Bergamot oil

Last Updated: July 29, 2024

Bergamot oil is the essential oil extracted from the peel of the bergamot orange, a citrus fruit. This oil is used in aromatherapy, perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals and may promote relaxation and help reduce anxiety in adults. Bergamot oil should not be confused with bergamot extract, which refers to polyphenol-rich extracts of the juice, pith, and/or peel of the bergamot fruit, or with wild bergamot, an unrelated perennial plant in the mint family.

dosageDosage

Bergamot oil is most often used for

What is bergamot oil?

Bergamot oil, which is derived from the peel of the bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia), is primarily produced in Calabria, Italy, and is known for its distinctive aroma (commonly associated with Earl Grey tea). Historically, it was used for various medicinal purposes and can be extracted through pressing or distillation, which results in several different preparations of the oil.

What are some of the constituents of bergamot oil?

What are bergamot oil’s main benefits?
What are bergamot oil’s main drawbacks?

The main drawback of bergamot oil is its potential to cause photosensitivity due to phototoxic psoralens, particularly bergapten, which can lead to skin reactions like itching, redness, and even burning when skin is exposed to ultraviolet light. To mitigate these risks, the International Fragrance Association recommends limiting the bergamot oil concentration in sun-exposed products to 0.4%.

Can bergamot oil be used to develop a suntan?

Can the photosensitizing property of psoralens found in bergamot be medically useful?

Have there been phototoxic reactions to bergamot oil aromatherapy?

Are there any drawbacks to oral bergamot ingestion?

Is there any potential for drug interactions with bergamot oil?

How does bergamot oil work?

Bergamot essential oil may calm HPA axis activity and increase extracellular concentrations of certain neurotransmitters, as shown in animal studies. Its components — such as linalool and linalyl acetate — exhibit various beneficial properties, including promoting relaxation and potentially enhancing sleep quality through melatonin regulation.

How does aromatherapy work?

What are other names for Bergamot oil?
Note that Bergamot oil is also known as:
  • Oil of bergamot
  • Citri bergamiae aetheroleum
  • Citrus bergamia
  • Citrus aurantium bergamia
  • Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia
  • Citrus bergamia Risso
  • Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau
  • Citrus bergamia Risso et Poit
  • Bergamote
  • Bergamotte
  • Bergamotta
  • Aceite de bergamota
  • Huile de bergamote
  • Oleum bergamottae
Dosage information

No dosage of bergamot essential oil for aromatherapy has been established. The dosages and methods of administration of bergamot essential oil (BEO) used in research vary. BEO can be applied to an absorbent medium (such as a pillow, a cotton ball, or a scent strip) and held near the face to inhale the scent;[1][2][3] used in an aromatherapy diffuser (several types are available; ultrasonic diffusers require the addition of water, while nebulizers and fan/evaporation diffusers do not);[4][5] or prepared as an aromatherapy spray.[6]

As a general guideline, most studies have used 3–5 drops of diluted or pure BEO, either applied to an absorbent medium or used in an aromatherapy diffuser; the duration of aromatherapy can be from 15 minutes to several hours or overnight. An aromatherapy spray can also be made by combining BEO with alcohol and water (30 drops BEO, 10 mL ethanol, 90 mL water); this spray can then be sprayed onto an absorbent medium.[6]

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References
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