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Bergamot oil

What is bergamot oil?

Bergamot is a plant that produces a type of citrus fruit. The oil extracted from the peel of this fruit is used to make medicine. Some people treat scaly skin by applying bergamot oil directly to the skin and then irradiating the affected areas with long-wave ultraviolet light. Bergamot oil is also applied to the skin to treat a tumor caused by a fungal infection (mycosis fungoides) and a pigmentation disorder of the skin known as white spot disease. In addition, bergamot oil is used as an insecticide to protect the body from lice and other parasites. Bergamot oil is sometimes inhaled as part of aromatherapy to reduce anxiety during radiation treatment. In food, bergamot oil is often used as a citrus flavoring. In industrial manufacturing, bergamot oil is used as an ingredient in perfumes, creams, lotions, soaps and suntan oils.

How does bergamot oil work?

Bergamot oil contains several active chemicals. These chemicals can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight.

How effective is bergamot oil?

There is not enough scientific information to make a statement about the effectiveness of bergamot oil in the following applications:

  • Anxiety during radiation therapy: There is growing evidence to suggest that bergamot oil used as part of aromatherapy does not help to reduce anxiety in people receiving radiation therapy.
  • Treating a tumor under the skin caused by a fungal infection known as mycosis fungoides in combination with ultraviolet light.
  • Protection of the body against lice and other parasites.
  • Treatment of psoriasis in combination with ultraviolet light.
  • Treatment of a skin pigmentation disorder known as white spot disease.

Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of bergamot oil in these applications.

Side effects and safety

Bergamot oil is safe and harmless for most people in the small amounts found in food. However, bergamot oil applied to the skin may not be safe and harmless as it may make the skin more sensitive to sun exposure and increase the risk of developing skin cancer. People who use bergamot oil may develop skin problems including blisters, scabs, pigmentation, rashes, increased sensitivity to the sun's rays and cancerous changes.

Precautions and warnings

Children: Bergamot oil should not be used by children. Children using large amounts of bergamot oil may experience serious side effects including convulsions and death.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not apply bergamot oil to the skin, as it may not be safe for them.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining bergamot oil with the following medications:

Medications that increase the skin's sensitivity to above sunlight:

Some medications can increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. Bergamot oil applied to the skin can also increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. A combination of bergamot oil applied to the skin and medications that increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight can increase the risk of sunburn, blistering or reddening of skin areas that are exposed to the sun. For this reason, you should either use a sunblock or wear protective clothing when spending time in the sun.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of bergamot oil depends on various factors such as age, health and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to determine appropriate dosage ranges for bergamot oil. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

  1. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid= 786bafc6f6343634fbf79fcdca7061e1&rgn=div5&view= text&node=21:3.0.1.1.13&idno=21
  2. Graham PH, Browne L, Cox H, Graham J. Inhalation aromatherapy during radiotherapy: results of a placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial. J Clin Oncol 2003;21:2372-6.
  3. Naganuma M, Hirose S, Nakayama Y, et al. A study of the phototoxicity of lemon oil. Arch Dermatol Res 1985;278:31-6.