A little history
In Greek mythology, the Immortelle or its botanical name helichrysum comes from the association of the names “Helios” which means “the sun” and “Chrysos” which means “gold”. The Immortal was assimilated to the god Apollo known to be the god of purifiers and healers. Legend has it that he used to wear an immortelle tiara (crown) on his hair to recall his “immortality”.
During the Odyssey, it is also said that Odysseus was shipwrecked on an island and that he met Nausicaa, who had the beauty worthy of a goddess. She would have taken care of her body and face thanks to immortelle flowers.
After falling into oblivion, the immortelle flower returned thanks to Napoleon in the 19th century. The emperor of Corsican origin liked to say that when he reached his island of beauty, he felt at sea the approach of land by the powerful and characteristic smell of the immortelle whose perfume would sign the identity of the Corsican maquis.
Botanical Description
It is a perennial plant, from the Asteraceae family, which reaches 40 to 60 cm in height. It is composed of yellow flowers which grows mainly in the Mediterranean basin and more particularly in Corsica. The small yellow flowers are characterized by their warm and spicy smell reminiscent of curry. According to Gallica, “Its name as an immortelle does not come from its powers of immortality unfortunately but from its ability to dry and keep its shape, its flowers and its color, once dead. It thus symbolizes the constancy of the love in the language of flowers.
Essential oil
The essential oil of "Immortelle": Italian Helichrysum, whose botanical name is Helichrysum italicum italicum, is obtained by a steam distillation process. To have a good quality concentration of aromatic molecules, it is preferable to distill during the flowering period which is between June and August depending on the location of the plantations and climatic conditions..
The distilled part is the flowering top, the stem contains as much essential oil as the flower. True and precious "yellow gold", when you realize that for a 5 ml bottle you need approximately 3 kg of plant!
Chemical composition:
- Ketones (15 to 20%) Diones: italidione
- Esters: Neryl Acetate (8 to 39.41%)
- Monoterpenes
- Monoterpenols : Nérol
- Sesquiterpenes: Alpha et Beta Caryophyllene, Alpha Curcumene
- Sesquiterpenols
Beware of different species
* Helichrysum italicum subsp italicum: comes from France (continent), Corsica, Italy.
* Helichrysum italicum subsp microphyllum: comes from Corsica, Sardinia, Crete.
* Helichrysum italicum subsp serotinum: the most continental comes from southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Balkans)
In this article, we discuss Italian Helichrysum from Corsica, more precisely from Balagne. The active ingredient composition is therefore different, that of Corsica has specificities which give it unique properties due to its biotope: the earth, the rocks, the accompanying plants etc… which produce and constitute a singular and typically Corsican chemotype. (This essential oil is available for sale on this site).
Danger and precaution: do not use by people with epilepsy,
Legend: * powerful,** very powerful;*** extremely powerful (power value for the associated pathology)
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS:
Acné
Antalgique
Antalgique musculaire
Anticoagulant*
Anti-inflammatoire
Antispasmodique*
Arthrite*
Arythmie
cardiaque
Bartholinite
Bronchite
Catarrhe
Céphalée
d’origine hépatique
holestérol
Healing**
Viral colitis
Whooping cough
Rosacea*
Emollient
Expectorant
Muscle aches
Hematoma (external and internal, even old)**
*§ The most powerful EO§
Dupuytren's disease****
Mucolytic*
Paraphlébitis*
Phlébitis*
Wound
Polyarthritis*
Liver regenerator
Rhinitis*
Sclérosis*
Liver stimulant
Spasmodic cough
Trauma*
*Spider veins
Virucidal
EMOTIONAL, PSYCHIC PROPERTIES AND THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS:
- Soothes the aches of the soul, the wounds of a difficult childhood, dissolves blockages in the pelvic region following sexual abuse, helps in cases of sentimental coldness linked to childhood experiences, calming, useful in cases of stress..
Other aromatherapy products
Given the properties and virtues it provides, Italian Helichrysum is an exceptional essential oil used for various problems, both physical and emotional, but also for cosmetic use..
Immortelle hydrosol
The term "hydrosol" or "floral water" is synonymous, the first, generally used in scientific aromatherapy, the second, rather in cosmetics. According to the definition, it is aromatic water which remains at the end of the essential oil distillation process. The hydrosol is therefore water which was used for distillation and which is very lightly loaded with aromatic molecules. This allows them to be used without danger even by pregnant women or children while retaining the therapeutic and/or cosmetic properties of essential oils whose molecular composition is tiny..
Botanical name: Helichrysum italicum
Origin: Corsica
Obtained by steam distillation of the flower
Relieves bruises, bumps, scratches, scars, etc).
- Relieves and calms irritated skin, redness, acne, eczema, skin prone to skin allergies and mature skin
- Irritation after shaving
- Astringent, it tones and firms tissues
- Reduces wrinkles, fine lines and dark circles, thanks to its regenerating properties.
Solar maceration of Immortelle
Solar maceration is a way of extracting the virtues of plants, without carrying out distillation. The plants are collected at the time of flowering and left to macerate in a neutral vegetable oil (olive oil, sweet almond oil, etc.)..
Botanical name: Helichrysum italicum
Obtained by maceration in olive oil and then filtered
Part used: Flowers
Origin: Corsica
Properties/indications:
- Ideal for blows, injuries, scratches, etc....
-Suitable for mature skin (excellent for beauty treatments)
- Regenerative, for damaged skin, in case of redness
- Unifies the hold and provides softness to the epidermis
*Contraindications :
Do not use during pregnancy or in children
The aromatic products discussed in this article are available for sale on this site.
Reference and bibliographic source
Lily BAYER and Dr Hervé STAUB, (2013) “In-depth treatise on Phyto and Aromatherapy”, Ed. Grancher. p. 537.
BOSSON Lydia (2015): "Hydrolatherapy: healing with the subtle waters of plants". Amyris Eds.
Gallica: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k30444328/f119.image.r=immortelle
*This article is written for information purposes and comes from scientific reference literature but also on the basis of information obtained directly from the producer with whom we collaborate without an intermediary in direct contact. However, it does not replace a medical consultation or diagnosis by a doctor. .
The Golden Flower with magical and exceptional powers!