The American Botanical Council (ABC), Austin, TX, recognized the adoption of helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) by Nature’s Gift, Inc., an essential oils and aromatherapy products company based Madison, TN, through ABC’s Adopt-an-Herb Program. Through its adoption, Nature’s Gift helps ABC expand its nonprofit educational mission and keep its unique HerbMedPro database updated with the latest scientific and clinical research on this traditionally used medicinal plant.

HerbMedPro is a comprehensive, interactive online database that provides access to important scientific and clinical research data on the uses and health effects of approximately 250 medicinal and aromatic plants.

“The Adopt-an-Herb program is an invaluable educational opportunity from a highly trusted source. We appreciate the opportunity to help make more information available about Helichrysum italicum,” said Marge Clark, founder of Nature’s Gift. “There is not nearly enough research done about this remarkable plant and [its] amazing healing essential oil. Perhaps by our adopting it, more researchers will be inspired to study what we already know to be true: that the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum is an invaluable addition to a practitioner’s repertoire.”

ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal expressed his appreciation for Nature’s Gift’s adoption. “ABC deeply appreciates this adoption of helichrysum by Nature’s Gift,” he said. “Helichrysum is an important medicinal and aromatic plant of the Mediterranean region, and it is becoming more popular in the marketplace, particularly in the area of essential oils and aromatherapy. Nature’s Gift’s adoption of helichrysum on the ABC HerbMedPro website will greatly assist ABC in maintaining up-to-date records on the growing scientific research on this traditional medicinal and aromatic plant.”

Helichrysum italicum, also known as immortelle, is a member of the daisy (Asteraceae) family. The small shrub, which is sometimes referred to as curry plant due to its aroma, has yellow flowers and grows to 30-70 centimeters (11.8-27.6 inches) in height. Helichrysum italicum contains essential oil and a variety of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, triterpenes, acetophenone derivatives, and phloroglucinols. Both the flowers and leaves of H. italicum have been used traditionally in the Mediterranean and surrounding regions for respiratory, digestive, and skin conditions. Various preparations of the plant have also been used historically for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which are supported by data from in vitro studies.

Helichrysum’s adoption page can be found here. The HerbMedPro record on helichrysum is available here.