Bergamot essential oil benefits include great stress buster, eases digestive system, is a great vermifuge, balances hormonal levels, improves arterial health, is a good analgesic, lowers LDL cholesterol levels, good for your skin, can treat nasal congestion, keeps blood sugar in check, promotes oral health, may help reduce fever, and speeds up ulcers and sores.
From ancient Egypt to modern times, bergamot essential oil has been touted as a panacea for a vast array of diseases. Not only does bergamot boast impressive health benefits, it’s sweet, yet spicy, and citrusy fragrance can uplift your mood and make you more confident.
Considering the fact that the health and wellness world is buzzing over the benefits of uplifting bergamot oil, today, let’s go over the top 15 health benefits it offers.
15 Amazing Benefits of Bergamot Essential Oil
1. Stress Buster
Simply smelling the citrusy fragrance of bergamot essential oil can put a pep in your step. It relaxes your anxious and stressed mind, lightens the heavy heart, and uplifts confidence. Pair bergamot essential oil with rosemary and you’ve got yourself a mood booster. You can also add it to other carrier oils like jojoba or coconut to make personal stress-busting inhaler.
Analytical results from the 2015 study by Watanabe E et al indicated that vapor inhalation of bergamot oil may increase the activity of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). PNS is what promotes relaxation, slows down the heart rate, and lowers the blood pressure.
2. Eases digestive system
One of the most surprising benefits of bergamot essential oils is that they can calm your gut and treat indigestion. Bergamot peels and whole fruits were an indispensable part of Chinese traditional medicine for treating an upset stomach. Some research suggests that besides stimulating digestive juices, bergamot oil also fights food poisoning.
To ease the digestive woes, mix 1 to 3 drops of bergamot with jojoba or coconut oil and rub onto your stomach in the clockwise direction.
3. Bergamot oil is a great vermifuge
Bergamot essential oil is a natural, fragrant choice to kill intestinal worms, especially in children. When kids have distended abdomen, frequent stomach pain, or sallow appearance, they may have intestinal worms. And, the worms can cause anything from stomach infection to anemia and malnourishment.
Rubbing a few drops of bergamot oil on the abdomen to get rid of worms. You could also apply the oil on the affected tooth or use it as an effective mouthwash to kill oral bacteria that may cause cavities or gum diseases.
4. Balances hormonal levels
Bergamot oil helps to maintain hormonal levels by regulating endocrine glands. This includes insulin and ovarian hormones. Estrogen is directly linked to circulatory levels of serotonin, the happy hormone. Pieces of evidence also suggest that fluctuating levels of progesterone can disrupt serotonin levels.
Scientists found that women who regularly drank Earl Grey tea showed a significant reduction in hormonal issues related to menstruation and menopause. Since the oil has a positive effect on regulating insulin level, diabetic patients can also reap some benefits by topically applying bergamot oil.
5. Improves arterial health
Bergamot essential oil shows promise in improving arterial health by reducing LDL cholesterol levels. Turns out, the polyphenols bruteridine and melitidine present in bergamot oil can protect vascular endothelium against free radical damage. A healthy vascular endothelium ensures smooth blood vessel formation, blood pressure, and blood clotting pathways. Plus, it helps curb inflammations as well.
By suppressing inflammations, bergamot increases arterial responsiveness and decreases the chances of plaque formation and cardiac diseases.
6. Bergamot oil is a good analgesic
Research shows that bergamot is great in alleviating muscle ache, sprains, and headaches. According to a review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, linalool a bioactive compound in bergamot, lavender and rosewood oils offers anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anticonvulsant effects.
Scientists believe that this may be due to the ability of linalool to block pain receptors and inhibit the release of substance P, a compound that is involved in pain transmission and other nerve impulse transmissions.
To reduce pain, rub 2 or 3 drops of bergamot oil on the tensed or strained area. Combine bergamot oil with coconut oil if you want to cover a larger area.
7. Lowers LDL cholesterol levels
Bergamot essential oil works as cholesterol-lowering statin drug. It doesn’t stop there – bergamot also increases HDL cholesterol in the circulation, which then flushes out cholesterol out of your arteries to the liver. As a result, you are less likely to develop cardiac diseases. In tests on 98 older adults (65 years), scientists found that a 12-week supplementation of bergamot supplement reduced triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Frontiers in Pharmacology confirmed that bergamot extract can reduce plasma lipids, atherogenic LDL cholesterol, and subclinical atherosclerosis.
8. Good for your skin
Bergamot oil is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial which means it is good for your skin. It can help to tone the skin, soothe skin irritation, and heal cuts and scars. Being a cicatrizant, it is particularly effective in fighting off acne marks. To reap these benefits, you should apply the oil topically.
Massage it onto the skin like you would a moisturizer. For cuts and wounds, put 3 to 4 drops on a cotton ball and gently rub it on the affected area. Diffusing it into warm bath water will promote skin health.
Bergamot essential oil is also a great skin disinfectant.
9. Can treat nasal congestion
Respiratory problems from colds and coughs can be managed by diffusing a few drops of the oil in a vaporizer. Bergamot oil effectively loosens the phlegm, making it easier to cough up. Take a few drops of oil in your palm and hold it over the nose to clear the nasal blocks. For kids, rub 2-3 drops of the oil on their chest.
In case of severe chest congestion, mix bergamot oil and eucalyptus oil in a 1:1 ratio in the diffuser. It will give you restful, uninterrupted sleep. Adding bergamot oil in herbal teas would also do good.
10. Keeps blood sugar in check
Applying a few drops of bergamot oil on the pulse point can lower blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Clinical studies have shown that an intake of 500-1000 mg of bergamot per day may lower blood sugar levels by 22%. However, care should be taken not to overdo it because it may drastically reduce blood sugar levels. Plus, you should monitor the sugar readings regularly.
Individuals who are about to undergo surgeries should not use bergamot oil. It may interfere with the procedure.
11. Bergamot oil in haircare
Dandruff and itchy, dry scalp cause hair loss. The antibiotic and antifungal properties in bergamot essential oil make it an excellent hair tonic. From preventing dandruff to secondary scalp infections and hair loss, a few drops of bergamot oil go a long way.
Regularly massaging your hair with bergamot oil and coconut oil mix will nourish the roots and promote shiny healthy hair. If not used as a massage oil, mix it with your regular shampoo to reap benefits of antimicrobial action.
12. Promotes oral health
The flavonoids in bergamot are effective in providing excellent antimicrobial benefits. When used as a mouth wash, it kills bacteria and prevents bad breath. It also protects your teeth from cavities and gum from inflammation thanks to its germ-fighting ability. Since it is all natural, chances of gum irritation or sensitivity are negligible.
To boost oral health, mix 2 to 3 drops of bergamot essential oil in your toothpaste or dilute small quantity of bergamot oil in warm water/mouthwash and gargle.
13. Bergamot oil may help reduce fever
Bergamot essential oil has been shown effective in reducing fever. This is due to Bergamot oil’s stimulating effects on blood circulation and endocrine hormones to increase sweating. And, when you sweat, the temperature naturally comes down. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of the bergamot oil may help fight the pathogens or inflammations that cause fever. What’s more, it also removes accumulated toxins via sweat.
Apply two to three drops of bergamot oil on the chest, forehead, and back of the neck. Inhaling bergamot oil vapors will also help get relief.
14. Speeds up ulcers and sores
Since bergamot is rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenols, it helps in fighting off free radicals in the body. The cellular damage by free radicals is attributed to cold sores, mouth ulcers, rashes, and other skin irritations. Since the oil has antifungal properties, it can act as a great natural remedy for skin infections caused by Candida sp.
To experience its healing effects, use bergamot essential oil as a topical agent on the affected area.
15. Bergamot oil in perfumery
Not only does bergamot essential oil offers some impressive health benefits, but it’s also one of the key ingredients for making perfumes. You will be surprised to know that majority of the unisex perfumes contain bergamot oil thanks to its ability to harmonize a mix of aromas.
If you aren’t aware, bergamot oil is also used lavishly in the biopharmaceutical industry, both to absorb the smell of medicines and for its analgesic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties.
The Bottom Line
Bergamot essential oil is safe and has no known serious side effects.
Bergamot oil is versatile in its mixability. It blends well with most essential oils including Cypress, Sandalwood, Clary Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Frankincense and more.
Research on Bergamot essential oil’s health effects is limited. So, avoid self-treating any health condition.
