Parts Most Frequently Used: Fruit, Dried Peel, Essential oil​

Flavors/Temps: Aromatic, Slightly Sweet, Sour, Neutral

Caution: Considered safe. The essential oil must be stored in dark cool places as exposure to sunlight can turn it poisonous, even when applied to the skin. It’s best to avoid sun exposure when using the essential oil.

Key Constituents: Essential oil (includes Alpha-pinene, Alpha bergapten, alpha-terpineol, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl acetate, Nerol, Neryl acetate, Beta bisabolene, Geraniol, Geraniol acetate, Myrcene), Cicatrisant, Melitidin, Brutieriden

History/Folklore: Bergamot is a citrus fruit whose rind is used to extract bergamot essential oil. The light green oil is derived by cold compression (versus steamed distillation, often used to make other essential oils). It is familiar as the flavor and aroma of Earl Grey Tea. The essential oil is also used as a medicine. The fruit is rich in nutrients.

The name “bergamot” is derived from Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy where it was originally sold and traded. It is now produced in Argentina, Brazil, Morocco, and the Ivory Coast. In Calabria, Italy it is valued by locals for its ability to promote heart health and longevity. It is also said that the name bergamot may come from the Turkish word “begarmudi”, which means “The Prince of Pears”.

The constituents alpha-pinene and limonene are known to have antidepressant and stimulating properties. They improve the circulation of blood, improve mood, and increase energy. These antidepressant qualities are not superficial. Bergamot reduces mental and physical fatigue by improving circulation and hormonal secretions that help maintain proper metabolic rates. The hormonal properties of bergamot essential oil are known to have a highly effective impact on neurological and mental conditions, which help counter the impact of depression and anxiety. These constituents also stimulate the production of digestive juices, bile, and insulin, aiding digestion and supporting the absorption of nutrients and the assimilation and decomposition of sugar, helping to lower blood sugar levels.

The constituent cicatrisant found in bergamot helps heal skin scars by ensuring the proper distribution of skin pigments and melanin, reducing scars and skin tonal imperfections, including those caused by acne.

As an analgesic, bergamot helps reduce pain in the body by supporting the secretion of specific hormones that help lessen the sensitivity of nerves to pain, making it effective for treating headaches, sprains, and muscle aches. It is also effective as a mouthwash for minimizing pain and fighting infection and bad breath. For treating headaches 2-3 drops can be applied to the forehead, palms, and wrists for lasting good effect. A few drops added to bath water can also provide relief from pain, depression, and stress.

Bergamot essential oil helps inhibit the growth of germs, viruses, and fungi. As an antiseptic, it can help prohibit infections explaining its presence in many skin soaps, cosmetics, and shampoos. It makes an excellent deodorant. Bergamot essential oil also helps inhibit colon infections, intestines, kidneys, and urinary tract. It is a good topical remedy for infections caused by candida fungus strains. Mixing three drops of the essential oil with one cup of yogurt can be added to a sitz bath of enough warm water to cover the hips to help treat urinary tract infections.

Bergamot is the only citrus fruit to contain the compounds melitidin and brutieridin, known for their anti-cholesterol effect comparable to pharmaceutical statins used to treat heart problems associated with high cholesterol. Studies show that it lowers total cholesterol levels, lowers LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels, high levels of which are a source of heart disease, and raises (HDL) high-density lipoprotein which helps protect the heart. Typical dosing used in studies for regulating cholesterol and supporting heart health has suggested 150-1500 mg of extract per day.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), bergamot is used to help Move Qi, especially Digestive Qi as it is effective in treating indigestion and flatulence. Chen Pi oil is an essential oil made from bitter oranges (LINK) and is interchangeable with bergamot orange essential oil. They can be used together to mutually support one another. Both are recognized in TCM for being especially good at treating mental and emotional disharmonies that are neither caused by either an excess (agitated) or deficient (weakened or collapsed) condition. This precondition of mental disharmony, caused by stress and anxiety, is very common in Western society. Bergamot orange essential oil is probably the best Qi-regulating oil available. It is often used to treat Liver-Stomach or Liver-Spleen imbalances, known as wood overacting or invading the earth element. It is a gentle and effective substance especially good for treating the young, the elderly, and/or more sensitive persons as it is excellent at balancing what is not yet an excessive or completely deficient mental-emotional condition.

Bergamot oranges, popular for their flavor, scent, and nutritional value, are sold in grocery stores worldwide. Not particularly popular as a fruit or juice, as zest, it comes to life. Full of its floral scent and lemon-like tang it is popularly used in many cakes, seafood dishes, and on vegetables. It is said to almost be like eating perfume.

Bergamot essential oil is known for building courage and confidence and providing protection, prosperity, and happiness. It releases unwanted negative thoughts and emotions helping to connect a person’s spirit with the divine. It supports the third chakra (solar plexus) and the seventh chakra (crown of the head), facilitating the opening of spiritual connection during meditation.

Bergamot essential oil is often used as a “top note” scent in perfumes. It blends well with sage, rose, ginger, jasmine, frankincense, lavender, black pepper, and other citrus oils. It makes a wonderful oil for the skin after showering. It takes about a hundred bergamot oranges to make about 3 ounces of bergamot essential oil.

Bergamot extract is another popular method of using bergamot, especially for internal use. Effective doses are generally recommended at 500 to 1000mg daily, starting at the low end and increasing if necessary.