When my hands and feet are cold - Raynaud's disease

My story

I’ve been suffering from Raynaud’s disease since I was a teenager. As soon as the temperature drops below 12° or 13°C, my fingers and toes turn white and numb. It’s a very unpleasant and disabling sensation. Even if our winters aren’t as harsh as when I was a teenager, the “cold” season is relatively long in Lozère. For a few years, I used to apply aromatic oils to my fingers and toes to promote circulation (calophylla oil with immortelle (helichrysum) and thujanol thyme essential oils) and to chilblains (St John’s wort macerate and lavender essential oil), to soothe them. I haven’t needed it for two winters now, and thanks to the hydrolats, I’ve hardly had any “white fingers” or chilblains!

My tip

My approach to this problem with aroma has evolved over the last few years to a solution based on hydrolate cures, which I start in early or mid-November, when the cold sets in. Throughout this period, every morning I prepare a 1.5-liter jug of water with 3 tablespoons of immortelle hydrosol (helichrysum), which I drink throughout the morning. I complete this daily routine, which will last until spring, with a second hydrolat. For two weeks, I drink water flavored with rosemary hydrosol in the afternoon, and for the following two weeks, I drink water flavored with lovage hydrosol, always at a rate of 3 tablespoons of hydrosol diluted in my water carafe. If you don’t drink much, you can dilute both hydrolats (helichrysum and lovage or helichrysum and rosemary) in the same jug of water without any problem.

What does phytotherapy say?

When it’s cold, the body sets certain mechanisms in motion to preserve its warmth. One of these is the constriction of small blood vessels in the extremities, which constrict. In the case of Raynaud’s disease, this mechanism is excessive, so that the small vessels contract too much and too abruptly when exposed to cold, causing a disturbance of blood circulation in the extremities.
Italian Helichrysum is well known for its circulatory properties. It activates arterial and lymphatic circulation, as well as peripheral blood microcirculation, which is deficient in Raynaud’s disease. Rosemary and lovage are two plants with liver detoxifying properties. The liver, the central organ of blood circulation, needs to function optimally for good circulation.

Did you know?

Raynaud’s disease, which is annoying but not serious, most often appears
in adolescence and in women. The cause is unknown
on the other hand, usually appears later and is secondary to another cause or pathology (e.g. medication, autoimmune disease
arterial disease, certain drugs) In such cases, a consultation with a rheumatologist or arterial specialist is essential

I use hydrolats in complete SAFETY

The proposed approach does not imply any particular contraindication, even over a prolonged period, as it is a classic dietary use.

HELICHRY SUMITALICUM Immortelle or Italian helichrysum

A member of the Compositae family, this plant is particularly fond of the arid, sandy soils of Corsica and Sardinia, but also adapts well to the whole of southern France. Also known as
also known as “immortelle” because it doesn’t wilt, this yellow flower is a concentrate of sun (helios) and gold (chrysos), but also of formidable properties. It contains an exceptional essential oil, with powerful anticoagulant properties, and very rapid action on hematomas, the threat of phlebitis and all circulatory problems. In cosmetics, its anti-oxidant and repairing virtues are of great interest for mature skin.