Neroli and Bergamot Essential Oils

Neroli and bergamot are two citrus essential oils that can help calm the nerves and aid tissue healing. Neroli is made from the flowers of a specific variety of sweet orange (Citrus x aurantium amara) and bergamot essential oil comes from the bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia). Previously, I’ve written about four remedies from the Citrus genus: lemon, grapefruit, sweet orange, and bitter orange.

Neroli

Neroli essential oil has a delicate floral aroma that is relaxing to the nerves. The scent has a calming effect on the mind and heart, relieving agitation, restlessness, and insomnia. It may even help to calm heart palpitations and ease vertigo (dizziness).

Neroli has an affinity for the circulatory system and can be applied topically to aid in the healing of broken capillaries and varicose veins. It also helps open up the circulation in the area where it is applied, which can aid healing of injured tissues. It is vulnerary and cicatrizant, which means it helps wounds heal without scarring. It may also be helpful for neuralgia.

Neroli is also antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal, so it helps prevent infection in wounds. It has also been used in soaks to relieve nail fungus and athlete’s foot.

The smell of neroli promotes positive, youthful feelings and may help enhance creativity and spirituality. It can ease stress and may be helpful for people who suffer from phobias, panic attacks, or hysteria. It may also be helpful with moodiness, irritability, and withdrawal from others due to nervous exhaustion or grief. 

Using Neroli

Neroli should not be taken internally. It can be applied topically either neat or diluted. It can be used as an antiseptic and healing agent for wounds and can also be applied to areas where there is pain or soreness. It can also be massaged on the abdomen to ease gas, colic, and intestinal spasms. 

Neroli can be diffused or inhaled out of the bottle to calm the nerves easing stress, anxiety, or shock. The smell of neroli may also be helpful for headaches, neuralgia, heart palpitations, and vertigo. It may also be helpful for easing sinusitis and bronchitis.

Bergamot 

The bergamot orange is native to southern Italy and is thought to be a hybrid of sweet orange (C. aurantium) and kaffir lime (C. limetta). While the fruits are generally not used for food or juice, bergamot is used as a flavoring in the popular Earl Grey tea.  

Bergamot essential oil has a floral, slightly citrusy quality and is calming and ethereal in its effects. It is relaxing, but has an uplifting effect on the mind at the same time. So, it eases feelings of anxiety and stress while aiding alertness and concentration. The emotionally balancing effect of bergamot makes it useful for both calming down anger and aggression and for helping overcome feelings of apathy, burnout, and hopelessness. It is believed to help these problems when they are associated with poor self-esteem and excessive self-judgment.

Using Bergamot

Bergamot essential oil can be applied topically both neat and diluted as a treatment for eczema, muscle aches, cold sores, and insect bites. However, it causes photosensitivity, so you will need to avoid sunlight after applying it.

While, it can be used internally, it needs to be highly diluted for internal use. It acts as an appetite stimulant and fever-reducing agent, but I wouldn’t use it internally for that as you can get similar effects by simply inhaling it or applying it topically to your abdomen.