Better Sleep with Bergamot: How Bergamot Essential Oil Can Naturally Improve Sleep

Sleep is more than just downtime—it’s the key to healing, especially when recovering from heart troubles. Yet, restful sleep can sometimes be elusive, leaving many searching for gentle, natural solutions. Enter bergamot essential oil, a calming citrus aroma that's quietly making waves as an ally in heart health and nighttime tranquility.

In a recent study, published in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a cardiac rehabilitation center in North Texas invited 42 adults recovering from cardiac events to explore the soothing benefits of aromatherapy. Over two separate five-night periods, participants were gently exposed to either a placebo or an aromatic essential oil blend featuring bergamot, lavandin, and ylang ylang. Placed bedside on cotton balls, this comforting scent accompanied them as they drifted off each night.

The outcome was subtle yet remarkable. Participants reported significantly better sleep quality during the nights when the essential oil blend was present, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Although they didn’t necessarily sleep longer or fall asleep faster, they experienced fewer disruptions—less waking up feeling chilled, fewer midnight trips to the bathroom, and more overall comfort.

So if you're craving deeper, more restorative rest, introducing bergamot essential oil into your bedtime routine might just be the perfect solution. Diffusing it gently or placing a subtle blend near your pillow offers an inviting, holistic way to foster nighttime calm, supporting both physical recovery and emotional well-being.

Source: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine