BERGAMOT

Constituents

• It is composed of both a volatile (93–96% of total)  mainly represented by monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and their oxygenated derivatives, along with aliphatic aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. They include monoterpene limonene (25–53%) and high quantities of oxygenated compounds, such as linalool (2–20%), linalyl acetate (15–40%), γ-terpinene, and β-pinene 

• The non-volatile fraction (4–7% of total) contains pigments, waxes, coumarins, and psoralens (such as 5-methoxypsoralen, also known as bergapten or 5-MOP, contained in about 0.2%), as well as bergamottine [5-geranyloxypsoralen]).

• Due to the well-known 5-MOP-induced photo-toxicity, a furocoumarins-free essential oil has been prepared for perfumery and cosmetic uses. The vacuum distillation of bergamot peels provides a high-quality BEO totally devoid of 5-MOP that is chemically comparable to that of the cold-pressed oil.

• Unlike sweet oranges, bergamot oranges are sour and not eaten fresh, despite the fact that the fruit is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, vitamins B1, B2, and A.

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Energetics/ Organoleptics

• SMELL: Sweet, light citrus scent with floral notes.  Delicately spicy/ zesty.

• TASTE: Bitter and lemony (inedible)

• COLOR: Greenish-yellow

• FEEL: Thin

• NOTE: Top note

• ENERGETICS: Brightening, positive, lifting

• ELEMENTS: wood and fire

• CHAKRA:  Bergamot resonates with the fourth chakra, opening the heart and allowing love to radiate.

• PLANETS / DIETIES: Mercury/ Persephone

• MERIDIANS: According to TCM its energy is circulating and neutral to warming with and affinity for the liver, spleen, stomach, and heart meridians.

• It works to reduce constraint in the liver, which is the organ and meridian that helps to maintain smooth and even flow of energy through the body and mind.

• By helping to regulate the Qi and harmonize the Shen, Bergamot balances the body’s energies much like an adaptogenic herb.

• Bergamot is cheering for us, helping to instill confidence in every ounce of our being. Bergamot helps to clear out from our cells the "old" energy, helps us transform ourselves, recreate ourselves and regenerate.

• From an Ayurvedic perspective, Bergamot is balancing to Vata energy and can help reduce Pitta while increasing Kapha energies. Its affinity is for the Heart Chakra. Here, Bergamot helps to balance the fire, or driving force, of the body, which warms and dries the system with the solidity, or Kapha, of the body. In doing so, Vata energy, which is associated with the Air element, is given freedom to move once again. Bergamot’s action is through the heart or chest, where we manage our emotions. Bergamot helps the Heart center to balance and regulate the connection between thinking and feeling in a way that supports the whole system. By bringing Pitta into balance, Bergamot offers the heart the energy to heal past and current traumas, heal old wounds, and find compassion and nurturing for ourselves and those around us. Bergamot helps us to clear the heavy, clouded emotional energies of excess Kapha so our Vata or mind can see more clearly and create new patterns of thought based on that new insight.

• Spiritual References: A naturally bright oil, Bergamot has long been associated with prosperity and material successes, and is thus a natural ingredient in money charms and spells. Bergamot is also sometimes used in love magic, as well as in rites for honoring spring.

Contradictions

• Bergamot essential oil is a widely used aromatic ingredient in cosmetics that may be applied on sun-exposed skin areas, although components such as bergapten, citropten, bergamotene, and other furocoumarins may cause phototoxic effects.

• Primarily due to the presence of psoralens, BEO preparations may pose phototoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic risks. However, a layer of oil on the skin has no sensitizing effect, if not rubbed in, and it has been showed as BEO alone does not irritate the skin.

• Bergamot essential oil rich in 5-MOP has been used as sun tanning products for many years. In 1995, this use was banned and limited to the treatment of certain skin disorders. Toxic reactions can occur due to psoralen or UVA overdosing or due to accidental exposure to additional UVA, including sunlight exposure. 

• Earl Gray tea is composed of black tea and BEO. a 44-year-old man drank up to 4 L of black tea every day for 25 years. When he changed his brand because of occasional gastric pain, he began to drink the same daily quantity of Earl Gray tea. One week after the change, he noticed repeated muscle cramps. After 5 weeks of drinking the tea, the muscle cramps continued. Occasionally, he observed fasciculations, distal paraesthesia, and feelings of pressure in his eyes that were associated with blurred vision. Neurological examination confirmed reduced visual acuity and fasciculations. After 5 months, suspecting a relation between his symptoms and his tea intake, he stopped drinking Earl Gray, going back to black tea. Within 1 week, the symptoms completely disappeared.

• Children: Bergamot oil is POSSIBLY UNSAFE in children when taken by mouth in large amounts. There have been serious side effects, including convulsion and death, in children who have taken large amounts of bergamot oil.

• Surgery: Bergamot might lower blood sugar. There is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during surgery. Stop using bergamot at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

• Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

• Limited clinical studies in hyperlipidemia suggest bergamot juice is safe and well tolerated, although heartburn has been reported.