Named after the Italian city of Bergamo, Bergamot Essential Oil has a delightfully refreshing and uplifting citrus fragrance. Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau also known as Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a hybrid citrus fruit from a small tree that blossoms in the winter.
Active agents in bergamot oil are limonene, linalool, alpha-pinene, alpha terpineol, alpha bergaptene, beta bisabolene, nerol, and geraniol. Because of its sweet smell bergamot oil is widely used in perfumery having the ability to balance and harmonize a wide range of fragrances. As a matter of fact, it’s also a flavoring agent in one of my favorite teas, Earl Grey.
Bergamot essential oil not only smells heavenly it has a wide array of health benefits you can take advantage of. It’s a must-have for your essential oil medicine cabinet.
Room Freshener
Bergamots sweet-spicy citrus-like fragrance makes for a delightful room freshener. Not only can it be diffused in an essential oil diffuser, but also added to a spray bottle for misting in the room. Bergamot mixes well with sandalwood, geranium, lavender, cinnamon, and eucalyptus. Try your own combinations to see what you like best.
Bergamot Helps to Relieve Depression and Anxiety
(Antidepressant and Antianxiety – I know these are 2 separate conditions but I have so many beautiful people in my life that suffer from both, so for this article, they are being addressed as one.)
According to the Mayo Clinic Signs of Depression Include (1)
- “Mood: anxiety, apathy, general discontent, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, mood swings, or sadness
- Sleep: early awakening, excess sleepiness, insomnia, or restless sleep
- Whole-body: excessive hunger, fatigue, loss of appetite, or restlessness
- Behavioral: agitation, excessive crying, irritability, or social isolation
- Cognitive: lack of concentration, slowness in activity, or thoughts of suicide
- Weight: weight gain or weight loss
- Also common: poor appetite or repeatedly going over thoughts”
Going to a psychiatrist will almost always get you a prescription for antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication or both. But there are natural remedies that help to ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Bergamot essential oil has stimulating and anti-depressant components. It promotes healthy circulation and feelings of cheerfulness, therefore instilling more energy and happiness.
Bergamot essential oil coupled with lavender essential has been shown to evoke a calmer and relaxation among participants of a study done in 2011. (2)
Try rubbing 1-2 drops of Bergamot essential in your palms and cupping over your nose to breathe in the essence. Or diffuse a few drops in an essential oil diffuser. You might try rubbing a couple of drops on your neck or stomach.
Helps With Pain Relief
Bergamot essential oil is a safe and natural alternative to pain killers for reducing symptoms of headaches, muscle aches, and minor injuries. (3)
The active ingredient linalool which is found is bergamot oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Bergamots ability to lower tension in the body further assists the reduction of pain.
Vermifuge
Intestinal worms can cause stomachaches, anemia and sallow appearance. Bergamot oil can be very effective at eradicating intestinal worms. Simply rub a few drops on the abdomen for relief but remember, our little ones are small so for very young children use only 1 drop.
Digestive Problems
The longer food hangs out in the digestive tract the higher the risk of developing digestive illnesses or even colon cancer. For this reason, having a smooth moving intestinal tract is essential for a healthy body. Bergamot oil helps the body to secrete digestive enzymes and bile to improve digestion and helps the body to absorb essential nutrients.
Rubbing a few drops of the oil on the abdomen or ingesting a few drops accelerates movement in the digestive tract and helps to keep you regular. Bergamot peels and fruit are used to treat indigestion in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. (4)
Bergamot EO in Skin Care
Because of its lovely smell and antimicrobial properties bergamot oil is used in many commercially made skin and body care products. Bergamot oil has the ability to soothe skin irritations, reduce acne scars and improve skin discolorations.
I created this lovely skin cleansing oil for removing makeup and grime from my face. You can use this solution before bed at night and follow with a serum and facial cream. Some might say that it seems wrong to use oil to clean your face, especially if you have oily skin but it really isn’t. This works beautifully for cleansing, assists with alleviating acne and helps balance lipids in your skin as well.
DIY Skin Cleansing Oil
Carrier Oils Equal Parts
1 tsp Vitamin E
Essential Oils – 10 Drops Each for a 2-ounce container
- Ylang Ylang
- Grapefruit
- Bergamot
Mix ingredients in a dark glass dropper bottle. Shake well. Rub 5-10 drops into hands and apply to your face. Massage gently and remove dirt and makeup with a warm washcloth.
Bergamot Essential Oil Prevent Infections
Bergamot essential oil is a wonderful addition to your first aid kit. because of its antimicrobial and disinfectant actions. It also sports some analgesic effects so applying a few drops to a cotton ball and applying to cuts and scrapes helps to reduce pain. And we all know, cuts and scrapes are likely to occur when you have children around so it’s good to have on hand. Another advantage of applying to minor injuries is the ability for bergamot to promote healing while alleviating scars.
Use as a Natural Deodorant
Bergamot oil helps to keep bacteria under control thus making it a good alternative to use on your skin as a deodorant. Couple that with its sweet and delightful aroma and you can see why about half of all perfume products contain bergamot oil in their preparations. You can add 5 drops of bergamot essential oil to a small spritz bottle with water. Spray under armpits for deodorant or just go crazy and spray it all over. You can also add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil for an even more delightful mist.
Bergamot & Hormone Balance
Women who drink Earl Grey Tea have an easier time with the difficulties that may arise with hormone surges during menstruation and menopause. Bergamot is the ingredient giving Earl Grey its distinctive flavor and aroma. It stands to reason that spritzing your bergamot deodorant spray around when suffering from hormonal problems will most certainly help as well. Shoot, why not run a warm bath with 10 drops of bergamot EO and sip a cup of Earl Grey tea while you soak your hormone blues away.
Precautions:
- Bergamot is in the citrus family and thus shares the possibility of causing a phototoxic reaction. While bergamot is not considered toxic it may increase your sensitivity to sunlight so use caution if you are planning to use it while being exposed to sunlight.
- If you have diabetes be aware that Bergamot Oil has the ability to lower blood sugar levels. Always monitor your blood sugar if you are diabetic and choose to use Bergamot Oil. This is because you’ll want to avoid having your blood sugar going too low.
Conclusion
The use of essential oils is a time-honored approach to bolstering and strengthening the body and as a natural, chemical-free way to treat disease. Always keep in mind that essential oils can trigger side effects and skin irritations.
Bergamot Essential Oil has so many benefits for health and well being for you and your family. It can be used in dental care, for fever reduction, chest congestion and for hair care. It’s an amazing multi-faceted oil and very beneficial to have in your essential oil collection.
You may also like:
- How to Make Solar Infused Herbal Oil
- Cardamom Essential Oil to Calm Nerves & Balance Energy
- Calendula – The Sunshine Flower
- Stress Relief & Relaxation With Essential Oil Diffuser Blends
- Save Money by Making Your Own Household Cleaning Products
- Uses & Benefits of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil Uses & Benefits
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Disclaimer
I am not a doctor and do not claim to be. I am a seeker of pure, healthful living. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of these statements are intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always consult with your medical practitioner or other qualified healthcare providers.