Hailed not just for its soothing, spicy scent but also for its magical composition, bergamot essential oil benefits are countless!
Did you know that bergamot is a common ingredient in the Earl Grey tea you love so much? Extracted from the rinds of a bergamot orange, bergamot oil is one of the most popular essential oils in aromatherapy, and for good reason, too! Besides exhibiting similar therapeutic properties to other citrus essential oils, there are many benefits and uses of bergamot oil. In this article, you will get to know more about them!
Benefits of Bergamot Oil
1) Helps Prevent Hair Loss and Boost Hair Growth
Experiencing some woes with your tresses? Bergamot essential oil can be the one-stop solution to all of them! Whether you are experiencing hair loss or are just trying to revitalize dull, lifeless hair, this oil not only improves blood circulation in the scalp but can also improve hair texture, adding shine, when used regularly.
Bergamot oil has antimicrobial properties and can help prevent various hair and scalp infections. An essential oil that calms down stress, it can even help prevent hair loss and premature greying.
2) Evens Skin Tone and Prevents Skin Issues
Thanks to its host of antibacterial properties, bergamot oil plays a crucial role in helping treat various skin infections such as boils, warts, acne, etc.
Since bergamot oil is a very common ingredient in many oil-based beauty products, you can gauge how useful this oil can be in helping even out your skin tone and, thus, improving your complexion as well. Bergamot oil’s antiseptic nature clears out bacteria and dirt from clogged pores, reducing various signs of aging.
3) Alleviates Stress and Anxiety
As aforementioned, bergamot oil has natural properties to alleviate stress and anxiety. That is one of the main reasons why it is commonly used in various aromatherapy procedures. Give yourself some spa time right at home with a head massage with this oil that will help you relax and boost your cognitive abilities like memory, concentration, etc.
In Ayurveda, this practice helps normalize the vata and pitta doshas in the body, regulating the nervous system and boosting the production of the ‘happy hormone’ that is serotonin. It is also beneficial in subduing pain due to headaches.
4) Enhances Sleep Quality
Following up on the previous point, as bergamot oil helps alleviate anxiety and stress, regulating the nervous system, it also helps with better sleep quality. So, if you have an important deadline coming up or have something in your mind that stresses you out during work, just seek the help of this relaxing, soothing essential oil.
With proper sleep, you will not be exhausted the following day and will be able to tackle your problems with clarity and confidence.
5) Boosts Immunity
Bergamot oil is a rich source of antioxidants and bioactive components. Thanks to its antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, it is often used in alternative medicine to help improve the immune system.
These properties prove to be highly effective in helping prevent various infections, such as the common cold, fever, sore throat, and others.
6) Remedies Respiratory Discomfort
Yet another benefit of the abundance of antibacterial and expectorant properties of bergamot essential oil is that it can help remedy various respiratory problems.
From helping clear mucus and phlegm deposits from the nasal passage to providing relief from chest congestion, this oil has a very soothing nature that makes it an excellent one to compact respiratory problems.
7) Relieves Pain And Inflammation
Antimicrobial properties are not all that bergamot oil has. You can also benefit from the anti-inflammatory, strong analgesic, and pain-relieving properties of this oil because of the presence of the bio-active component limonene.
If you suffer from chronic joint pain and inflammation due to conditions like arthritis, bergamot oil can be your best friend! In fact, it is a natural vasodilator and can also help treat sore muscles, painful muscle spasms, and other inflammatory conditions.
8) Eases Digestive Woes
Bergamot essential oil also has antispasmodic properties that can help relieve digestive woes. It aids in preventing harmful gases in the stomach and interacts with gastric enzymes, thus helping you digest better. It relieves flatulence, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and can even help with IBS or irritable bowel syndrome.
You can also enjoy these digestive benefits by adding a couple of drops of bergamot essential oil to a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, and massaging it into the stomach to ease pain and discomfort.
How to Use Bergamot Oil?
1) In Aromatherapy
Of course, aromatherapy is the first way to use the soothing bergamot essential oil. Here are a few ways to do that regularly.
- Put a few drops of bergamot essential oil in your diffuser and breathe in the scent throughout your home.
- You could add this oil when making DIY scented candles or air fresheners. Adding it to potpourri is also a great idea, as dabbing it onto vaporizers helps diffuse the soothing scent.
- If you are on the go, dab some oil onto a bandana or handkerchief and experience its benefits wherever you go!
2) For Skin
- Dilute a few drops of bergamot essential oil with a carrier oil and massage it onto your body like a body lotion.
- You could also add some diluted bergamot essential oil to products like body wash, facial scrubs, and cleansers, but ensure they don’t react. Consult a beauty professional or your dermatologist to ensure the safety of doing so.
- Tired of your acne? You can use diluted bergamot oil as an effective spot treatment for wounds and acne on your skin. Plus, this oil also helps relieve psoriasis symptoms. When dealing with issues like pimples, small cuts, and blackheads, leave the diluted oil on your face overnight and rinse off with your favorite cleanser.
3) For Hair
- Who doesn’t like soft, healthy hair with a fresh scent? Diluted bergamot oil can soften your tresses and tame your curls, giving you the hair of your dreams!
- Its anti-inflammatory properties help relieve an irritated scalp. Massage some diluted bergamot oil onto your scalp as an overnight treatment to boost circulation and promote hair growth. Then, rinse it off with your favorite, mild shampoo.
4) Essential Oil Blend
Besides bergamot oil, many others can provide amazing benefits. So create the perfect essential oil blend comprising your favorite and have the best of several worlds!
- Lavender oil- A classic choice for aromatherapy, the lavender essential oil is used not only in aromatherapy but also in various skin and hair treatments.
- Tea tree oil- Known for its antibacterial properties, tea tree oil is a good addition to your oil blend if you are dealing with acne and skin inflammation.
- Chamomile oil- While the tea may help elevate your mood, chamomile has soothing properties that help you relax after a long day. It is the perfect companion to bergamot oil.
You must note that bergamot essential oil has quite a strong scent that overpowers others. So, if you are looking for a balanced scent in your essential oil blend, you must be mindful of the quantities of the oils you use, including the proportion of the carrier oil.
Precautions Before Using Bergamot Oil
- Before using any essential oil, you must first dilute it and conduct a patch test on a small area of skin on your wrist or arm to check for any adverse reactions. Wait for 24 hours and if all is good, you can start using the oil regularly.
- Dilution with carrier oil is a must for every essential oil as they are quite potent. Bergamot oil especially shouldn’t be used on sensitive skin. Consult your dermatologist before using this oil regularly.
- When choosing bergamot essential oil either online or in any offline stores, ensure that you purchase from a trusted manufacturer so you can reap all the therapeutic benefits of the oil.
- Thanks to its distinctive citrus scent, bergamot oil is often an active ingredient that you can find in personal care products such as colognes, perfumes, colognes, and cosmetics. This is yet another way to enjoy the benefits of bergamot oil if you do not want to use it topically.