Lemon Oil, how to use lemon oil. Magical way to use lemon oil
Lemon essential oil hardly requires a lengthy introduction. Most of us have been exposed to it for our entire lives in one form or another (e.g., air fresheners, soaps, furniture polishes, and other household cleaning products). In fact, the oil distilled from the rind of Citrus limon is probably the most widely used essential oil in the world today!
This powerful citrusy essential oil is well known for its anti-microbial properties and it is widely used as a stimulating indoor air freshener and household cleanser – that you probably already know.
Some of its other uses include as a natural pain reliever, a topic anti-fungal remedy, as a weight loss aid or even to alleviate severe nausea like that associated with morning sickness. Lemon essential oil can also be diffused for aromatherapy to reduce stress and anxiety while simultaneously enhancing mood and concentration. You can even use it to cleanse and naturally highlight your hair.
Native to Asia, the lemon tree is a small evergreen whose genetic origins have been traced back to a cross between bitter orange and citron. The exact details of its journey from the wilds to civilization are not precisely known but it is believed that lemon trees were first introduced in Europe around 200 A.D. The dimpled, yellow fruit took another 1,300 years to spread across the globe, from the Middle East to Northern Africa, then eventually to the Americas with Christopher Columbus in 1493.
Originally cultivated as an ornamental plant, in time Citrus limon became so much more than something pretty to look at. Lemons are antioxidant powerhouses, containing twice as much Vitamin C as the average orange as well as several unique citrus phytochemicals which have been studied for their potential to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases. As a flavoring for food and drink, lemon’s pucker-inducing tartness and sweet-sour flavor profile have made it a favourite ingredient in the culinary arts. Chock-full of limonene and citric acid, its juice is an excellent anti-bacterial, de-greasing, deodorizing, and disinfecting household cleanser.
Without a doubt, lemons have a lot going for them. But the saga of the little fruit that could doesn’t end there. As an essential oil, lemon is a popular choice due to its citrusy, uplifting scent that just makes things smell clean. Cold-pressed from the peel, lemon oil has antifungal, astringent, and antiseptic properties, making it an exceptionally practical oil that would be well-placed in any essential oil collection. Read on to learn more about lemon oil’s suite of benefits, from the ways it can promote health and wellness to how it can be used to naturally clean and freshen the home.
1. Treat
Candida Infections:
Most
commonly expressed as a yeast infection when it’s running rampant,
Candida is a class of fungus that is often a normal part of good oral and
intestinal health. Its overgrowth, however, can affect the skin, throat, mouth,
genitals, and, if left untreated, can even invade the blood.
Because of
its antifungal properties, lemon oil can be used as a natural remedy for yeast
infections. A recent study found that lemon oil was able to
inhibit the growth of various Candida strains. This is likely because of lemon
oil’s high monoterpenoid content, which has an antimicrobial effect. You can
use the following recipe as an external skin treatment once per day. If there’s
no improvement after a week, you should see a healthcare practitioner.
Recipe: 3 cups of lukewarm water + 2 tablespoons
of vinegar + 3 drops of lemon oil + 4 drops of tea tree oil
2. For
Pain Relief:
According
to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, chronic pain affects 100 million
Americans – more than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. The four
most common kinds of pain are lower back pain, severe headache / migraine, neck
pain, and facial aches. Whether the pain is long-lasting or short-lived, sharp
or throbbing, a result of physical injury, inflammation, or medical issue, it
can absolutely interfere with your quality of life.
There are
many options available to treat and manage pain, but a natural way to reduce
pain signals in the brain was found with lemon oil aromatherapy. The study, published in 2002, was conducted on
lab rats during a persistent experience of pain; the rats that inhaled the
aroma of lemon oil showed a decrease in behaviors indicative of pain
(flinching, flexing, and licking the affected area) as compared with the
control group. Researchers measured the rats’ neuronal activity and found that
lemon oil increased the expression of c-Fos, a gene and protein that regulates
nerve cell production and survival.
3.
Enhance Mood & Concentration:
If you
have ever deeply inhaled the scent of lemon oil, you’ve probably noticed that
it has a stimulating, and yet calming, influence in the mind. In an effort to
better understand the relationship between smell and mood, researchers examined the psychological and
physiological impact of smelling either lemon oil, lavender oil, or plain water
before and after experiencing a stressor. Of the 56 healthy volunteers, those
that smelled lemon oil reported increased positive mood – despite having their
hands plunged in ice water! The researchers also measured stress hormones and
found that norepinephrine, which plays a role in cognition and learning, was
maintained at elevated levels after inhaling lemon oil
4. Lessen
Stress & Anxiety:
One of the
great paradoxes of lemon oil is its ability to invigorate and relax. In
addition to its anti-depressant and cognition-boosting qualities, lemon oil
aromatherapy was shown to calm the nerves and relieve stress in two separate
studies.
Using
various animal models for assessing anxiety, despair, and exploratory
behaviors, researchers in a 2006 study exposed mice to lavender, rose,
and lemon essential oils and found that lemon had the “strongest anti-stress
effect”. Another study,
this time concerning rats, resulted in lowered corticosterone levels (which is
released as a stress response) when exposed to lemon oil for a period of two
weeks.
5. Lose
Weight:
It may
seem like a bold statement, but lemon oil canactually help you lose weight by
suppressing weight gain, dissolving body fat, and reducing appetite. The rind
of many citrus fruits – including lemon – contain high amounts of the organic
compound limonene. Limonene has the ability to facilitate lipolysis – the
breakdown of white adipose tissue, which is the type of fat the body stores for
energy. The connection between limonene and lipolysis was demonstrated in
a study where exposure to a blend of
lemon oil and grapefruit oil aromatherapy increased lipolysis and reduced body
weight in lab rats.
Fat
Dissolving Massage Recipe: ¼
cup of sweet almond oil + 7 drops of pure lemon oil + 7 drops of grapefruit oil
6.
Alleviate Morning Sickness:
Affecting
more than half of moms-to-be, the vomiting and nausea of pregnancy is among the
least pleasant aspects of gestation. While morning sickness will usually
subside on its own within 14 to 18 weeks, for some it will continue for the
whole nine months, up until the time the baby is delivered.
Fortunately,
there is some respite to be found with lemon oil! A clinical trial from 2014 examined the effects
of lemon oil aromatherapy on pregnant women who suffer from morning sickness.
Involving more than 100 participants, the study determined that inhaling lemon
oil as soon as feelings of nausea were present had the effect of drastically
reducing queasiness and retching as well as an overall decrease in the
intensity of those symptoms.
7. Skin
Toner:
Lemon oil
is an astringent – meaning that it constricts bodily tissues when applied
topically. For this reason, lemon oil may be used for deep cleansing of
the skin while also shrinking pores. Terrific for oily skin types, lemon oil
acts as a natural toner that reduces the amount of sebum (oily or waxy
substances) produced by the sebaceous glands. Since overactive sebaceous glands
are a major cause of acne, cysts, hyperplasia, and other inflammations of the
skin, adding lemon oil to your daily skin care regimen can help heal and
prevent breakouts.
Recipe: ½ cup of water + ½ cup of witch hazel + 40 drops of lemon oil
8.
Degrease Your Hair:
Also
caused by an overzealous sebaceous gland, greasy hair can leave your tresses
limp, flat, and stringy no matter how much you wash it. As with oily skin,
lemon oil can reduce the amount of sebum on the scalp, as well as help
rebalance the production of oils.
Shampoo
Recipe: ½
cup of liquid castilesoap + 1 cup of
water + 20 drops of lemon oil
Hair
Rinse Recipe: 1
cup of water + 2 tablespoons of apple cidervinegar + 3
drops of lemon oil
9.
All-Purpose Cleaner:
Although
vinegar is a wonderful, eco-friendlycleaner, sometimes
you might not want to imbue your home with a sour, pungent smell. Lemon oil’s
antiseptic, antifungal, and disinfectant qualities make it a viable green
cleaning contender – all while emitting that unmistakably “clean” scent.
Recipe: 2 ½ cups of water + 2 tablespoons
of liquid castilesoap + 10 to 20
drops of lemon oil
10.
Laundry Detergent:
Making
your own laundry soap is easy, inexpensive, and good for the planet. Since all
the ingredients are natural, this mixture is totally biodegradable and free of
chemicals and artificial fragrances. And while there are many essential oils
you can use in your laundry, lemon oil is a fantastic bleach substitute that
will brighten your whites.
Recipe: 3 cups of borax + 3 cups of washing soda + 3 cups of baking soda +
2 bars of castilesoap (grated) +
30 drops of lemon oil
11. Wood Polish:
The
chemicals in commercial wood polishes can irritate the eyes, skin, and
respiratory tract. In lieu of introducing pollutants into the home, you can use
lemon oil as a key ingredient for all-natural homemade furniture polish that
will not only bring back the luster and shine of the wood but also help to
protect against future scratches and stains.
Recipe: ½ cup of olive oil or sweet almond oil
+ 10 to 15 drops of lemon oil
12.
Reusable Wipes:
If you
loathe using paper towels to sop up small spills but still want to have
on-the-go disinfecting wipes on hand, then this one’s for you! You’ll need a
handful of square cloths(old t-shirts or bed sheets would do
the trick) and a suitablecontainer with lid for
easy access.
Recipe: 1 ½ cups of warm water + 1 tablespoon
of coconut oil + 1 teaspoon of vodka + 3 drops
of lavender oil + 3 drops of lemon oil
When
you’re done using these wipes, simply wash the cloths and reuse them for your
next batch of lemon oil disinfecting wipes!
13. Clean
Small Wounds:
Since
lemon oil is a natural antiseptic, it can be used to clean minor wounds to
prevent infection. You can use these recipes on superficial cuts, scrapes,
and burns to speed up the healing process.
Soothing
Salve Recipe: Combine
¼ cup of beeswax pellets with ¾ cup of coconut oil and heat on low on the stovetop.
Once thoroughly melted and blended, add 12 drops each of lemon, lavender, and
tea tree oil. Transfer to a container and allow it to cool before using.
Antiseptic
Spray: ¼
cup of distilled water + 6 drops of lemon + 12 drops of tea tree + 6 drops of eucalyptus oils
Need
containers for your homemade personal care products? You can order glassbalm jars here.
Also, I recommend these blue glassbottles for
storing essential oil-based sprays.
14. Air
Freshener Spray:
You can
eliminate bad odors and instantly refresh your indoor spaces with a little
lemon oil.
Spray
Recipe: 1
cup of water + 24 drops of lemon oil
(Be sure
to pick up a couple of these sprayers for storage and use of essential
oil cleaning fluids!)
Essential
Oil Precautions:
Like many
citrus essential oils, lemon oil is phototoxic. This means that when an
essential oil is applied topically, exposure to sunlight (UV rays to be exact)
causes the skin to become hyper-sensitive and burn much more easily. It is
recommended to stay out of direct sunlight for at least 12 hours after using
lemon oil on the skin.
Also,
essential oils should always be diluted before using them on the skin. While
the aforementioned recipes are good places to start, you may wish to experiment
with your own blends. As a general rule, a 2% dilution can be made by mixing 12
drops of essential oil per one ounce of carrier oil, lotion, or butter. When
using an essential oil for the first time, it’s wise to perform a small skin patch test before applying it all over your
body.
In short lemon essential oil can help us in following points.
- Skin Care
- Stress
- Immune system
- Asthma
- Insomnia
- Stomach ailments
- Hair care
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Cleaner
- Perfumes
- Soaps and cosmetics
- Beverages
Last but
definitely not least, while lemon oil is generally considered safe, most essential oils are not recommended
for use by pregnant or nursing women. Many essential oils
(including some of those used in the above recipes) contain organic compounds
which – while safe for adults – may be toxic or cause severe irritation to
infants and small children. While many oils present warnings to this
effect within their packaging, not all of them do. Remember: when in
doubt, the best practice is always to discuss which essential oils are safe
with a licensed obstetrician before use.
For ordering 100 % pure lemon essential oil visit our website on www.kalishankarexport.in or you can contact us on kalishankarexport@gmail.com Our whatsapp number is +91-9628860250
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