Best Benefits of Bergamot Essential Oil

Bergamot essential oil is well-known for its uplifting and calming effects on the emotions. It has a sweet, refreshing citrus aroma, which makes it a favorite for use in perfumes and as a 'top note' in aromatherapy oil blends. It comes from a tropical plant that produces a citrus fruit. The plant originated in Southeast Asia but can grow in Europe too. It has been widely cultivated in southern Italy. Bergamot essential oil is extracted from the rind or peel of the fruit and is obtained through cold compression. 

Best Benefits of Bergamot Essential Oil 

Bergamot essential oil has long been used for emotional support and healing. It has sedative qualities as it contains flavenoids that induce relaxation. It is wonderful in times of stress, helping to reduce nervous tension. It relieves insomnia and stimulates the activity of serotonin and dopamine hormones, which increases feelings of well-being and wards off depression. Bergamot essential oil facilitates the building of confidence and self-empowerment and lets us leave behind feelings of self-doubt. Bergamot essential oil stimulates secretions of bile and digestive acids facilitating digestion and the absorption of nutrients. It helps to regulate the peristaltic motion of the intestines and reduces constipation and other gastointestinal problems. Bergamot oil is successfully used as an antibiotic and disinfectant to prevent and cure infections. It has components that inhibit the growth of germs,viruses and fungi. It is commonly added to skin-care products as it protects the skin from infections and irritations as well as reducing scarring and blemishing. It facilitates a balanced distribution of pigment which gives the skin an even tone. In hair-care products, it adds shine to the hair and conditions it, sealing in the natural moisture and repairing damaged hair. It also stimulates the hair roots, facilitating growth. Added to a mouthwash, it kills oral germs and protects the teeth from cavities. The refreshing citrus scent of bergamot oil makes it popular as a deodrant as well as for use in hair sprays and air fresheners. Its disinfectant qualities mean it can eliminate the germs that cause body odor. As an antibiotic, it fights viruses and bacteria and the infections they cause. It can reduce fever and body temperature. It can be used to destroy intestinal worms, which can cause malnourishment and nutritional deficiencies.

Bergamot essential oil is antispasmodic. It provides relief from cramp and muscle contractions by relaxing the muscles and nerves. It also helps relieve chronic coughs and other respiratory conditions, including asthma. It is anticongestive and works as an expectorant, loosening phlegm and mucous to help the body to expel it. It stimulates metabolism and gland secretions, which can bring on sweating, cleaning out the glands and pores and reducing toxicity in the body. Bergamot oil has strong antiseptic qualities, which make it useful for cleaning and healing wounds and cracks in the skin, protecting them from turning septic. It also faciltates the healing of eczema, itching and general skin irritations and prevents new infections and irritations from forming. Bergamot essential oil is a good general tonic, toning up the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory and muscular systems. 

 How to Use Bergamot Essential Oil 

Bergamot essential oil can be diffused throughout the room to reduce stress and create a calming, tranquil environment. It can also be inhaled directly from the bottle to induce a feeling of relaxation and self-worth. Inhaling it also can relieve the discomfort of headaches. It can be added to black tea. With its refreshing scent, bergamot oil is a popular addition to aromatherapy massage oil blends. It blends well with clary sage, frankincense, mandarin, jasmine, black pepper, cyprus, geranium, nutmeg, sandalwood, orange, rosemary, vetiver and ylang ylang. A couple of drops of bergamot oil massaged into the abdomen will help digestion. It can also be used in a foot massage. It can be added to skin-care lotions, soaps and cleansers to clean and heal the skin as well as to hair conditioners to give extra lustre to the hair. Rubbing a couple of drops of bergamot oil into the soles of the feet, or into the palms of the hands and inhaling it, will uplift the mood. To relieve tight, tense muscles, or to reduce the ache and pain of sprains, rub a little bergamot oil onto the affected area. Add bergamot oil to toothpastes and mouthwashes to freshen the breath and protect the teeth from cavities. Apply it to wounds to prevent infection.

 Risks of Bergamot Essential Oil

 As it is a citrus oil, bergamot essential oil can make the skin, scalp and hair photosensitive, which causes burning on exposure to the sun directly after application. Avoid direct sunlight immediately after applying the oil. As with all essential oils, bergamot oil should be diluted in a carrier oil before being applied to the skin and a patch test on the skin should be done before use to check for a possible negative reaction. Seek the advice of a health-care professional if using when pregnant. Do not use it on small children. 

How to Store Bergamot Essential Oil

 It is very important to store bergamot essential oil in a cool, dark place in a dark-colored glass bottle. It must be kept out of direct sunlight because one of its components, bergaptene, becomes poisonous if exposed to the sun. Keep it out of reach of children and away from extreme or changeable temperatures, stoves, candles and other sources of heat as it is flammable.