The Amaranth, or Precious Helichrysum, is a wildflower of the Greek countryside with the international scientific name Helichrysum stoechas. It is an annual or perennial herb up to 60 cm tall, with gray-green leaves and small, spherical, yellow flowers in inflorescences. Flowering and harvesting occur in early spring.

It is mainly found in Preveza, Thesprotia, and the Ionian Islands. Its flowers are small and yellow, and the stem is thin. When dried, the plant retains its shape and the yellow color of the flower tops.

Medicinal Use

• The helichrysum has been traditionally used for lymph node tuberculosis, asthma, arthritis, headaches, and intestinal worms.
• The stems and flowers of the plant have expectorant, diaphoretic, and purgative properties.
• The essential oil of the plant has healing, anti-aging, and reparative properties.
• It is useful for skin conditions such as burns, acne, herpes, wounds, and eczema.
• It has strong antioxidant action due to the phenolic compounds it contains.
• In folk medicine, it is used as a healing and reparative agent applied topically to the skin.

The essential oil contains various chemical compounds, such as esters and terpenes. No toxic effects or any other undesirable side effects have been reported.