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Bergamot Oil
We must likely have Columbus to thank for transporting the Bergamot tree from its native home in the Canary Islands to Italy, where it has been cultivated ever since. It's the inedible, bitter green fruit of the Bergamot tree, once called the Bergamot Pear, that gives us one of the most commonly used essential oils.
Bergamot oil, which is released when the peels of the fruit are cold-pressed, has a pale emerald green color and a slightly sweet, lemon-orange scent. The oil has many uses. Its refreshing, distinctive aroma lifts the spirits, relaxes frayed nerves and even diminishes anxiety, fear and anger, while the oil itself possesses strong antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
Adding Bergamot oil to a Sitz Bath helps treat such urinary tract infections as urethritis and cystitis. When applied topically, the oil can help in the healing of irritated skin; thus, it can effectively treat acne and insect bites.
Bergamot oil's most familiar culinary use is in Earl Grey tea. Minute drops of the oil (it is safe to ingest in tiny amounts) give the tea its flavor and delightful aroma.
THERAPEUTIC EFFECT: Bergamot's essential oil contains limonene, linalyl acetate, nerol and linalool, substances that are antiseptic and astringent. It is used to treat anxiety, depression, insect bites, fever and headaches. A bergamot bath is recommended for vaginal itching and discharge and urinary tract infections. When mixed with a base or carrier oil, bergamot hastens the healing of cold sores and helps alleviate the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.
FOR EXHAUSTION
Bergamot oil is restorative and can combat fatigue due to stress or illness. When it's combined with lime, another oil that is known to counter depression and exhaustion, the blend makes for a potent energy booster. Lime's tangy and lively aroma mixes well with bergamot.8 drops of Bergamot essential oil
5 drops of Lime essential oil
Place the two oils together in a diffuser or aromatherapy lamp.
Bergamot is one of the best essential oils for treating skin eruptions, especially those that are stress induced. Using the oil in a facial steam bath is effective for cleansing and healing the skin.3 drops of Bergamot essential oil
Large bowl of steaming water.
To make a steam bath, add oil to the bowl of steaming water. Drape a towel over your head and shoulders, and then bend your face over the bowl. For 10 to 15 minutes, breathe deeply, keeping your eyes closed. Caution: Do not use a steam bath if you have any broken facial capillaries.
To help combat cystitis and pruritis (an itching that often accompanies a mild vaginal infection).
Add 4 to 5 drops of bergamot oil to a warm bath. Bathe with the oil once a day until symptoms disappear.
For a topical cystitis remedy.5 drops Bergamot essential oil
5 drops German Chamomile essential oil
Mix oils in 1 pint of boiled, cooled water. Soak a cotton cloth in the blend, and swab the opening of the urethra following urination.
An aromatic bath can invigorate your body, mind and spirit, especially during times of stress. Two basic bath blends for tension and stress are Bergamot oil and Clary Sage oil, also an antidepressant.3 drops Bergamot essential oil
3 drops Clary Sage essential oil
To prepare bath, blend both oils into the bathwater when the tub is full. These oils can also be mixed with a carrier oil, such as Grapeseed oil or Sweet Almond oil, before being added to the bath. This helps to moisturize the skin and ensures an even distribution.
Bergamot oil can help ease the discomfort of chicken pox or cold sores.3 drops Bergamot essential oil
3 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
1 teaspoon water-based gel
Combine oils and the water-based gel, which is used to dilute the oils. Avoid using vegetable oils, since they can prevent scabbing over. Apply several times daily.
A compress is used with Bergamot oil to reduce a fever.5 drops Bergamot essential oil
1 quart Cold Water
Mix oil in cold water and soak 2 cotton towels in it. Wring out the towels and wrap them around your calves. Cover the compresses with another towel to keep them in place. Resoak the compresses when they are no longer cold, and continue to reapply until the fever subsides.
For a quick headache relief, dilute Bergamot oil with a carrier oil and rub it into your temples or the back of your neck. A few drops should alleviate the pain, especially if it is tension related.
Like many citrus-based essential oils, Bergamot oil is considered phototoxic. If you can, purchase the oil without bergaptene, the component that is responsible for the skin's increased sensitivity to ultra-violet rays. When you use regular Bergamot oil, or any citrus-based oil, avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours following application; exposure to the sun may lead to skin discoloration, blistering or severe burning.
RESOURCE: The Complete Guide To Natural Healing.
Every effort is made to provide medically accurate and up-to-date information that is intended to complement, not replace, the advice of your health care provider or midwife. Before undertaking the advice contained on this website, you should consult with your health care provider or midwife, who can best assess your individual needs, symptoms and treatment.
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