Bergamot Essential Oil
Uplifting, Refreshing And Renewing!
Bergamot essential oil is a healing and antiseptic oil and very useful in skincare.
I often use it in a diffuser at home because it lifts your spirits, is refreshing but is also relaxing......and I just love the wonderful, fresh aroma.
Its balancing qualities make it excellent for alleviating shock and stress in general.
The uses of bergamot oil are quite diverse.......it has been used in the treatment of malaria as well as in the perfume and sunscreen industry.
For an aromatherapist it is probably the most valuable oil for helping with mental and psychological states.
Common Name:
Bergamot
Botanical Name:
Citrus bergamia
Source:
Italy, Sicily, Morocco, Asia, Africa
Common Method Of Extraction:
Cold expression from the rind of the fruit
Aroma:
Warm, fruity, fresh and floral
Note:
Top
Blends Well With:
Most other essential oils including basil, frankincense, geranium, other citrus oils, lavender, neroli, ylang-ylang
Properties:
Analgesic, antiseptic, antidepressant, carminative, cicatrisant, deodorant, digestive, febrifuge, sedative, vermifuge, vulnerary
See the glossary for definitions!
Mind, Spirit and Body:
- An uplifting oil invaluable for depression and anxiety.
- Its antiseptic properties make it useful for treating mouth and skin infections and helps with sore throats.
- Useful for lowering your temperature.
- If used in a 1% concentration or less it can help with eczema, psoriasis and acne.....and because of its lovely aroma is an oil I often use for skin conditions. It can be used as a massage oil or blended into creams and lotions.
- When used in aromatherapy massage it can stimulate or soothe, depending on which essential oils it is blended with. It is fantastic for dealing with tension, depression and stress.
- Use bergamot oil for a very refreshing and relaxing bath - mix with a carrier oil, or about 20ml of full-fat milk, before adding to the bath.
- Can help get rid of bad breath!
- Helpful with cystitus and urinary infections - it can be added to your bath or used as a local wash (diluted to 1%)
- Good for your digestive system.
- Bergamot essential oil is an excellent insect repellant and works even better when blended with lavender.
Skin:
Bergamot
has excellent purifying benefits, promoting healthy clear skin. It is a
natural cleanser and can help balance oily skin. In fact, it is used quite extensively in the skincare industry for its many fabulous skincare benefits.
Precautions:
- In concentrations above 1% it can be irritating to the skin.
- Bergamot essential oil is photosensitive (makes
your skin more likely to burn) so it should never be used neat on the
skin when going out in the sun. Even when diluted in a carrier oil it
will not protect you from the sun so you should avoid sunlight for at
least 3 hours.
- *UPDATE*...... it is now possible to buy FCF or bergapten-free bergamot (Citrus bergamia), which has a negligible phototoxic risk.
- This oil should not be used with children.
- Avoid using during pregnancy.
Ideas for Using Bergamot Essential Oil:
- Diffuse at work or home if feeling anxious, depressed or stressed.......or if you just want that feel good factor.
- For confidence and self-worth, massage a couple of drops onto the soles of your feet in the morning and at night.
- Add bergamot oil when you make your own natural skincare products.
- To feel motivated, uplifted and energised put 2 to 3 drops of bergamot into your hands. Rub them together to warm it up, then cup your hands over your nose and mouth and take some slow, deep breaths.
- Mix 10 drops with 25ml sweet almond oil and use as a massge oil to relieve muscle aches and pains.
Additional Notes:
- It is one of the main ingredients in eau-de-Cologne along with lavender and neroli.
- You may find the aroma familiar as it is used to flavour Earl Grey tea!
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