Bergamot

See also :

• Bergamot Orange
• Oswego Tea

Other names : Monarda didyma, crimson beebalm, scarlet beebalm, scarlet monarda, Aceite de Bergamota, Bergamot, Bergamot Orange, Bergamota, Bergamotier, Bergamoto, Bergamotte, Bergamotto Bigarade Orange, Citrus Bergamia, Citrus aurantium var. bergamia, Huile de Bergamote, Oleum Bergamotte.
Bergamot, a small citrus tree grown in Mediterranean regions, produces a pear-shaped fruit prized for the aromatic oil derived from the rind. Bergot-flavored tea, marketed widely as Earl Grey tea, is a perennial favorite among tea drinkers. Research into the phytochemicals contained in bergamot and their potential medicinal qualities has yielded promising results.

Special Precautions of Bergamot

• Do not confuse with Wild Bergamot
• Children: Do not use bergamot oil in children. There have been serious side effects, including convulsion and death, in children who have taken large amounts of bergamot oil.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Do not use bergamot oil on your skin if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. It might not be safe.
• There's some concern that applying bergamot essential oil to the skin may increase your sensitivity to ultraviolet light emitted by the sun and — as a result — raise your risk of skin cancer. When using bergamot essential oil on your skin, it's crucial to protect against ultraviolet light exposure by applying sunblock.
• People who work with bergamot can develop skin problems including blisters, scabs, pigment spots, rashes, sensitivity to the sun, and cancerous changes.

Benefits and uses of Bergamot are

Bergamot essential oil is typically used to treat the following conditions:

• anxiety : Bergamot essential oil may help alleviate anxiety, according to a study published in Phytotherapy Research in 2011. In tests on rats, the study's authors determined that treatment with bergamot essential oil helped decrease anxiety and reduce levels of the stress hormone corticosterone. In a 2003 study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, however, researchers found that inhalation of bergamot essential oil failed to reduce anxiety in people undergoing radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer. Involving 313 patients, the study also found that lavender essential oil and cedarwood essential oil weren't effective in easing anxiety during radiotherapy.
• Stress : In a 2009 study from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers found that inhalation of bergamot essential oil may help reduce stress and promote relaxation in healthy individuals. In addition, a 2011 study published in Natural Product Communications found that incorporating a combination of lavender and bergamot essential oils into massage therapy may help lower stress levels and improve mood.
• Ringworm : Bergamot essential oil shows promise in the treatment of dermatophytoses, a fungal infection commonly known as ringworm. In a 2007 study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, tests on several common species of dermatophytoses-causing fungi found that bergamot essential oil may possess antifungal properties.
• Treating a tumor under the skin due to a fungal infection (mycosis fungoides), when used along with ultra-violet (UV) light.
• Protecting the body against lice and other parasites.
• depression
• eczema
• headache
• insomnia
• psoriasis
• In addition, bergamot essential oil is said to enhance mood, reduce stress, stimulate circulation, improve digestion, and alleviate pain.