If you've ever sipped a cup of Earl Grey tea, you're familiar with bergamot, which gives the tea its distinctive aroma and flavor. Used in a number of foods, cosmetics and aromatherapy products, bergamot oil is not a completely harmless substance when it comes to ingestion or topical application, although it is generally safe when used in moderation.
Photosensitivity and Skin Changes
Photosensitivity is a primary danger of bergamot. When applied to the skin, the chemicals in bergamot oil can produce marked photosensitivity for up to 72 hours. This increase the likelihood that you may become sunburned. You may suffer from other skin reactions as well, including blisters, rashes or pigment changes, according to RxList. This type of sun damage can increase your vulnerability to skin cancer.
Muscle Cramps
Bergapten, one of the 300 compounds in bergamot oil, may cause muscle cramps and twitching when consumed in large amounts. Drugs.com recounts the story of a man who experienced muscle cramps, muscle twitching and blurred vision because of his habit of drinking about one gallon of Earl Grey tea daily. When he switched to black tea, his symptoms resolved.
Convulsions
RxList reports that there have been cases of convulsions and even death in children who ingested significant amounts of bergamot oil. Keep products containing bergamot oil out of the reach of children, and check with your pediatrician before using bergamot-containing products on your child. You should also avoid ingesting bergamot oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Member Comments