Lemon (Citrus limon)
Lemon essential oil has so many uses, is so refresing and is so versatile that it has become one of my all-time
favorite citrus oils.
It can be used as a flavoring, as a tonic, to freshen rooms and sheets, to improve water,
as a cleanser, to polish furniture and more.
I've never been a big fan of lemons or lemonade, but lemon essential oil is in a class by itself.
The scent of lemon oil is simply divine! It smells exactly like the clean, fresh scent of a freshly cut lemon -
and it enlivens my senses. It seems to make everything seem "more alive."
Testimonials for: Lemon Oil
Q: If I put lemon oil in drinking water, will it make the water harmful to the enamel on my teeth?
A: There shouldn’t be any concerns about harming tooth enamel by using lemon oil diluted with water and consumed. Because lemon essential oil is pH neutral, unlike lemon juice, it should not be harmful to the enamel on teeth; however, it also depends on the manner in which the lemon essential oil is used.
Q: Does lemon oil contain vitamin C?
A: There is no vitamin C in lemon essential oil.
Q What is the difference between lemon oil and melissa?
A Melissa is steam distilled from the lemon balm plant, whereas
lemon oil is cold pressed from the rind of lemons. They have different actions and uses.
Lemon oil (Young Living Therapeutic Grade) is:
Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral.
It's been long known that lemon essential oil is anti-infectious, antibacterial (especially with spores), antiseptic, antiviral. It can function as a disinfectant and has vitamin P-like action for improving microcirculation, promoting white blood cell formation and improving immune fuction. It has also been widely used in skin care to cleanse skin and reduce wrinkles. It helps brighten pale, dull complexions and remove dead skin cells. (But remember that lemon oil is photosensitizing, so avoid applying it to skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight or UV light.)
Just smelling lemon oil helps clear the mind, improve memory, and boost energy level. Many people on the Master Lemon Cleanse find that adding a drop or two to their lemonade drink helps their body detox, cleanse and alkalize more efficiently.
Lemon oil is cold-pressed from the rind of lemons. Jean Valnet, MD, estimated that it takes 3,000 lemons produce one kilo of oil. In his book, The Practice of Aromatherapy, Valnet wrote that lemon is a tonic for supporting the nervous and sympathetic nervous system.
Dr. Valnet states that the vaporized essence of lemon (when diffused in a diffuser) can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, Staphylococcus aureus in two hours, and Pneumococus bacteria within three hours. Even a 0.2 percent solution of lemon oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria in the air.
Lemon oil has been used for anemia, asthma, herpes, warts, shingles, bleeding, malaria, parasites, rheumatism, throat infections, sore throats, ureter infections, and varicose veins.
Lemon essential oil has an approximate ORAC score of 6,619 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter. What this means is that it's antioxidant levels are very high.
Here are some of the ways you can use lemon essential oil:
As a Room Freshener:
Lemon essential oil's refreshing, purifying, citrus scent is super revitalizing and uplifting. Mix about 10 to 20 drops with water and spritz your room for a delightfully fresh ambience and cleaner air.
If you like lemon scented laundry, put a few drops on a small cloth and throw in the dryer, or put a few drops in your final rinse cycle or hand wash.
To Flavor Water:
A couple of drops added to water not only transform your glass into a refreshing beverage, but it's a lot safer than squeezing the lemon wedge that came on the side of your glass! More about that here…
To Quick-Purify Water:
If you're in an area where the water is suspect, add two drops of lemon oil to a glass of water and stir. Let it sit a couple of minutes, the pollutants will come to the top. Skim them off with a spoon or place a clean napkin or paper towel over the top of the water and let them absorb into the napkin.
To Flavor Tea:
No lemon wedges around for tea? Add a couple drops of lemon oil to your tea and sip away… Adding a drop or two of peppermint essential oil with the lemon creates a fantastic, naturally flavore tea that is delicious and refreshing hot or cold.
To Boost Flavor in Lemonade:
Add a drop or two of lemon essential oil to your lemonade for a spectacular flavor boost! Absolutely delightfull!
As an Antioxidant:
Lemon essential oil consists of 68 percent d-limonene, a powerful antioxidant.
Balancing pH:
Lemon essential oil provides a pleasant way to help balance your pH. The pH of lemon is just about perfect for the human body. So if your body tends to run too acid, drinking a few drops of lemon oil in water two to three times a day is a healthy practice. This is especially good when doing the Lemon Master Cleanse.
To Remove Tree Sap or Gum:
Lemon essential oil is one of the best ways to remove tree sap, gum or just about any heavy, sticky glue, or sticky substance from your skin or surfaces. I have a pine tree in the back that beetles have gotten to and it drips sap (the tree will have to be removed soon). Every so often I accidentally brush against it and get some of the gooey, sticky sap on my arm or step into it on the ground. Just a couple drops of lemon oil takes the goo off my skin and out of my clothes quickly.
Price tags also leave seemingly indestructable glue residue. Nothing will get it off but lemon oil. If your kids or pets get into some tar, lemon oil will remove it. Gum in the hair (or on furniture)? Try a few drops of lemon oil.
As a Great-Smelling Natural Cleanser:
To get your whole kitchen smelling lemon fresh, put 10-15 drop of lemon oil in 2 cups of water and wash the counters down. Use lemon oil to rub off stubborn stains on dishes. Put a couple of drops in the final rinse of the dishwasher for lemon-fresh dishes!
Polish Wooden Furniture, Molding, Etc:
Rub lemon essential oil on wood surfaces to clean and polish. Lemon oil restores the natural wood oils and adds a beautiful gloss and scent.
Corns, calluses, bunions:
Rub lemon essential oil on your corns, calluses or bunions in the morning and in the evening for soothing relief and softening of skin.
To Relax and Calm Nerves:
Open the bottle of lemon essential oil and put it close to your nose, but don't touch it to your skin. Take a deep breath an slowly smell the wonderful fragrance. Take several deep breaths, put the bottle down and breathe normally for a few seconds, then pick up the bottle and smell slowly again. Visualize the lemon cleansing away stress and worry like the sun brightens the day. Repeat for a total of three times - or more if you like.
Caution: If you put lemon essential oil on your skin, avoid direct sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying. Citrus essential oils react with sunlight and can cause discoloration of the skin when exposed to light for up to 12 hours. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid using on infants and very small children. Do not use near fire, flame, heat or sparks.
