Helichrysum
Also called: Everlast, Everlasting, Immortelle
Profile
| Latin Name | Helichrysum angustifolium |
| Chinese Name | Not Known Family: Asteraceae/Compositae Note: Base |
| Aroma | <Strong> Spicy, Sweet |
| Color | Yellow Orange |
| Parts Distilled | Flowers |
| Regions | France, Italy, Yugoslavia |
| Taste | Spicy, Sweet |
| Nature | Cooling |
| Affinity | LU/LR |
| Major Chemical Constituents | Esters (neryl acetate ~40%), pinene, geraniol/ linalool, beta-diones (anti-coagulant) |
| Skin Type | All, esp. Mature and burns (regenerate skin) |
| Dosage | 8% dilution |
TCM Categories
Functions
- Clear chronic Lung heat, asthma, dry cough, chronic bronchitis, allergies
- Clear Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gall Bladder (facilitate bile flow) and damp-heat bi-obstruction
- Cool Heat in-the Blood, bleeding, phlebitis, hematoma
- Clear Fire -Toxins, especially during detox
- Expel intestinal worms
- Liver Fire leading to Liver Blood Stasis (LR-3, BL-18, BL-19, PC-6, BL-17, LR-2) excellent during drug detox
Indications
Topical Applications
- Excellent for breaking up fibrotic and necrotic tissue, as well as hematomas. Potential use for cystic fibrosis.
- Add to sunscreens to protect from harmful UV radiation.
- Apply directly to damp-heat bi (e.g., hot-swollen rheumatic joints).
Specific Protocols
- 6% dilution of Helichrysum (30%), Lavender (40%), and German Chamomile (30%) to Liver Luo Vessel or Liver Fire with Blood Stasis in the Lower Heater.
- 6% dilution on the nodes - CV-23, CV-18, and CV-12 for deep emotional trauma.
Actions
- Anti-inflammatory
- Mucolytic
- Vulnerary (used in the healing of wounds)
- Analgesic
- Antispasmodic
- Cell regenerative
Contraindications & Cautions
- Cold and Deficient Yang
Notes
- Clear Heat & Dry Dampness (Middle Heater)
- Stuck liver, cirrhosis
- Someone who inflicts pain on themselves, who wants to be rescued, poor me
- A fixative. Fixatives are substances that limit the volatility of fragrance components and prolong the life of a perfume's aroma. A fixative equalizes the vapor pressures, and thus the volatilities, of the raw materials in a perfume oil, and increases tenacity.
- Can provide some protection from sun damage
- Good for hot phlegm in the lungs and chronic lung heat
- Someone who is highly critical of themself, or of the world
- Good for travelers, expels damp heat, expels intestinal worms
- Breaks down fibrotic tissues
- Use as a plaster over the LR
From Class
- Helichrysum: Treats fire toxins; 20 drops in a scar blend. (Yuen)
- Helichrysum: Lungs and liver; base note so little needed. (Yuen)
- Helichrysum / clove / grapefruit / turmeric oil: The scar blend can help the knee; clove is analgesic but for acute use only; turmeric (Jiang Huang) oil moves blood but stains, so use a notoginseng/Yunnan Bai Yao paste instead. (Yuen)