It is literally impossible to be grouchy, impatient, querulous, or just plain negative with the essential oil of Bergamot on your body. She is an instant “pick me up” and has the ability to bring a smile to your face without even knowing why you are doing it! You just ARE! While some forget Bergamot (citrus bergamia) is a citrus (see, if you know your botanical names, you won’t fall into that category), it is important to remember that she can be skin sensitive (it is always wise to do a test patch on your skin with ANY essence before dousing yourself with it!).

One of our dear friends and students on the East Coast remembered that the hard way some years ago. She was scheduled to go on a vacation to a sunny place (and it was not exactly the “sunny” time of year in Pennsylvania) and decided to go to a tanning salon to get a “base” tan before leaving for her trip. While I don’t condone that particular choice, she certainly didn’t deserve what happened next! She had put Bergamot on the tops of her feet (why, I no longer remember), and, forgetting that it was a citrus, and thus likely photo-sensitive as well as skin-sensitive, she went into the tanning bed. Lo and behold, she burnt the HECK out of the skin on her feet…to the extent that they were blistered and certainly no candidate for sandals. In fact, she could hardly walk. Though she was embarassed over her situation, she had the courage to call Barry, my business partner in Wisdom of the Earth, and ask for help.

He immediately ran over and, with the incredible help of Helichrysum italicum, Lavender (Fine) (lavendula officinalis), and Cypress (cupressus sempervirens), the huge blisters on the top of her feet healed, and by the time she had to leave (a few days), she was able to put sandals on her feet and walk. Medicinal Aromatherapy to the rescue!!

Now, She (Bergamot) says…”Get to the positive things about me! People are going to get the wrong idea about me!” Actually, there is quite a lot of wonderful things that can be said about Bergamot. She seems to have the ability to win you over in just one “whiff”. Another of our students BECAME one of our students, in part, because of her immediate love affair with Bergamot. She came to our booth at a show in CO, and was transfixed by the juicy, loving, soft and uplifting persona of Bergamot. To this day, it is one of her favorite essences.

Bergamot makes it hard to take things too seriously…not that She will cause you to abandon all sense of responsibility….let’s just say that she won’t allow your responsibilities to be an albatross around your neck. Even though you may feel that you are carring “the weight of the world” on your shoulders, Bergamot essence will lighten your burden (by lightening your view of it), softly suggesting ways to get assistance or creatively approach a difficult situation. She embodies the phrase “Lighten up!!” — especially when the phrase is used to get someone out of the doldrums so that he or she can “see the light” and become productive again.

Bergamot is a natural anti-depressant…bringing the light of the natural world to shine on your situation and the deepest recesses of your heart. In fact, she is a wonderful choice for those who experience SAD — Seasonal Affective Disorder. For those individuals, wintertime can be very difficult for them, with the reduction in light triggering depression, anxiety, loss of energy, loss of interest in usual activities, sleep pattern interruption (too much or too little sleep) and other symptoms. Essential oils carry in them the light of the celestial bodies (key to their process of photosynthesis), including the sun, moon, and stars. Let her “light up your life”…she is a Queen in this regard.

While she is wonderful for skin problems, I recommend using her with another plant essence such as Rose Hip Oil. This is more of a nut oil, but given Bergamot’s potential skin-sensitive nature, and the positive skin-healing and restoring benefits of Rose Hip (rosa rubiginosa), they partner beautifully.

Spiritually, Bergamot helps us regain a gentle energy flow when we have lost it due to fear, anxiety or stress. She is one that helps with nervous digestion problems, or loss of appetite due to stress. Psychologically Bergamot encourages us to release pent up emotions — anger, frustration, for example — helping us to avoid any number of physical maladies (depression, insomnia, mood swings, to name a few) that pent up feelings can cause.

Bergamot, though not well known, is an incredibly uplifting essence to have in your portfolio…though a citrus, she has her own unique personality. Consider her a “best friend” who cheers you up and gets you back on track!

Blessings and much love, Audre Gutierrez

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