Using bergamot essential oil via aromatherapy or topically may help improve your mood, hair health, and skin.
Ready to add bergamotessential oilto add to your cabinet? (We promise we’re not trying to recruit you to another pyramid scheme.)
Bergamot oil is extracted from the rinds offruiton bergamot orange trees (akaCitrus bergamia). If you like to sip onEarl grey tea, you’ve already enjoyed bergamot oil in a similar form.
But it’s also a sweet, zesty fave in the essential oil world with a bunch of health benefits thanks to itsanti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and pain-relieving properties.
Before you fire up your diffuser, let’s break down the benefits of using bergamot essential oil.
While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with your healthcare provider before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do apatch testbefore trying a new essential oil.
Bergamot oil health benefits
1. May improve mental health
Breathein bergamot, breathe out the blues? Maybe.
In a small2017 study, participants who inhaled bergamot essential oil in amental healthcenter waiting room reported increased positive feelings. That said, researchers pointed out that the study’s teeny sample size and limitations don’t prove these findings.
In another small2015 studyof 41 women in Japan, researchers concluded that inhaling bergamot reduced feelings ofanxietyandfatigue.
A2013 reviewechoed this finding, with scientists concluding that bergamot and other essential oils may be able to relievedepression, anxiety, and mood disorders by signaling the brain to release feel-good hormonesserotoninanddopamine.
A2019 reviewalso concluded that bergamot inhalation may reducestresscompared to rest alone — butnotcompared to placeboaromatherapy.
So, we need more research to know if bergamot can banish your bad mood for sure.
2. Could fight food poisoning
Feeling like vomming after that takeout? You might wanna breathe in some bergamot.
Linalool is a compound found in bergamot that may help destroy certain types of bacteria that cause food-borne illness. (Fun fact:It’s also used to add a floral scent to lots of your fave beauty andskin careproducts.)
In a2016 study, researchers found that bergamot had “weak to strong effects” at halting the growth of diff bacteria samples that cause one common type of food poisoning.
A2006 study, meanwhile, found that bergamot may be most effective at destroying specific strains of bacterium including Staph,Listeria, and E. coli.
We might need more research before you’re able to start sniffing the bergamot to stop your sushi stomach, but it might be worth a try.
3. Lowers cholesterol
Bergamot could also be a blessing for yourheart health.
A2016 reviewof several studies found that the flavonoids in bergamot can help reduce lipid levels in the bod, though researchers aren’t exactly sure why.
A2018 studyon animals echoed this finding. Researchers found bergamot may have an anti-inflammatory effect on the liver (but this was only for rats who had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). We need more people studies to know for sure.
4. Reduces pain and inflammation
Linalool and carvacrol — compounds found in bergamot oil — appear to help diminish pain and inflammation. In a2017 reviewof several studies, researchers found that both compounds had anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, and pain-relieving effects when inhaled and applied directly to the skin.
Similarly, a2019 reviewconfirmed that bergamot appears to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and aid in wound healing.
Researchers didpoint outthat there could be potentially toxic effects ofessential oilswe don’t know about yet, so stay tuned before you start inhaling them round-the-clock.
5. Hair health
Maybe they’re born with it — maybe it’s bergamot.
According to a2019 review, bergamot essential oil promoted hair growth in animal studies. Though your hair is def different than a rat’s, it could be worth a try.
The oil’s anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties may also help soothe an itchy or irritated scalp. (Just don’t apply it without a carrier oil — more on that later.)
Those who use it as a regular part of their hair care routine swear it softens hair and tames frizz and curls. Plus, it’ll make your hair smell like you rolled in a field of citrusy wildflowers. 🌼
6. Skin health
According to a2019 review, bergamot essential oil increases skin collagen content and decreases psoriasis plaques in animals. Just note we don’t have enough research on humans to know for sure what the deal is.
Still, it might be worth adding a little bergamot to your skin care routine. Since many compounds in bergamot oil also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it might work as a spot treatment for acne orcysts, especially since it’s thought to alsoaid in wound healing.
If you havepsoriasis, sensitive skin, or another skin condition, though, check with your derm first.
How to use bergamot essential oil
Aromatherapy
Ready to breathe in bergamot? Try using it for aromatherapy in the following ways:
Pro tip: If you want to mix up a nice combo, bergamot pairs especially sweetly withlavender,tea tree oil, or chamomile.
New zit, who dis? Whether you have a new spot or just want to keep your skin smooth and toned, bergamot might help. Here’s what to do:
Since bergamot can increase skin sensitivity, you’ll want to avoid using the oil on your skin during the day. Like other citrus oils, it can make skin super-sensitive to the sun.
Bergamot just might make for hair commercial-caliber smoothness. Here’s how to try it:
Bergamot oil risks
Bergamot can sometimes be irritating to the skin, especially if yours tends to be sensitive. Any essential oil, including bergamot, can alsocause allergic dermatitis— aka an allergic rash.
Symptoms can include:
If you notice any of these effects after applying bergamot, wash it off ASAP and stop using it. Visit your doc if symptoms don’t dissipate within 24 hours.
Safety tips to keep in mind
Limited research suggests that bergamot essential oil might be effective for improving mental health, reducing inflammation, loweringcholesterol levels, and fending off food poisoning.
Since it can cause skin irritation in some people, always do apatch testbefore trying. It also causes photosensitivity, so shouldn’t be used before you soak up some sun.
Its zesty, citrusy-floral scent makes it an ideal addition to your aromatherapy or skin care routine. Just make sure you dilute it with a carrier oil before applying directly to the skin.
