Useful properties, use and harm of bergamot

Bergamot is known mainly for its flavored tea. To meet this strange citrus in the form of fruit is very problematic, but you can buy essential oil in a supermarket or pharmacy. With proper use of bergamot will be a great helper in cosmetic procedures and healing the body.

Chemical composition of bergamot

The rind of the fruit contains 1-3% essential oil. It is a yellow-green liquid with a pleasant fresh citrus scent and sourish taste.

The composition of bergamot oil includes: linalyl acetate (ester of the terpenoid group), camphene (bicyclic monoterpene), bergapten, bergaptol,limonene (terpene hydrocarbon), geraniol, linalool and nerol (alcohols of the terpenoid group), terpineol (monoterpenic alcohol), citral (monoterpenic aldehyde with a strong lemon odor), methyl anthranilate.

Bergapten and bergamotin are furocoumarins - substances with a photosensitizing effect.

Useful properties of bergamot for the body

Bergamot has many beneficial properties for the human body: strengthens the immune system, helps fight colds, tones and refreshes, has antiseptic, antiparasitic and antifungal effects.

Bergamot oil, due to its anti-inflammatory effect, helps in the treatment of insect bites, burns, eczema and psoriasis. It is also used in the treatment of vitiligo (violation of skin pigmentation with the presence of white spots), as it contains furocoumarins, which contribute to the production of melanin pigment.

Bergamot helps to normalize the secretion of sweat and sebaceous glands, helps with urogenital infections and is considered a strong aphrodisiac. Beneficial effect of bergamot on the nervous system: calms, relieves stress, stimulates mental activity.

Use in folk medicine: treatment with bergamot

Bergamot has a tonic effect on the body and is used in various procedures.

Bergamot Tea

Bergamot Tea Traditionally made from Indian and Ceylon varieties of tea with the addition of oil from the peel of bergamot. For the variant with green tea, the "Gunpowder" grade is used. This tea has a spicy tart taste with fresh notes.

Thanks to caffeine, black tea invigorates and helps to concentrate; bergamot oil boosts mood, reduces stress and helps relieve fatigue.

The most popular type of flavored bergamot tea is Earl Gray (Earl Gray).

Bergamot tea is brewed like any other tea. For one cup take a teaspoon of tea, pour boiling water and insist a few minutes.Bergamot is well combined with medium-leaf and large-leaf black tea varieties without additives.

To make homemade tea with bergamot, you need to drop up to 10 drops of essential oil into a small hermetic container, pour tea into it and close tightly. Periodically, the tea should be shaken without opening. After 5 days, fragrant tea is ready.

Bergamot oil to relieve fatigue

With excessive stress and fatigue, bergamot oil can be added to the shower gel or used for massage.

Bergamot oil for nervous exhaustion

Bergamot has a beneficial effect on the nervous system with emotional exhaustion, anxiety, stress and depression. Improve the state of mind and improve the mood will help aromalampa with the following composition: 5 drops of oils of bergamot and lavender, 3 drops of neroli oil.

Also, a few drops of bergamot oil and a spoonful of honey can be diluted in a glass of boiled water and taken twice a day. To combat headaches, rub a mixture of two drops of bergamot oil and a tablespoon of vegetable oil into whiskey.

Bergamot oil for bronchitis

With bronchitis, the patient has difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing in the lungs, fever. Treatment of bronchitis with the use of essential oils is such procedures like cold and hot inhalations, rubbing, baths.

For cold inhalation You need to put a few drops of bergamot oil on the fabric and inhale the aroma of the oil for 7 minutes.

For hot inhalation in a container with very hot water you need to drop a few drops of oil, cover your head with a towel and inhale the vapors for 5-7 minutes. Together with the oil of bergamot, you can use other oils: lavender, eucalyptus, fir.

In addition to inhalations are recommended. rubbing with bergamot oil, for colds or bronchitis, they will help increase blood flow to problem areas and relieve inflammation. Oil or mixture of oils rubbed into the skin to a slight redness.

Lower body temperature will help compress: moisten gauze with a solution of a quarter glass of water and a few drops of bergamot oil and apply it to the calf muscles.

Bergamot oil for herpes

Herpes is a virus that most of the time in the body is in a latent form. It is completely impossible to recover from it, but with essential oils it is possible to cauterize the sites of inflammation to accelerate the maturation of the blister and the healing of wounds.

To do this, use the essential oils of bergamot, tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus and sage. It is recommended to apply not only one oil, but also to combine different odors. The mixture of essential oils is also diluted with alcohol or an oil solution of vitamin E.

How to use bergamot oil in cosmetology

Bergamot is widely used in cosmetology. The main direction - the fight against excessive oily skin and hair.

With greasy hair

To reduce the secretion of sebaceous glands and hair loss It is recommended to make a mask twice a week, for which you will need: 5-6 drops of essential oil of bergamot, 2 egg yolks, 20 g of oatmeal and 50 ml of unsweetened yogurt.

Mix yolks, flour and yogurt, after a few minutes add bergamot oil. Apply the mask to dry hair, wrap up the head, hold for 10 minutes, rinse and rinse the hair with herbal decoction.

With excessive fat you can try combing hair with essential oil. On a wooden comb you need to drop a few drops of bergamot oil and comb your hair along the entire length in different directions. A thin film of oil will cover the hair, nourishing it. You can also add oil to purchased products, for example, in masks.

To strengthen hair

For better hair growth and split ends treatment apply a mask with beer yeast. For its preparation, you need to take 3 egg yolks, 10 g of beer yeast, 5 tablespoons of chamomile infusion, 12 ml of olive oil and 4-5 drops of bergamot oil. Crushed brewer's yeast should be dissolved in a warm chamomile infusion, add the rest of the ingredients and mix.

Apply the mask to wet hair along the entire length, put a plastic bag or cap on the head, warm the hair with the hair dryer and wrap. An hour later, the mask can be washed off. To restore very damaged hair make a course of 10 masks.

To supply dry hair a mask with bergamot and banana is recommended. You need to take 3 tablespoons of sour cream (cream or cottage cheese), 15 g of honey, 1 chopped banana (peach or apricots), 3 tablespoons of aloe juice, 6 drops of bergamot oil.

All ingredients need to be mixed and applied throughout the length of clean, dry hair.

Wrap your head with a film and a towel, warm it up with a hair dryer for 15 minutes, and then hold the mask on your hair for another half hour. After washing the mask, rinse the hair with a decoction of chamomile with a few drops of bergamot oil.

To clean the skin

Bergamot is often used to solve cosmetic problems such as excessive oily skin and inflammation.

• Mask for narrowing the pores: beat the egg white, add 5 drops of bergamot oil, apply on face for 5-10 minutes.
• Mask for cleansing the skin: mix the oil of grapes, bergamot and thyme, apply on face for 15 minutes.
• Means for the normalization of the sebaceous glands: prepare a solution of distilled water (75 ml), glycerin (15 ml) and a few drops of essential oils of bergamot, geranium and sandalwood. Apply to problem areas for 15 minutes.
• Mask to nourish the skin: mix the oil of jojoba, grapes and bergamot, apply on face for 10 minutes.
• Enrichment of cosmetics: add a few drops of essential oil to a portion of cream, milk, lotion or tonic.
• Toning body lotion: mix a few drops of bergamot, lemon, neroli and rosemary with almond oil (50 ml).
• Moisturizing the hands: apply a few drops of bergamot oil on your hands every day and massage.

Beneficial effect on the skin of the bath with bergamot oil and sea salt. On a tablespoon of plain or sea salt need to take 5 drops of oil. Take such baths to half an hour.

The use of bergamot in aromatherapy

Bergamot essential oil is often used in aroma lamps (aroma incense). To fill the room with aroma, you need a few drops of oil, a little water and a lighted candle. To clean the smoke room In the aroma lamp you need to put 5 drops of bergamot oil, 4 drops of myrtle oil and 4 drops of limemet oil.

With the help of essential oils, it is possible to contribute to an increase in brain activity, which can be useful for bergamot for students or workers dealing with intense mental work.Before an important event (exam, interview) in the aromamedallion you can put oil of bergamot, grapefruit, and lavender. In the workplace, it will be useful aromalampa. This will help to focus well, think clearly and process large amounts of information.

For the preparation of aromatic massage oil You need to prepare a mixture of 4 drops of bergamot oil, 3 drops of rose oil, drops of ylang-ylang oil and 3 tablespoons of jojoba oil.

For aromatherapy in the sauna just add bergamot oil (5 drops to 0.5 l of water) or a mixture with other oils (peppermint, myrtle, eucalyptus).

How to use bergamot oil in perfumes

Today, the use of bergamot in natural form in perfumery is limited due to its ability to cause skin photo-burns. Synthesized oil is used for this purpose. The maximum percentage of bergamot oil permitted by the International Perfume Organization on an industrial scale is 0.4% of the perfume.

Bergamot oil with its sweet tart citrus scent blends well with different flavors, creating a unique bouquet. In one composition with bergamot, jasmine, geranium, chamomile, lavender oils are used.violets, coriander, cypress and eucalyptus. Bergamot is usually used in the initial notes of the perfume.

Perfume with bergamot is quite possible to prepare at home from various essential oils.

Recipe for spirits with a decrease in appetite: honey essential oil - 8 drops, jasmine - 3 drops, bergamot - 5 drops, grapefruit - 5 drops, roses - 1 drop.

Several recipes for aphrodisiac perfumes:

• Jojoba oil - 10 drops, bergamot - 2 drops, sandalwood - 2 drops, vanilla and cinnamon - 1 drop each.
• Jojoba oil - 10 ml, bergamot - 5 drops, coriander - 5 drops, roses - 3 drops, neroli - 3 drops, jasmine - 1 drop.

Citrus Eau de Cologne: orange oil - 6 drops, bergamot - 6 drops, lavender - 2 drops, rosemary - 1 drop, rosewood - 2 drops, peppermint - 1 drop, a tablespoon of alcohol. Shake the mixture and infuse in a dark cool place for a week.

Perfume with floral scent: oils of rose petals - 5 drops, jasmine - 5 drops, geraniums and tangerine - 2 drops, bergamot, ylang-ylang and sassafras - drop by drop, 20 ml of 90-degree ethyl alcohol.

Perfume with a fresh scent: lemon oil - 5 drops, lemon balm and lavender - 3 drops, orange blossom flowers - 2 drops, bergamot - 2 drops, 20 ml of 90-degree ethyl alcohol.

Preparation of raw materials from bergamot

Bergamot fruits ripen by the end of November or early December. Harvested fruits and their peel, leaves, flowers, young shoots. Parts of the plant are dried naturally and stored in glass containers away from strong substances.

Since the fruit itself does not have a very pleasant taste, it is rarely used in cooking, you can store the fruits of bergamot for this purpose simply in the refrigerator. Essential oil is made from the peel of ripe fruit by cold pressing. Keep it in a cool dark place in a glass container.

Harm and contraindications

Contraindications to the use of bergamot is the presence of allergies.

Bergamot oil can contribute to strong skin pigmentation, so do not apply it on the body before going out in the sun. Sensitive skin may burn.

Bergamot should be used very carefully during pregnancy.Drinking tea with bergamot should be in very limited quantities.

Essential oil for cosmetic purposes (for example, to prevent stretch marks) during this period can be used, but it should be borne in mind that bergamot is a strong allergen.

Inhalations with essential oils for the treatment of colds and aromatherapy to relieve tension and anxiety are also permitted. But with a problematic pregnancy, any method of application of bergamot is excluded.

Bergamot can bring great benefits to the body, but if used improperly, it can be harmful. Knowing all the features of its properties, you can successfully use the essential oil for aromatherapy, treatment, or simply prepare a delicious tea.