Chronic, intractable pain can seriously interfere with a patient’s ability to function, but opiate painkillers carry the risk of addiction and harsh withdrawal effects. However, recent research published in Fitoterapia suggests that the scent of bergamot — a fragrant citrus fruit long used in tea and perfumes — may have promising antinociceptive effects. An experiment with mice injected with painful formalin found that mice exposed to the scent of bergamot essential oil showed fewer outward signs of pain than mice who couldn’t smell the bergamot, suggesting that the bergamot has a kind of pain relieving effect.
Key Takeaways:
- Severe, long-term pain can be so debilitating that it prevents people from being able to function in life.
- Research published by Fitoterapia suggests that the essential oil of the fragrant bergamot orange has an antinociceptive effect that inhibits your brain’s pain signals.
- The research found that mice injected with painful formalin and then exposed to the scent of bergamot essential oil displayed fewer outward signs of pain.
“According to a study, inhaling the scent of bergamot is effective at relieving pain without causing any of the side effects associated with chemical pain relievers, particularly opioids.”
Leave a Reply