Bergamot: useful properties

Bergamot is widely known to everyone as a fragrant additive to tea. But what this plant is and what its useful properties are, few guess.

I, too, once and could not unknowingly unravel that for an incomprehensible fruit they gave me "for identification" - small, roundish, very dense, with a green rough skin, but having a very pleasant, thin, citrus smell. On the cut, it turned out that it resembles a green lemon, but not so juicy and very bitter (most likely, that fruit was not yet fully ripe).

In fact, bergamot (citrus bergamia) - this is the citrus evergreen tree with spiny branches from the family of rut. The region of origin is South-East Asia. It is assumed that the species was bred by crossing a lemon and bitter orange (pomeronets), so the fruit also has a bitter-sour taste. In the pulp contains a significant amount (up to 70 mg) of lemon and ascorbic acid. But bitter fruits in the raw form in food are practically not suitable.

Bergamot grows in countries with a warm subtropical and tropical climate - China, India, well established in southern Italy, in South America, found in countries of the Black Sea coast, the Caucasus.

The flowers of bergamot are very beautiful, with a wonderful scent. Fruits, like many citrus fruits, from autumn to winter, fruits of small sizes (from 4 to 6 cm in diameter), round or pear-shaped, the skin is thin green or greenish-yellowish, smooth or wrinkled, richly saturated with essential oils.

There is an opinion that the name Bergamot was taken from the Italian city of Bergamo, near which it was the first time in Europe to break down plantations of this plant, and in those days it was called "Bergam orange".

Bergamot is grown mainly for the production of fragrant bergamot oil, which is extracted by cold pressing not only from fruits (rather, peels), but also from leaves, flowers and even young shoots of the plant.

Use bergamot, whose useful properties are undeniable, the first to become French and Italian perfumers. And today bergamot oil is one of the most widely used in perfumery and cosmetics, it is added to the composition of both women's and men's perfumes, soaps, etc.

So what is bergamot useful for?

It is known about the plant bergamot, the properties of which are mentioned in German sources at least since the XVII century (according to the testimony of German doctors, however other European sources date back to the XIX century), it has become quite recent, although it is used for medicinal purposes by the inhabitants of other countries Began apparently earlier.

Bergamot has antiseptic properties - in the olden days, in the absence of antibiotics, its fruits were successfully used as an antiseptic for infections and skin inflammations. Bergamot oil was used as an analgesic, antipyretic, sedative.

Until now, bergamot is used in the treatment of cold and viral diseases, as an expectorant and to strengthen immunity.

Bergamot, useful properties of which allow you to remove spasms and improve digestion, are also used in the preparation of teas. In addition, that the drink has a delicate, exquisite taste, it has a calming effect, tones up, helps overcome depressive states, get rid of the effects of stress.

Bergamot, useful properties of which are widely used in the respiratory and digestive systems, as a strong natural antibiotic can also be used in the treatment of diseases of the urinary system with various infections and inflammations.

And of course, bergamot essential oil is widely used in aromatherapy. Get it easily even by hand - it is easily distinguished by mashing the flesh of the fetus, while the sweetish fragrant shades of orange and lemon are traced, and this smell refreshes and cheers up.

However, like the essential oils of many citrus fruits, bergamot oil also has some contraindications, since sensitive skin can cause irritation, especially under the influence of sunlight.

If you are allergic to citrus, then whatever bergamot has useful properties, be careful with its use.