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 (terpenic hydrocarbon), geraniol, linalool and nerol (alcohols of the terpenoid group), terpineol (monoterpenic alcohol), citral (monoterpene), nephenol (monoterpene), citrate (monoterpene), diaphenol, monoterpenic alcohol, citral (monoterpene) , methyl anthranilate.
Bergapten and bergamotin are furocoumarins - substances with a photosensitizing effect.
Did you know? Bergamot is an evergreen citrus tree, a hybrid of orange and citron. The homeland of the plant is considered to be Southeast Asia, it also grows in southern Italy, in China, India, Argentina, Brazil and the USA, on the coasts of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
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 used in the treatment of vitiligo (skin pigmentation disorders with the presence of white spots), as it contains furocoumarins, contributing 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.
Did you know? In Italy, industrial marmalade is produced from bergamot juice. In Greece, from the peel of the fruit make jam.
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" variety is used. This tea has a spicy tart taste with fresh notes.
Thanks to caffeine, black tea invigorates and helps to concentrate, bergamot oil improves 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.
Did you know? Bergamot tea with oil "Earl Gray" is named after the English diplomat Charles Gray, who in the XIX century, was the first to deliver such tea to Europe.
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 bergamot and lavender oil, 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 you need to rub a mixture of two drops of bergamot oil and a tablespoon of vegetable oil in 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 bergamot oil, 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 strengthen blood flow to problem areas and reduce 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.
Important! Bergamot essential oil in its pure form can not be consumed inside.
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 in order to accelerate the ripening 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 the 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 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 off the mask, rinse the hair with a decoction of chamomile with a few drops of bergamot oil.
Important! From mineral water, apple cider vinegar, rosemary essential oils and bergamot you can prepare a hair rinse.
To clean the skin
Bergamot is often used to solve cosmetic problems such as excessive oily skin and inflammation.
- Mask for narrowing the pores: whip 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.
Important! To avoid allergies, it is recommended to test on a small area of skin before using bergamot oil. In the first minutes you can feel a slight burning sensation, this is normal. Use oil in its pure form should be careful: it can cause skin irritation or burns.
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 lit candle. To clean the smoke room 5 drops of bergamot oil, 4 drops of myrtle oil and 4 drops of limemet oil should be placed in the aroma lamp. 
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 bergamot, grapefruit, and lavender oil. 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% in perfume. 
Bergamot oil with its sweet tart citrus scent blends well with different flavors, creating a unique bouquet. Jasmine, geranium, chamomile, lavender, violet, coriander, cypress and eucalyptus oils are used in the same composition with bergamot. Bergamot is usually used in the initial notes of the perfume.
Did you know? Bergamot is part of the top notes of the world famous perfume Chanel №5.
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 insist in a dark cool place for a week.
Perfume with floral aroma: 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. Harvest 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. 
Did you know? From ten fruits of a bergamot at manual extraction 9 ml of oil turn out.
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 keep in mind that bergamot is a strong allergen.
Inhalation with essential oil for the treatment of colds and aromatherapy to relieve tension and anxiety are also permitted. But in case of problem pregnancy, any method of using 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.
