'Aromatherapy' has become an extremely misleading term in America; the position of 'Aromatherapist' was ranked as one of the top 100 'BS' up-and-coming new jobs recently on CNN - and most folks think 'Aroma'-therapy is all about smelling something pretty so you can feel better. Much of the rest of the 'civilized' world relies on plants, and their essential oils, as effective medicines for a wide varieties of medical conditions. Aside from the fact that many studies have shown that simply smelling natural aromatic oils can improve test scores, improve your mood and improve your sleep, there is a LOT more to aromatherapy than just good scents - and here we'll have a look at a very practical side of using essential oils - the speeding of healing of strains, sprains and sports injuries with Helichrysum essential oil.

Medical aromatherapists understand the efficacy of essential oils for particular conditions; each essential oil has many, sometimes hundreds, of individual chemical constituents. Beyond the effects of each chemical compound within an oil, some oils efficacy is a clear synergy of the particular chemical makeup. Individual chemicals within essential oils are well-known antivirals, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories, expectorants, mucolytics, anti-tumorials...and the list goes on. Some essential oils will contain synergies of these compounds; those prescribed for a certain illnesses may have individual molecules that are antimicrobial, analgesic, and regenerating all in the same oil. And what does this offer for the injured athlete? The potential of a natural compound offering a quick return to training and competition with no side effects, and maybe even faster healing than offered by a pharmaceutical preparation.

The physiological basis of many sports injuries, both chronic - from overuse - and acute, from impacts, twists and strains, have many similarities. There is usually some cells that have suffered structural damage - some enough that the cells will die and need to be re-grown. Inflammation is a common characteristic; most often from fluid leaking from inter- or intra-cellular spaces. This fluid can be blood from damaged capillaries, and appear as bruising; either way swelling will prevent proper perfusion - or nutrient and waste exchange - at the damaged site. This can lead to secondary damage - where cells around the originally damaged tendon, ligament or muscle cells are also becoming damaged by lack of oxygenation or nutrient supply. Further damage can occur through the over-production of free-radicals under such conditions. This is why immediate application of ice to an acute injury can have a substantial effect on the total damage and the speed of healing. The ice prevents the secondary damage associated with swelling and oxidation from occurring.

Now for a look at the synergistic actions of Helichrysum Italicum essential oil (there are several types of Helichrysum essential oil available - it is the Italicum, also known as Everlasting or Immortele, that has these particular properties. The plant has a relatively low oil yield, and is not a commonly farmed; hence the extra cost of this special variety. The Italicum species contains a significant amount of an effective anti-inflammatory molecule. Another 40% is made up of Esters with marked relaxing effects on tissues - relieving tension in injured areas and allowing natural perfusion to take place. The third major component is a di-ketone, which signals tissues to regenerate. These di-ketones are rare, and Helichrysum Italicum contains the highest known percentage.

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