Bergamot is a tropical citrus fruit that also thrives in Europe. In fact, one of Europe’s favorite teas – Earl Grey – is created by adding bergamot essential oil to regular black tea.
The powerful scent of bergamot also makes it a valuable addition to a wide variety of perfumes and is used regularly as the crown jewel in perfumery, known as the “top note.”
Not everyone enjoys the distinctive taste or scent of bergamot, but everyone can benefit from the variety of natural healing properties that bergamot essential oil can provide.
As with all essential oils, it is important to ensure that the bergamot oil is collected from organic sources not treated with pesticides and cold-pressed for maximum active agent retention.
Also like all essential oils, the active ingredients begin to break down almost as soon as the plant is harvested, so making sure you have fresh oils is also essential.
This is why it is always best to purchase essential oils from reputable distributors of high-quality oils. Here are 12 reasons you should start using bergamot essential oil today.
@ideahacks
1. Bust the blues with a dose of good cheer
Like most citrus scents, bergamot is a natural antidepressant. Sprinkle a few drops in a diffuser on dreary days for an immediate boost of good cheer or drop a drop or two on your pulse points and inhale deeply for a quick pick-me-up.
For those that struggle with chronic depression, bergamot is just one essential oil in an arsenal of mood-boosting weaponry. Other moods boosting oils include lavender, rosemary and other citrus oils such as orange, lemon, and lime.
Remember to use essential oils from high-quality sources, since oils that simply contain citrus scents do not offer the same biocompatible properties as those distilled directly from a pure organic source.
2. Kiss stress goodbye at the end of a long day
In addition to providing a pick-me-up of good cheer, bergamot can also help you relax and destress. Drop a few drops in a warm bath at the end of the day or mix with two cups of Epsom salts to pour in your bath for a double dose of soothing, stress-busting relief.
If you need to get a good night’s sleep, drop a few drops of bergamot oil on your pillowcase at night or sprinkle a drop or two on a cotton ball and place inside your pillowcase. As a side benefit, the same properties that help reduce stress also help lower blood pressure.
3. Time may heal all wounds, but bergamot can get rid of the scars!
Whether it’s acne scars, an old injury or even a fresh one, bergamot can help heal and fade scars. Bergamot can even help even out skin tone and reduce sunspots.
Bergamot is a gentle oil that can even be applied to the skin “neat”, which means it does not need to be mixed with a carrier oil. Bergamot is what is known as a cicatrisant, which means it contains properties or an agent that helps scars and other marks on the skin to disappear.
It also helps balance and even out melanin and other pigments in the skin, giving you a nice, smooth, even skin tone.
4. Keeps pearly whites healthy
Tooth decay is generally the result of bad bacteria that create acids that eat away at the enamel of your teeth. At one time it was believed that once you had a cavity it was permanent and needed to be filled, but now dental science has discovered that cavities can actually heal.
Because bergamot is both gentle enough to apply directly to even the most sensitive gums and contains strong anti-bacterial properties, it makes a great addition to your oral hygiene regimen.
You can add a few drops directly to toothpaste, sprinkle a drop in a cup of warm water and gargle with it or even apply it straight to decaying teeth or cavities to speed and promote healing.
5. Keeps smelly parts smelling fresh and clean
Like most citrus oils, bergamot has strong deodorant properties. Since many odors are really the result of bacteria, bergamot’s anti-bacterial properties don’t hurt either.
Use a few drops to create your own signature DIY deodorant or drop a few drops on a cotton ball and place in the toe of smelly shoes for an all-natural way to beat foul foot odors.
6. Keeps your digestion running smoothly
Like most essential oils, bergamot is easily absorbed into the skin, where it’s healing agents go immediately to work. If you struggle with indigestion or other digestive issues, just rub a few drops of bergamot oil on your belly before eating.
Bergamot helps to stimulate the secretion of digestive juices, which can help eliminate bloat and other digestive issues. It is even useful in treating more serious digestive ailments like Crohn’s disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
7. Keeps your hormones in check
Hormones regulate a wide variety of bodily functions, from sleep to body temperature to blood sugar. When our hormones are out of balance, they can cause a wide variety of problems ranging from insomnia to hot flashes to diabetes.
Bergamot helps to balance hormones to keep all of our systems running smoothly. From menopause to problems with “the monthly” to even diabetes, bergamot oil can be a powerful weapon against them all.
Remember that when you are under stress, your body also releases stress hormones, which can cause anxiety, depression, digestive problems, headaches, heart disease, sleep problems and weight gain – all of which are also eased by using bergamot oil.
8. Helps maintain beautiful, healthy hair
From acne on your scalp to dreaded dandruff flakes, bergamot solves a wide range of hair woes. Mix a few drops of bergamot oil with equal parts coconut oil and water and rub through your hair.
Leave it on a few minutes before shampooing out and you may be surprised to find you have the cleanest, shiniest, silkiest hair you’ve ever had, not to mention the healthiest scalp.
9. Calm your anxious nerves
In addition to excellent mood-boosting and relaxation benefits, bergamot is also great at relieving anxiety. Drop a few drops in a vaporizer before a big meeting or presentation or when you are just feeling anxious for no reason.
Keeping a small vaporizer on your desk at work can help aid in a wide variety of workplace ailments, including helping keep you safe from the flu.
10. Fever fighter
Having a high fever can cause your body temperature to spike to dangerously high levels. A fever is not an ailment in and of itself, but usually a symptom of a bigger underlying problem.
Bergamot oil can both help bring your body temperature down and assist your body in fighting off the underlying infections causing the fever. Next time you have a cold, flu or a slightly high fever, try bypassing the over-the-counter remedies in favor of natural bergamot oil.
Of course, for excessively high temperatures, you should always consult a physician, but for moderately high temperatures it certainly doesn’t hurt to try a natural remedy first.
1. Bust the blues with a dose of good cheer
Like most citrus scents, bergamot is a natural antidepressant. Sprinkle a few drops in a diffuser on dreary days for an immediate boost of good cheer or drop a drop or two on your pulse points and inhale deeply for a quick pick-me-up.
For those that struggle with chronic depression, bergamot is just one essential oil in an arsenal of mood-boosting weaponry. Other moods boosting oils include lavender, rosemary and other citrus oils such as orange, lemon, and lime.
Remember to use essential oils from high-quality sources, since oils that simply contain citrus scents do not offer the same biocompatible properties as those distilled directly from a pure organic source.
2. Kiss stress goodbye at the end of a long day
In addition to providing a pick-me-up of good cheer, bergamot can also help you relax and destress. Drop a few drops in a warm bath at the end of the day or mix with two cups of Epsom salts to pour in your bath for a double dose of soothing, stress-busting relief.
If you need to get a good night’s sleep, drop a few drops of bergamot oil on your pillowcase at night or sprinkle a drop or two on a cotton ball and place inside your pillowcase. As a side benefit, the same properties that help reduce stress also help lower blood pressure.
3. Time may heal all wounds, but bergamot can get rid of the scars!
Whether it’s acne scars, an old injury or even a fresh one, bergamot can help heal and fade scars. Bergamot can even help even out skin tone and reduce sunspots.
Bergamot is a gentle oil that can even be applied to the skin “neat”, which means it does not need to be mixed with a carrier oil. Bergamot is what is known as a cicatrisant, which means it contains properties or an agent that helps scars and other marks on the skin to disappear.
It also helps balance and even out melanin and other pigments in the skin, giving you a nice, smooth, even skin tone.
4. Keeps pearly whites healthy
Tooth decay is generally the result of bad bacteria that create acids that eat away at the enamel of your teeth. At one time it was believed that once you had a cavity it was permanent and needed to be filled, but now dental science has discovered that cavities can actually heal.
Because bergamot is both gentle enough to apply directly to even the most sensitive gums and contains strong anti-bacterial properties, it makes a great addition to your oral hygiene regimen.
You can add a few drops directly to toothpaste, sprinkle a drop in a cup of warm water and gargle with it or even apply it straight to decaying teeth or cavities to speed and promote healing.
5. Keeps smelly parts smelling fresh and clean
Like most citrus oils, bergamot has strong deodorant properties. Since many odors are really the result of bacteria, bergamot’s anti-bacterial properties don’t hurt either.
Use a few drops to create your own signature DIY deodorant or drop a few drops on a cotton ball and place in the toe of smelly shoes for an all-natural way to beat foul foot odors.
6. Keeps your digestion running smoothly
Like most essential oils, bergamot is easily absorbed into the skin, where it’s healing agents go immediately to work. If you struggle with indigestion or other digestive issues, just rub a few drops of bergamot oil on your belly before eating.
Bergamot helps to stimulate the secretion of digestive juices, which can help eliminate bloat and other digestive issues. It is even useful in treating more serious digestive ailments like Crohn’s disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
7. Keeps your hormones in check
Hormones regulate a wide variety of bodily functions, from sleep to body temperature to blood sugar. When our hormones are out of balance, they can cause a wide variety of problems ranging from insomnia to hot flashes to diabetes.
Bergamot helps to balance hormones to keep all of our systems running smoothly. From menopause to problems with “the monthly” to even diabetes, bergamot oil can be a powerful weapon against them all.
Remember that when you are under stress, your body also releases stress hormones, which can cause anxiety, depression, digestive problems, headaches, heart disease, sleep problems and weight gain – all of which are also eased by using bergamot oil.
8. Helps maintain beautiful, healthy hair
From acne on your scalp to dreaded dandruff flakes, bergamot solves a wide range of hair woes. Mix a few drops of bergamot oil with equal parts coconut oil and water and rub through your hair.
Leave it on a few minutes before shampooing out and you may be surprised to find you have the cleanest, shiniest, silkiest hair you’ve ever had, not to mention the healthiest scalp.
9. Calm your anxious nerves
In addition to excellent mood-boosting and relaxation benefits, bergamot is also great at relieving anxiety. Drop a few drops in a vaporizer before a big meeting or presentation or when you are just feeling anxious for no reason.
Keeping a small vaporizer on your desk at work can help aid in a wide variety of workplace ailments, including helping keep you safe from the flu.
10. Fever fighter
Having a high fever can cause your body temperature to spike to dangerously high levels. A fever is not an ailment in and of itself, but usually a symptom of a bigger underlying problem.
Bergamot oil can both help bring your body temperature down and assist your body in fighting off the underlying infections causing the fever. Next time you have a cold, flu or a slightly high fever, try bypassing the over-the-counter remedies in favor of natural bergamot oil.
Of course, for excessively high temperatures, you should always consult a physician, but for moderately high temperatures it certainly doesn’t hurt to try a natural remedy first.
11. Calms painful muscle contractions
Bergamot oil contains some antispasmodic properties, which can help with a wide range of ailments from menstrual cramps to muscle cramps, convulsions, and contractions.
Bergamot oil can also be useful in soothing coughs or even aid chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Antispasmodics are often prescribed for digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s Disease, which means that bergamot might also be useful in the prevention and healing of several painful digestive disorders as well.
12. Soothes and eases pain
The same muscle soothing and relaxing properties that make bergamot suitable for easing muscle contractions and calming the nerves also make it an excellent antidote for a wide variety of chronic conditions ranging from tension headaches to chronic arthritic pain.
Since stress and anxiety are often conditions linked with migraines and other types of headaches, bergamot does double duty by easing the underlying emotional state as well as relaxing nerves and muscles in the body.
Bergamot oil contains some antispasmodic properties, which can help with a wide range of ailments from menstrual cramps to muscle cramps, convulsions, and contractions.
Bergamot oil can also be useful in soothing coughs or even aid chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Antispasmodics are often prescribed for digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s Disease, which means that bergamot might also be useful in the prevention and healing of several painful digestive disorders as well.
12. Soothes and eases pain
The same muscle soothing and relaxing properties that make bergamot suitable for easing muscle contractions and calming the nerves also make it an excellent antidote for a wide variety of chronic conditions ranging from tension headaches to chronic arthritic pain.
Since stress and anxiety are often conditions linked with migraines and other types of headaches, bergamot does double duty by easing the underlying emotional state as well as relaxing nerves and muscles in the body.