Botanical Name: Citrus bergamia
Plant Part: peel
Extraction Method: Cold Pressed, Organic
Origin: Italy
Description: Cultivation of a single trunk with several branches and is rooted with other citrus plants like Bitter orange. This tree is primarily grown only for essential oil in the Calabria Italy on the coast.
Common Uses: Analgesic, anti-depressant, antiseptic, and viral, carminative, cicatrisant, deodorant, digestive, febrifuge, sedative, tonic and vulnerary relieves colic, and gas, inhibits the Herpes Virus 1 or cold sores, and when used with tea tree and lavender effective on cold sores, pox and shingles. Excellent for stress and tension, urinary tract infections and if used early enough can be effective on reducing infection to spread of cystitis by adding 3 drops to wash cloth or in a bath.
History: Some say Columbus brought from the Canary Islands to Berga or named after the city where the oil was sold in Bergamo and the famous Eau-de-cologne was made primarily of the oil. In folk lore Italians used it for treatment of fevers and worms. Earl Gray tea owes some of the flavour to the oil.
Cautions: Can be phototoxic so application to the skin then sun or UVA exposure is not recommended for 12 hours. Application % should remain under .5% unless its in a wash off product like soap or wash gel.
