The fragrant aroma and curative properties of a bergamot draw attention to its use in different fields of activity, and a decorative species of a tree, especially during blossoming, is the main advantage at its choice as garden or a houseplant. But, whether so it actually — it is necessary to understand.
General description of a plant
Bergamot, from armor. Citrus bergamia — an evergreen tree of a sort Citrus, removed as a result of crossing of types of family of a bitter orange (kinotto) and a citron (tsedrat). Tree fruits in common people call bitter orange.
The name to a plant was given by the area where this plant began to be cultivated for the first time — in a northern part of Italy, the city of Bergamo. In the history of emergence of bitter orange there are some discrepancies.
So, according to one of versions, its name comes from the name of pear of a grade Bergamot to which fruits are similar in the form and a color. Other version says that to Europe fruit was brought by Christopher Columbus from the Canary Islands. That from this the truth and that a lie — it is unknown.
Whether you know? Far back in the past oil of a bergamot was applied as substance to disposal of a bad smell from a mouth.
The tree loves heat therefore it prefers to grow in subtropical climate with high humidity, but at the correct leaving and maintenance of optimal conditions well takes root also in our climate.
In nature trees of a bergamot grow along the Ionic coast of Italy, but with great success are grown up also in the USA, Brazil, France, Greece and Africa. Broad application in various fields of activity began with the 18th century in aromatization of cosmetics of that time.
As tea fragrance officially bitter orange was for the first time used in 1892 in Great Britain, and banal desire to hide poor quality of tea became the reason for that.
Whether you know? Phytoncides by 250 times reduce concentration of viruses and bacteria by each square meter of the room.
Botanical description of a grade:
- The tree in height can reach 10 m. Branches thin and long, are covered with 10-cm prickles. Dark green leaves, glossy, with gear edges.
- Blossoming happens during the period from March to April. Large flowers, white or lilac color, single, collected in a brush, oboyepoly and pollinations do not demand, have fragrant steady aroma.
- Fruits of a pear-shaped form, flavovirent color. The peel differs in the expressed fragrant aroma. The pulp segmented juicy with the sour, giving bitterness of grapefruit, taste. A fructification season — November-December.
Important! Bitterness of fruits of a bergamot means their inedibility in a natural (natural) look.
The tree differs in the constant high level of fructification, but has no frost resistance. Quite often attach to this look also the sort Bee balm plant differing in also fragrant citrus aroma, but true relationship between these plants does not exist.
Useful substances
The main value to bitter orange is brought by the essential oil received by way of a cold extraction from a peel of fruits of a tree. Essential oil has the difficult chemical composition. At its structure there are substances which are responsible for a smell:
- limonene — 59%;
- linalilatsetat — 16.8%;
- linaool — 9.5%;
- bergaptol, geraniol, tsitral and others — 14.7%.
Study useful and harmful properties of such exotic fruit as rambutan, pomegranate, a papaya, grapefruit, avocado, a feijoa, mango, a kiwi, a lime, a pomelo.
In addition are a part:
- saturated (limit) and polyunsaturated acids;
- vitamins: And, group B, C, PP, nicotinic acid, etc.;
- minerals: phosphorus, selenium, manganese, calcium, etc.;
- salts: magnesium, zinc, potassium, copper.
These components of bitter orange characterize its use not only as a fragrance but also as a product with biologically active agents defining curative properties.
Whether you know? To receive 900 ml of essential oil, the peel of 1000 pieces of fruits is required.
Medicinal properties
Bitter orange thanks to the active agents which are contained in it has medicinal properties and is widely applied in recipes of traditional medicine. The natural substances which are contained in it have the mass of medicinal properties, and the volatiles produced by a plant — phytoncides — show the activity against viruses, bacteria and fungi. Therefore during seasons of catarrhal diseases bitter orange is additional protection of an organism:
- local irritative effect of phytoncides in structure kills headaches and relieves pains at migraines; this property is effective as well at other states connected with pain;
- phytoncides promote decrease in temperature and have high efficiency at feverish states;
- being an anti-septic tank and a natural antibiotic, bitter orange is effective in treatment of diseases of the digestive tract (DT), kidneys and a liver;
- antiseptic properties are well displayed on the blood system of the person, purifying blood from excess of cholesterol that leads subsequently to normalization of pressure;
- local irritative action is useful also at treatment of cough or bronchitis;
Will help to cope with cough to you also: ginger, green radish, cloudberries, cow's milk, black caraway seeds, guelder-rose, calendula, black radish, badger and bear fat.
- normalizing work of a GIT, bitter orange accelerates a metabolism that is especially useful for people with an excess weight; the same property promotes improvement of appetite;
Seaweed of a chuk, dyagil, durian, plum, a black mountain ash, and an anisetree are also used for normalization GIT robots.
- the antiseptics and antibiotic property promotes increase in protective properties of an organism and strengthening of a protective barrier of the immune system that is especially important in the presence of a herpes virus in an organism;
- the contained substances limonene, linalilatsetat and linaool, responsible for citrus aroma, are effective in fight against depressions and various nervous exhaustions;
- substance geraniol as a part of oil helps at treatment of helminthoses;
- furanokumarina in structure well influence skin, removing inflammation and promoting healing of wounds and burns. And the content of substance of a bergapten is especially useful at external application for treatment of eczema or vitiligo.
The rich and difficult chemical composition of bitter orange does its application effective at many diseases therefore medical treatment together with use of oil in recipes of traditional medicine guarantees success in achievement of recovery.
Important! Some antibacterial and anti-virus medicines are incompatible with bergamot oil therefore before combined use the consultation of the doctor is necessary.
Use
The rich structure, citrus smell and bright tastes allow to apply a bergamot in different fields of activity, in particular in cosmetology, cookery and even in psychology.
Cosmetology
As much as possible bergamot oil when using in the field of cosmetology discloses the qualities. In this sphere the use of oil is permissible in a clean look or as a part of cosmetics.
Use of oil in a clean look is permissible and effective:
- in cosmetology when holding cosmetic procedures with use of aromatic mixes;
- in carrying out a course of massage as a part of oil aromatic mixes.
Getting deeply into integuments, bitter orange nourishes and recovers skin, increases elasticity and promotes preservation of her youth. Normalizing work of sebaceous glands, it promotes narrowing of a time and reduction of manifestations of skin oiliness, and relationship with a citrus promotes its efficiency in fight against cellulitis.
Important! Bergamot oil without preliminary cultivation provokes burns on skin therefore it is impossible to use it in the concentrated look.
Availability of oil of a bergamot as a part of cosmetics is connected not only with its active chemical composition, but also with the remarkable aroma giving a citrus note to cosmetics.
The ability of bitter orange to influence work of sebaceous glands promotes its addition in cosmetics for leaving:
- behind hair (shampoos, balms, masks);
- behind face skin (srubs, lotions, tonics, creams);
- behind body skin (srubs, creams);
- behind skin of hands (balms, creams).
In the cosmetic purposes oils of walnut, a flax, a dogrose, grape seeds, sprouts of wheat, avocado, a peach, rosemary, almonds, jojoba, orange and a lemon are also used.
In house conditions the use of oil of a bergamot is also possible at preparation of face packs or hair. Their preparation simple also does not demand special conditions for drawing, and it is easy to find recipes in magazines or the Internet.
Cookery
In cookery use of bitter orange — the unusual occurrence, is also applied it, generally only at preparation of desserts. Use in cookery demands existence of a fresh fruit, but this fruit in our latitudes does not grow, and its conditional inedibility does supply of fruit to the country unprofitable.
Whether you know? Bergamot notes as a part of perfume of the 18th century were so unique and popular that even the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte used not less than 1 bottle a day.
In the countries where bitter orange grows, do jams, fruit jelly, candied fruits of it. Also he can be met as ingredient of seasonings for salads or meat dishes. But its main purpose — aromatization of tea. Transferring the citrus aroma to tea, it puts heart and adds energy to the person who used it.
Psychology
Use of oil of a bergamot in psychology is dictated by ability of oil of a bergamot to raise a threshold of nervous sensitivity and to calm nervous system.
Psychologists advise to use oil in holding sessions of an aromatherapy:
- to add to water at acceptance of bathtubs;
- to add to aromalamps.
Use of a bergamot as nonconventional methods of psychotherapy is connected with its influence on brain activity, namely:
- at high intellectual loadings and a high vital rhythm;
- for removal of fatigue and giving of cheerfulness;
- as alternative way of fight against a depression.
Important! Repeated use of a large amount of oil of a bergamot can lead to a surplus of phytoncides and cause states opposite to its influence — weakness, headaches, dizzinesses.
Oil of a bergamot helps to recover nervous system without use of medicines.
In what harm and contraindications
Despite the brought benefit, bitter orange has some contraindications and can do harm to an organism.
Contraindications to application:
- individual intolerance to substances as a part of oil; the usual test on the small site of skin which is carried out in 24 hours will help to exclude an allergy;
- reception of antibiotics and anti-virus medicines;
- to the people having insomnia;
- to the children who did not reach 12 years.
Influence of a bergamot on an organism of the pregnant woman is not up to the end studied therefore during incubation it is necessary to use oil with care, previously having prevented the done harm (for example, an allergy). Also use of oil in summertime can do harm.
Substances furocoumarins in oil cause tendency to pigmentation therefore it is not recommended to use bergamot oil in warm season before an exit to the street or before visit of a sunbed.
Whether you know? The bergamot belongs to aphrodisiacs — the substances stimulating sexual desire. It stimulates blood circulation in bodies of a small pelvis that promotes increase in a libido and liberation.
As it is correct to choose tea
Observations of scientists helped to establish that the tea flavored by a bergamot normalizes not only psychological state, but also tones up brain activity. The tea cup with a bergamot puts heart and freshness, takes off fatigue and increases immunity. The choice of tea with a bergamot is possible. Today the range of tea with a bergamot is rather wide, and price categories are capable to satisfy each buyer.
Most we will combine a bergamot with black tea, and it is presented by such known trademarks: Alokozay, Ahmad Tea, Bastek Earl Grey, Betford Earl Grey, Greenfield, Milton Earl Grey Classic, Qualitea. Aromatization of green tea also meets and is presented by trademarks: Grace, The Tao of Tea, Hyson, Riston, etc.
The choice of tea is influenced first of all by price category. Not a secret that in premium class tea (for example, Betford Earl Grey) the probability of addition of the real dried peel of a bergamot is higher, than in tea of low price category.
Moreover, the maintenance of a bergamot dried peel has to be specified in structure on packing, tastes of such tea will be higher, than at the cheap tea flavored by a bergamot. Therefore when choosing such tea it is necessary to be guided by financial opportunities first of all.
Important! At packing of true tea with a bergamot surely there is an inscription Earl Grey that confirms its classical option.
Bergamot or bitter orange — exotic fruit of a sort of a citrus. The rich structure allows to use it in various fields of activity, but, unfortunately, in our latitudes it is impossible to meet him.
Quite well for everyone use of oil on its basis, the content of useful substances in it is not less, than in the fruit, and the advantage for an organism is high. But teas with its addition are most popular. Black tea with a bergamot — the classics of the English tea bringing cheerfulness and a positive spirit.