Bergamot: the benefits and harm, especially the use

Everyone knows, perhaps, tea with bergamot.But what is the second ingredient of the drink? Where else is bergamot used and what are its properties?

Bergamot is a type of citrus fruit, which appeared as a result of crossing an orange and a lemon. The fruit rich in essential oils, or rather, its essential oils, were added to tea (it can be recognized by the “Earl Gray” inscription on the package), but lately bergamot has become popular as a more popular product.

Bergamot is an evergreen tree, in the period of flowering is literally covered with fragrant inflorescences. After pollination, they turn into the ovary, and in November-December, fruits appear - golden-green, similar to lemon.

Bergamot oil is obtained by squeezing it from peel, leaves and inflorescences. It is used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, for flavoring tea. The latter is obtained by drying the tea leaves on which bergamot oil is applied. As a result, tea raw materials acquire not only a unique aroma, but also certain properties of bergamot.

The composition of this citrus includes a large amount of vitamins C, E, A, as well as vitamins of group B. The mineral composition is represented by iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, magnesium. Bergamot contains polyunsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential oils.

Since the fruit is rarely available, it is worth considering the use of natural bergamot oil, which is becoming increasingly popular.

Bergamot is a natural antibiotic that demonstrates antiseptic and disinfecting effect and can be used to treat diseases of inflammatory or infectious genesis. In addition, its oil has an analgesic effect, relieves spasms and muscle clamps.

The richness of vitamins in the composition, including ascorbic acid in large quantities, gives bergamot anti-cold properties. Vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system, which increases the body's resistance to viral and colds, beriberi, adverse environmental factors.

Fruit and oil based on it is a prophylactic against colds and flu, and the agent taken during the period of the disease will help speed up the healing process. In addition, bergamot oil demonstrates antipyretic and diaphoretic effect. It can be very effective for hypothermia, the first signs of a cold. With timely reception it is possible to arrest the onset of the inflammatory process, thereby avoiding the disease.

Bergamot is useful when coughing any genesis. It has an expectorant effect, helps to remove sputum from the upper respiratory tract. No less effective will be inhalation with the addition of oil. You can breathe a couple of hot tea or infusion with the addition of bergamot or drop a couple of drops of oil into the nebulizer (device for inhalation).

Vitamin B in the composition of the fetus suggests that bergamot has a positive effect on the nervous system. Features of the composition, as well as a pleasant citrus scent, have an invigorating effect. The fruits are actively struggling with signs of depression, nervous overstrain, chronic fatigue. They are great invigorate, improve mood.

Due to the high content of fatty acids, phosphorus and essential oils, bergamot improves the psycho-emotional state. It helps to improve cerebral circulation, gives energy and inspiration, allows you to quickly "reboot" during long-term intellectual activity, increase concentration of attention.

Fruits and oils have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. They are recommended for vascular dystonia.The tool relieves vasospasm, improves the cardiac muscle's conductive function, increases the elasticity of the vessels and reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol. Iron in the composition helps to maintain the desired level of hemoglobin, which eliminates the development of anemia.

Bergamot oil is referred to as aphrodisiac. It gives energy and enhances sexual desire, the quality of a man's sexual life. In addition, the composition of bergamot and fatty acids are present, which are necessary for the production of the main male hormone - testosterone.

The antiseptic effect of the oil allows it to be used in the treatment of infections of the urogenital system. It not only relieves the symptoms, but also acts directly on the causative agents of many diseases of an intimate nature. Effective product is when thrush, cystitis, urethritis, etc. The easiest way to use oil - add it to the baths and solutions for douching.

Bergamot oil is widely used for outdoor use. It shows a healing effect. It accelerates the healing of wounds and scratches, is effective in the treatment of dermatological diseases and skin allergic reactions, demonstrates antifungal action. With its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects, bergamot quickly relieves itching, redness and redness after insect bites.

Due to the peculiarities of the composition, bergamot has found application in cosmetology. Added to rinsing water, it helps to cope with excessive greasiness of the scalp. With regular rubbing of the oil of the product, the strengthening of the hair follicles is noted - the hair gain strength, grow better.

Helps bergamot ether to cope with oily and problem skin - reduces the intensity of skin secretion, which helps to eliminate oily sheen, reduces the number of black spots, inflammation. Masks and decoctions for washing with the addition of bergamot oil help to cure acne, eliminate micro-inflammation of the skin.

Antioxidant-containing oil helps fight age-related skin changes. Vitamins E and C, as is known, slow down the aging process of cells, which is externally manifested as an improvement in skin tone, maintaining its normal moisture, a healthy glow.

Harm to the body can cause the consumption of bergamot, the use of oil based on it (even just inhalation of aroma) with the individual intolerance of the fruit and allergies to citrus.

Because of the invigorating action, bergamot should not be used in the evening before going to bed, it can cause insomnia. It is not recommended for use by children and adolescents younger than 12-14 years. Due to the high allergenicity of all citrus fruits, you should not even give bergamot essential oil to young children.

After applying to the skin, this area should not be exposed to sunlight for at least 5-7 hours, which is associated with the ability of bergamot to provoke skin pigmentation when exposed to UV rays.

Lactation is not an absolute contraindication to receiving bergamot. On the contrary, its butter even slightly increases the production of milk. However, the use of the product is justified only in the absence of a negative reaction from the state of health of the infant. As a rule, this happens quite rarely - yet bergamot "behaves" like a true citrus, provoking diathesis.

Regarding whether it is possible to take bergamot during pregnancy, the opinions of experts are divided.Some recommend fruits as a source of vitamins and a natural antiseptic, others indicate its ability to contract muscles and categorically prohibit. Truth, according to the majority, is somewhere in the middle. With moderate consumption and no contraindications, bergamot will benefit the expectant mother and baby.

Firstly, it will really strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of probable colds and infectious diseases. With a slight cold during pregnancy, it is better to be treated with folk remedies. Bergamot, demonstrating many properties, is one of the effective "candidates" as an ingredient for such treatment.

Secondly, bergamot will help to cope with the breakdown, chronic fatigue, which often overtake women "in position." He will banish drowsiness and apathy, energize.

Effectively bergamot oil and in the fight against stretch marks - it improves skin tone, increases its elasticity. Being sufficiently hydrated, it is easier to stretch without tearing (and that is how stretch marks appear).

Finally, bergamot contains folic acid, which is necessary for the formation of the fetal neural tube, as well as the spinal cord and brain. It is especially important to receive it in sufficient quantities in the first trimester of pregnancy when the internal organs of the fetus are actively laid.

However, bergamot does little to stimulate the contraction of muscles, including the uterine. However, tea, coffee and many foods and drinks have a similar effect. Needless to say, walking, emotional experiences (both positive and negative) also provoke a certain tone of the uterus, but this is not a reason to refuse them.

It is enough to follow the principles of moderation. The permissible daily dosage of tea with bergamot is 1-2 cups per day, drunk in the morning. You can add a couple of drops of butter in baking (but then it is better to abandon Earl Gray tea for a while). Every day, you can apply oil on the skin, if necessary, apply for rinsing hair.

If you prefer tea with bergamot, make sure that it is a quality product with a minimum of preservatives and dyes. Definitely, it should not be tea bags. The presence of flavors and other "chemicals" in such a drink is much more likely to provoke an attack of allergy during pregnancy and other unpleasant consequences than the essential oils of bergamot.

Naturally, if you are allergic to citrus fruits, any use of bergamot during pregnancy should be excluded. An important point - as a result of a sharp change in hormonal levels during pregnancy, intolerance to previously familiar foods may be observed.

Before using the fruit or oil, a test reaction should be carried out by applying oil or fruit juice to the area of ​​the crook of the elbow. If after 48 hours there was no negative reaction, then you can start using a small amount of bergamot, gradually increasing the dosage.

Due to its specific taste and high concentration of acids, bergamot is usually impossible to eat raw, such as lemon or orange.

However, the use of bergamot peel, which is added to tea, has found great use. You can rub and dry the zest on your own, then add to black or green tea and brew. Zest can also be added to pastries to give it a flavor and light citrus bitterness. In Italy, Turkey and Greece, marmalade is prepared on the basis of fruits.

You can make candied fruits from pieces of bergamot (along with the peel).There are a lot of recipes, but in general, the whole technology comes down to soaking the pieces to eliminate the bitterness, boiling them in sugar syrup and drying them for many hours in the oven at a temperature of 70-80 degrees. Ready candied fruits can be rolled in icing sugar.

Aromatherapy also allows the use of dried peel or dry crusts of bergamot fruits. They can be added to the aroma lamp (there you can also drop a drop of oil), or simply arrange the house in secluded places. The crushed crusts can be put in small bags and sewed. It turns out sachet for flavoring cabinets for clothes, shelves with linens and towels.

See the following video on the benefits and harms of bergamot and how to make tea.