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Spring and new growth is everywhere in the northern hemisphere this month, and the further south one travels the scent of flowers and rich earth can be scented in the air.
April Showers bring May Flowers
Or so the saying goes. April also brings the cheer of warmer, brighter, and sunnier days and offers opportunities for spending more time outside whether you are a gardener or someone who enjoys spending time on the veranda.
The cheerful and uplifting scent of Bergamot seems like the perfect essential oil to represent April. Bergamot (Citrus aurantium) grows as a tree, and the oil comes from the fruit, similar to a small orange with a tough, thin peel, but not suitable for eating. Bergamot cannot be grown from seeds, so is often propagated by being grafted onto other citrus rootstocks. Since the fruit is too sour to eat, it is primarily grown for essential oil production.
Bergamot has a rather mysterious history, with even its origins being somewhat obscure. Some say its name comes from the Italian city of Bergamo where it was first sold as an oil. The Italian Feminis family used it in their eau-de-cologne in the sixteenth century, and it has long been used in cosmetics and perfumery. Bergamot is also part of what gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive flavor.
Among its many clinical qualities: Analgesic, antidepressant, antiviral, carminative, digestive, sedative, and as a tonic.
The scent of Bergamot is citrusy, floral, and cheerful. Perhaps for these reasons it has been used as antidepressant, as it is both calming and uplifting. It is one of those smells I often associate with a sense of well-being—no matter what is happening, all will be well.
It can also be helpful with digestive issues, and particularly those due to emotional stress and nervousness.
Bergamot despite being phototoxic* has been used to treat acne, psoriasis, and eczema.
Energetically speaking, Bergamot has been noted to enhance and increase the flow of energy. Since it resonates with the heart chakra, it can be useful for easing grief.
Magically, Bergamot is associated with the sun, and element of fire with a marked influence on helping to promote peace, happiness, and restful sleep.
Some of the ways to incorporate Bergamot oil are to use it in a diffuser, add it to the bath or as part of a room spray.
Here is a Recipe room spray for resolving issues peacefully and mitigating grief:
10 drops of Bergamot essential oil
3 drops of Chamomile essential oil
3-5 drops of Lavender essential oil
6 oz of distilled or filtered water
½ oz of witch hazel or alcohol
Add witch hazel to spray bottle, then drops of oil, and finally water. Shake well before each use.
*Phototoxic oils can cause skin discoloration when they are applied to the skin and then sun exposure is experienced. It is generally advised that sun exposure be avoided for 6-8 hours. Some Bergamot oils have the chemical constituent bergaptene, which causes the phototoxicity, removed but clinical aromatherapists generally prefer unadulterated Bergamot.
*Please note that no matter how safe and natural you believe essential oils to be, you should never use them
straight or “neat” directly on the skin. There are a few exceptions, but even those should only be used that way
under the advice of a certified or registered aromatherapist. Young children, the elderly, anyone with a comprised
immune system, and those who are pregnant may require a formula that is much reduced in active ingredients.
Essential oils of any variety should always be cautiously used around pets, and never used on cats or in any way
that would allow them to ingest it—like breathing in vaporized spray or licking it off of their fur.
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