowing exactly what plant is in the bottle, where it was grown, how it was harvested and how the essential oil was produced.
When I reach for Helichrysum, I don't simply want a bottle with the word “Helichrysum” printed on the label.
I want to know what is actually inside it.
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