Lemon Bergamot is the annual and fast-growing herb that reaches up to 60 to 90 cm. When its leaves are crushed, it releases the sour fragrance of lemons. Few people identify it like oregano later when leaves turn older. Plants form a clump having many stems developing from the center. The green leaves are around 3 to 8 cm long, ending in points, lanceolate and oval. There is arranging of white, pink, and purple flowers around thin stems.
Family/Origin Of Lemon Bergamot
Lemon bergamot has the sourcing from the mint family, which is also famous for lemon mint, purple horsemint, or lemon bee balm, especially in the US. The term �Lemon bergamot’ is derived from the Latin word that means �citrus fragrance.’ It is the attractant of hummingbird, bee, and butterfly in its origin place.
Lemon bergamot has its origin in Mexico and the United States, usually seen in California growing on roadside verges and in other sunny states like Florida. Lemon bergamot finds the ideal environment in Texas and Nebraska. Plants grow, creating a blanket of flowers in some of the areas. Bergamot extracts oil from the peel of the lemon that has a citrus scent with floral notes, which have healing properties. It is mainly helpful to eliminate stress and elevate mood in aromatherapy. Many believe that it has characteristics like grapefruit oil, having pain-relieving, antispasmodic, and antiseptic properties, along with benefits in health issues such as skin infections.
Growing Requirements
The botanical name of Lemon bergamot is Monarda citriodora. it has a high percentage of clay in its soil, but it is essential to select the area. It can tolerate a good deal of alkaline soils or lime. it grows naturally in the slopes, savannahs, and limestone barrens. Bergamot gets flowers in late spring and mid-summer days, dropping their seeds to prepare for the coming year. Suppose you have the average growth of lemon bergamot; it will continue to grow with self-seeding every year. Seeds need a temperature of a minimum of 20 degrees to germinate.
Plants will die every year if it is exposed to cold or frosty conditions. Thus, it may grow for the long term in tropical and warm regions.
Culinary Uses Of Lemon Bergamot
Bergamot can be helpful to impart the lemon flavor to dishes, particularly cakes, sauces, biscuits, and cheesecakes. The taste is also added in salads, teas, liqueurs, wines, dressings, and fish dishes. Even its flowers are edible, which may be helpful as decor or garnishing. Leaves of Bergamot can be crushed or chopped and place in ice cubes for future usage. also known as Oswego tea as it was helpful as tea which was shown to the shakers after tea became scarce.
People utilize extracts from juice and oil for different health supplements, scents for personal care items, and aromatherapy.
Let Us See Some Health Advantages Of Lemon Bergamot
Below are some of the health benefits of Bergamot –
Relives Depression
Studies show that the blend of aromatherapy having Bergamot helps to relieve symptoms of depression in adults, women having postpartum depression, and people having cancer. The results do not yet have confirmation, and there is no evidence that it can be helpful with depression in other populations.
Decrease Cholesterol
Some research proves that may be helpful to decrease the overall cholesterol and bad LDL cholesterol. It also increases good HDL cholesterol that can be an effective supplement.
Relieves Schizophrenia
One research proves that consuming it supplements may be helpful for people having schizophrenia to think clearly. People in the study got better results on various cognitive tests after taking Bergamot.
Ease Your Joint Pain
Researchers also proved that Bergamot protects the joints in people consuming aromatase inhibitors as a part of cancer treatment. More study is going on for it.
Some medicinal usages
Citronella is the essential oil in lemon bergamot. it is rich in phenolic monoterpenes and thymol. Bergamot also offers the plant good antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is beneficial medicinally for fevers, colds, respiratory problems, and coughs. Traditionally, it is also helpful in the treatments of intestinal parasites and repelling mites and fleas. also has the same uses as the common bergamot – Monarda Didyma. Bergamot may be beneficial for the facial steam, which you can combine with lavender and chamomile. It is primarily famous for acne and oily skin.
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Way to Use Bergamot Properly
Many people use lemon bergamot as an ingredient of aromatherapy, but it is relatively easy to get bergamot oil. You only need to add Bergamot’s few drops of essential oil to the following-
- The bowl of warm water
- An oil diffuser having water
- The water solution
Have an eye on the bottle to check the amount used. You can also prepare a solution for your skin. You can blend one teaspoon of carrier oil such as nut oil or edible oil with three drops of essential oil. However, you can also utilize water, but it may not be completely soluble. There is one more option to use Bergamot – taking the supplement. Consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter supplement. Also, mention a list of supplements you are taking for getting 100% assurance of safety.
Some Other Uses Of Lemon Bergamot
The essential oil present in the leaves of Bergamot can include citral and phenol. Although no more briefing is given, still oil is having therapeutic activity and is also great for perfumes, scents, etc. Apart from health benefits, the essential oil, namely citronella, is also helpful as the repellant of insects that you get from the plant of lemon bergamot.
The Conclusion
From the introduction to its growth, benefits, and uses, you will get a briefing of lemon bergamot above. Bergamot comes in the category of cosmetic as well as food flavoring that assures your health. It is also known as an insect repellant. Before making a purchase, look for in-depth details of the lemon bergamot along with its oils.
Reference links
https://www.healthline.com/health/bergamot-oil