Bergamot for Aromatherapy

You may not know it by name, but you'd probably recognize bergamot if you smelled it. Bergamot oil, derived from the rinds of a citrus fruit, lends its light, sweet fragrance to perfumes, colognes, eau de toilet and many lotions and skin creams. The crisp, invigorating scent also makes bergamot essential oil a natural for aromatherapy.

History

Bergamot--Citrus bergamia--is a cross between sour orange and citron or lemon, according to the College of Natural and Agricultural Science at the University of California Riverside. The tree is native to Calabria, Italy, and has not spread much beyond that region, though it does grow well on the Ivory Coast and on Sicily. Bergamot oil is a primary ingredient in eau de cologne, developed in 1676 by Paolo Feminis, and manufactured as early as 1709. Bergamot oil appears in Italian folk medicine tradition, and aromatherapy has adopted many of its traditional uses.

Uses

The folk medicine uses of bergamot oil include treating wounds, preventing the spread of infection and reducing the symptoms of upper respiratory infections. It may be especially useful to treat urinary tract and vaginal infections. Bergamot oil stimulates or suppresses the appetite and helps relieve stomach cramps. It may speed the healing of cold sores and shingles outbreaks, according to Roberta Wilson, author of "Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Vibrant Health and Beauty." Emotionally, bergamot oil relieves fear, anxiety and panic, and may diminish depression. It may help people quit smoking and relieve fatigue associated with stress, long-term illness and chronic fatigue syndrome, Wilson notes.

Methods

The methods for using bergamot for aromatherapy include inhalation using an inhaler or a diffuser, massage with essential oil of bergamot, topical application of bergamot oil and sitz baths or soaking with bergamot oil.

Research

Researchers at the Cancer Care Centre at St. George Hospital in Australia tested the efficacy of aromatherapy in reducing anxiety. They randomly assigned 313 patients receiving radiation therapy to three groups--one inhaling essential oils of bergamot, lavender and cedar; one inhaling fractionated essential oils; and one inhaling carrier oil with no essential oil. The researchers used two standard tests to measure anxiety and depression after the therapy. The group that inhaled carrier oil only scored lower for anxiety than either of the two groups that inhaled essential oils. The researchers concluded that aromatherapy using bergamot, lavender and cedar oils is not effective in reducing anxiety associated with receiving radiation therapy.
In a 2009 study reported in the "Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing," 36 female high school students wore necklaces that were infused with either bergamot essential oil or a carrier oil only. The students wearing bergamot oil necklaces tested significantly lower on stress measurement scales. The study's authors suggest aromatherapy treatment as an effective intervention for high school students.

Warning

Bergamot oil can trigger photo-sensitivity, causing severe sunburn and skin damage. Do not wear it outdoors in the sun. The Langone Medical Center website also notes that essential oils may be toxic when taken internally, and that infants, seniors and those with severe illnesses should not take essential oils without the supervision of a doctor.