Essential Oil Spotlight: Bergamot

Bergamot essential oil is solvent-extracted or vacuum-distilled from the Citrus bergamia fruit (Kaffir lime) or pressed from the rind or peel.

Bergamot was used in Italy to relieve fevers, protect against malaria, and expel intestinal worms. Some believe that Christopher Columbus brought bergamot to Italy from the Canary Islands.

The French use it to calm agitation, treat appetite loss, colic, depression, infection, and intestinal parasites, and relieve rheumatism. Other possible uses are to improve skin conditions and to treat coughs, respiratory infection, sore throat, insect bites, and nervous tension. It is commonly used to heal cold sores and urinary tract infections, and for depression, stress, or insomnia.

Due to antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, bergamot may support the body systems that affect digestion, emotional balance, and skin.

Its uplifting and refreshing aroma is energy-giving and mood-lifting. It can also be effective as a deodorant or dietary supplement.

To learn more about bergamot essential oil, see the book Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils.

Source: Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils, 7th edition, p. 92.