Bergamot (citrus bergamia) essential oil has been used in Italian folk medicine for many years. Primarily it was used for fevers and worms and is not mentioned in any other countries folk traditions. It is a very uplifting oil which is widely used within aromatherapy for many things, stress being one of them. Especially within anxiety, stress and depression, Bergamot has been shown to uplift the mood. So how can you use this precious oil to help with your stress levels? (1)
Bergamot is a small tree growing to about 15 feet, which has a white star shaped flower and a yellow green citrus fruit. The way that it is extracted is different than most essential oils, with the peel of the nearly ripe fruit being cold expressed then distilled.
What to Look for When Buying
When buying Bergamot, you want to look for a light greenish-yellow liquid. The smell will be a fresh citrus aroma and a slightly spicy hint to it. Once the fruit ages it tends to turn a brownish olive color. Bergamot country of origin is in Italy. Other countries that Bergamot grows well in are Asia and it also has been grown commercially in the Ivory Coast.
These are some of the things you can look at when making a purchase on a good quality Bergamot oil. On the bottle itself, make sure the manufacturer has the Latin name on it which is citrus bergamia, to insure you are getting the right type of oil.
Safety
Bergamot is in the photosensitizing category of essential oils. This means that it must be used with caution when exposed to the sun. It is best to avoid applying it to the skin and then going into the sun altogether and if you do choose to use it in a massage, then apply proper sunscreen to avoid any risk of a burn.
Within pregnancy, Bergamot is one of the few oils that have been studies in a clinical setting. Studies have shown that pregnant women who have inhaled Bergamot for five minutes and showed a decrease in tension and anger. (Igarashi, T. 2013)
Stress and Bergamot
Bergamot alone can help uplift the mood because it is such an uplifting oil. There are many occasions that just simply inhaling the essential oil can help. There are other ways to incorporate Bergamot into your routine to help you deal with stress levels.
First thing to look at is your routine. Do you wake up in the morning and feel like everything just turns to rushing? Taking some times to inhale Bergamot on a tissue is a good option I teach my clients to have them stop before the chaos. Deep breathing alone will help reduce those stress levels, adding Bergamot into taking a break and intentionally taking five deep breath before the chaos starts will help your brain to realign.
Another way to incorporate Bergamot is by applying a drop of the oil with a carrier oil and applying it to your wrists. This not only will incorporate the smell on your skin but comes in contact with a very thin layer of the skin. This allows the oil to be absorbed faster as well as having the scent stick around.
Finally, a very popular way to incorporate Bergamot is by diffusing it. If you use it alone in a diffuser, I always recommend to diffuse in increments, to not overstimulate your olfactory system. There are diffusers nowadays which have an intermittent setting, that turn on and off every 30 min. For stress a great diffuser combo is including other uplifting oils such as lemon and ylang ylang.
Blends
Bergamot has many oils that it blends well with, especially when incorporating it in a massage oil or an inhaler. Some worth mentioning are:
- Black Pepper
- Clary Sage
- Tea Tree
- Vetiver
- Lavender
- Jasmine
- Sandalwood
If you are trying to get your stress under control by using aromatherapy, I have created six blends accompanied with four relaxation techniques FREE for you which you can use in any of the ways I mentioned.
Click here to get your FREE printout.
Stress is a part of all our lives. Aromatherapy has proven to be very beneficial when it comes to reducing stress and anxiety. If you are dealing with stress or anxiety and need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out.
