Bergamot essential oil is extracted by cold expression from the almost ripe fruit peel of a small tree which was grown almost exclusively in a narrow coastal strip in the southern part of Calabria, in Italy. It is now cultivated and produced in the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Morocco and Corsica. Bergamot essential oil is pale green runny liquid, with a rich, mellow aroma, with a citrusy sharpness.
The origins of the word bergamot are a bit of a mystery. One thought is that it is derived from the shape of a fruit resembling the bergamot pear, another that bergamot was brought from the Canary Islands by Columbus to Berga, in Barcelona, Spain where it was introduced to Calabria, or finally that it is named after the Italian city of Bergamo in northern Italy, where the oil was first sold.
The development of the toilet water (eau de cologne) originally made in Italy by the Feminis family in the sixteenth century stimulated bergamot oil production - the oil is an important ingredient. Used in Italian folk medicine for treating fever and worms as well as imparting a pleasant flavour to Earl Grey tea, it is also considered one of the most popular essential oils for use in perfumery.
The main actions of bergamot are as an antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-depressant, carminative, digestive and vulnerary. *See below for meanings
For the digestive system, bergamot helps to relieve colic, flatulence and indigestion. It is particularly well suited to nervous indigestion and loss of appetite due to emotional stress.
For the immune system, bergamot has been found to inhibit the herpes simplex 1 virus which causes cold sores, and is especially effective when combined with tea tree and lavender for treating cold sores, chicken pox and shingles.
Bergamot essential oil is well known for its ability to sedate yet uplift the nervous system, and ease tension, anxiety or depression. the combination of this and its regulating effect on the appetite suggests it may be useful for eating disorders such as anorexia/bulimia nervosa. It refreshes, lightens the mood, combines well with other anti-depressant oils for severe depression, eases anger, frustration, insomnia and nightmares.
It is useful for the urinary system, for the treatment of cystitis and urinary tract infections. Used early on in cystitis it can prevent the infection spreading.
In skin care, bergamot's antiseptic properties makes it beneficial for treating herpes, wounds, ulcers and acne. Recommended for oily skin types, it is also an effective deodorising agent, and helpful for eczema and psoriasis.
It relaxes, restores and calms, encouraging consideration, caring, youthfulness and joy.
Bergamot blends well with most oils, particularly with woody and floral oils.
It can be slightly irritating to the skin if use in excess, especially in the bath, and is phototoxic - decreases burn time by the sun if exposed after application to the skin. Safe for pregnancy.
For free qualified advice on how to use it, email info@GalaxyAromatherapy.com.
Always take care when choosing your essential oils. Look for botanical names and expiry dates on the label. They should come in dark coloured glass bottles to protect them, and have dripulator tops. Following these guidelines will help to ensure you're buying good quality, pure essential oils.
Terms:
antiseptic - destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria
antiviral - resists or destroys viruses
anti-depressant -uplifts and counteracts melancholy
carminative - settles the digestive system and aids with gas
digestive stimulant -stimulates the digestive system
vulnerary - prevents tissue degeneration and promotes the healing of wounds
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