Have you ever heard of bergamot fruit? It is a strange fruit that some may not know anything about, despite the benefits it provides, so what are the benefits of bergamot fruit? And how can it be used? And the expected damages from its use, follow this article with us and learn everything related to bergamot.

What is bergamot?

It is a small citrus fruit that looks like a lemon, but with a rougher peel than a lemon. It is said to be a mixture and hybrid between bitter orange and lemon, which results in this fruit of mysterious origins, which is said to be its main home in Italy. It is called the prince of citrus fruits.

This fruit is considered one of the powerful fruits that excite and awaken our sense of taste. It is also added to many different cooking recipes, especially the famous bergamot oil, as it is one of the most important extracts of the bergamot fruit, as it is an essential ingredient in the flavor of the famous tea, Earl Gray tea.

How to use bergamot

Bergamot acid can be used, and from its peel an essential oil is extracted, and a wonderful tea can be made from it, and it is also used in:

• Manufacture of some perfumes.
• Manufacture of some personal care products.
• Manufacture of some medicines and health supplements.
• Aromatherapy.

Benefits of bergamot fruit

This fruit is one of the fruits that are not commonly used in its original form. But among the most important health benefits of bergamot fruit are the following:

1. Reduce cholesterol levels

Where they found that taking bergamot extract and acid can help reduce harmful cholesterol levels in the body, especially in people who suffer from a high rate of harmful cholesterol in their bodies. It also has potent properties that make it a good choice for use as a supplement in cholesterol medications.

2. Reducing symptoms of depression

There are some studies that say that aromatherapy using bergamot oil helps relieve and reduce symptoms of depression and its treatment, especially in people with cancer, the elderly, and postpartum depression for women. However, the results of the studies are not sufficient and need more research.

3. Helping patients with schizophrenia

As the results of some studies indicated that it can help people with symptoms of schizophrenia to improve their thinking and make it more clear, as they found that after a group of people ate this fruit, the results of their cognitive tests were better, but this study needs more research.

4. Pain reliever

Bergamot has analgesic effects and properties that have made people use it in alternative medicine for hundreds of years, especially since it contains chemicals that act as anti-inflammatory, such as limonene, which helps prevent pain, especially in treating symptoms of arthritis, and reduces oxidative stress and relieves feelings of stress and anxiety. .

Benefits of bergamot oil

This oil, which is extracted from the peels of the bergamot fruit, is considered one of the oils of very high value due to its calming properties and its many uses.

Where this oil is used in personal care products, whether in perfumes and other products, it is also used in the manufacture of cosmetics, in addition to that there is a type of it that is edible and added to foods and drinks as a distinctive flavor.

1. Aromatherapy

This oil is used in aromatherapy, because it is considered a good sedative, and it can be used in this field by:

• Mix it with an essential carrier oil and use it as a body massage or lotion.
• Some drops of it can be added to hair shampoos, skin scrubs, and body washes.
• It can be added to household air fresheners or scented candles.
• Drops can be placed on a tissue and inhaled for calm and relief.

2. Promote healthy skin

This oil is a good antiseptic that has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which is why it is used to treat skin and fungal infections, and it can also be used to clean wounds. In addition, it helps treat acne and its scars and works to lighten dark skin spots. This oil is used topically, as follows:

• Apply a few drops of it with another carrier oil directly to the skin or problem such as blackheads, pimples, or abscesses.
• It is best to lubricate the area and leave it overnight.
• You should not use this oil in this manner while exposed to sunlight as it may react to the light causing an allergic reaction.
• This oil can also be diluted with water and used as a lotion.

3. Treat hair problems

This oil has the ability to make the hair softer and get rid of wrinkles in it, and it is also a good soothing agent for scalp irritation, It can be used in this case by:

• Put a few drops of it on the shampoo and wash the hair with it.
• Mix it with another oil and massage the scalp with it, leaving it overnight.

Benefits of bergamot tea

This tea is one of the famous types of tea that combines black tea with bergamot extract, and this tea is known as Earl Gray tea, which has been known worldwide for hundreds of years.

This tea may have some health benefits, such as:

• Improve digestion.
• Promote heart health.
• Fighting free radicals, cell damage and preventing cancer

However, these benefits need more research and study to prove their results.

Bergamot damage

There are some mild harms to this fruit when some people eat it, such as:

• feeling dizzy
• acidity;
• Muscle spasm.
• Reducing blood sugar, so it is not preferable to take it for people with diabetes, because it may lead them to unsafe sugar levels.
• It is preferable not to take bergamot or its derivatives, about two weeks before surgery, because it may make doctors unable to control blood sugar levels during surgery.
• It is better for children to avoid excessive intake of bergamot oil completely, as it may cause severe side effects that may lead to convulsions and death.
• It may be unsafe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, so it should be avoided during this period and a doctor should be consulted about the possibility of using it.
• Bergamot oil makes the skin more sensitive, especially when exposed to light or sunlight, so be careful. It should also be diluted before applying to the skin.