Bergamot FCF Essential oil, Italy

Botanical Name: Citrus bergamia
Origin:                  Italy
Method of Extraction: Cold Pressed then Steam Distilled
Parts used:           Peel
Color:                    Colorless clear with possible faint Yellow/Green Tint
Perfumery Note:  Top             
Consistency:        Thin
Aromatic Description: Fresh Sweet Citrus
Blends well with: Basil, Black Pepper, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cypress, Geranium, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Neroli, Nutmeg, Orange, Petitgrain, Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang
Initial Strength:   Medium
Class:           Monoterpene
          Bergamot "FCF" grade is a cold pressed then distilled bergamot peel oil. By steam distilling the oil, some of the benefits are reduced but it has virtually all bergaptene removed. Furocoumarins are not 100% removed but the content is so low it can be classified as Furocoumarin Free (FCF) and safe for use on the skin outdoors. Cold pressed bergamot contains the furocoumarin Bergaptene which can be photosensitizing and cause a reaction on the skin when exposed to sunlight. A typical reaction would be increased risk of sunburn. Normal cold pressed Bergamot is not ideal for blends that are intended to be worn outside in the daytime such as facial/cosmetic blends.
          Bergamot is energizing yet relaxing. It is a popular addition in formulas to treat stress, anxiety, nervousness and depression.
          Bergamot is high on the list of most potent antiviral and antifungal essential oils. It speeds healing and stimulates the immune system to fight infection. It is used in skin treatments for abscesses, acne, boils, cold sores, eczema, herpes sores, oily skin and insect bites. It reduces fever and stimulates production of white blood cells and improves the integrity of red blood cells. It can be vaporized into the air to help treat colds, fevers, respiratory tract infections and sore throats. Blended with Tea Tree essential oil it is very effective when applied to Shingles, Chicken Pox or Herpes type sores.
          Sleeplessness is a very common complaint among many people and over the counter sleeping pills commonly leave a person still feeling sleepy long into the next day, not to mention, it is not only adults with this problem any many parents don’t like the idea of raising children on sedatives. In this case a light approach is best. Bergamot has a very mild relaxing and uplifting quality that can help you to feel sleepy. It also improves the quality of sleep so you don’t keep waking during the night. It can be sprayed into the room, diffused, vaporized or massaged in before bedtime. You can increase the effectiveness by blending with Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Valerian Root or others.
          Bergamot stimulates the production of digestive juices. Rubbed on the abdomen in a clockwise pattern, it can be used as a treatment for common digestive disorders such as loss of appetite, colic, indigestion and flatulence. Its uplifting quality makes it a good choice in cases of appetite loss due to stress and anorexia.
Note: Most essential oils cannot be taken internally, but even when they can, essential oils are highly concentrated and require dilution, special training and caution that Aroma & More does not yet provide. You can never drink any essential oils at 100% strength or diluted in water-based liquids.
Caution: Essential oils can be harmful if used improperly. Information is provided for educational purposes only. It is up to the customer to determine if the product is right for their intended purpose. Special consideration should be made before applying essential oils to pregnant women, children or the elderly. If under a doctor's care, please consult the physician before using essential oils. If applying to skin essential oils must be diluted correctly and Aroma & More recommends testing on a small area of skin to check for reaction before attempting a full body massage.

Essential oils known to be phototoxic:
Bergamot peel oil cold pressed/Fig Leaf absolute/Grapefruit oil cold pressed/Lemon oil cold pressed/Lime oil cold pressed
Mandarin Leaf oil/Orange Peel Bitter oil cold pressed-expressed/Rue oil/Angelica Root oil/Cumin oil

Essential oils possibly phototoxic on a case by case basis:
Clementine oil/Kaffir Lime Peel oil cold pressed/Angelica Root absolute/Angelica Root CO2 extract
Celery Leaf oil/Celery Seed absolute/Cumin Seed absolute/Cumin Seed CO2 extract
Khella oil/Lovage Leaf oil/Parsnip oil

Essential oils that contain such small amounts of phototoxic to be considered non-phototoxic:
Bergamot fcf oil steam distilled/Lemon oil steam distilled/Lime oil steam distilled/Mandarin oil cold pressed
Orange Sweet oil cold pressed/Orange Leaf oil/Tangerine oil cold pressed/Yuzu oil