Oil Profile: Lemon

I don’t know about you, but when I think of a smell that makes me think of summer, I immediately think of lemons! They are light, refreshing, and so hydrating during those really hot months.

So get ready to pull out your bottle of lemon oil several times throughout the season!

Lemon History

Lemons and lemon essential oil have been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a wide spectrum of health conditions for at least 1,000 years.

In ancient Egypt, lemon oil was used to embalm the dead, and was said to help slow the decay of the body. In ancient Greece, lemon juice and lemon oil was used to help preserve food, particularly meat, and to clean drinking water.

Lemon plants are grown in many countries all over the world, although they are believed to be native to Asia and to have been brought to Europe around 200 A.D and soon after spread to the Arabic countries such as Egypt and Persia. In 1747, Scottish physician Dr. James Lind conducted an experiment and discovered that lemons could be used to keep sailors from getting scurvy.

Lemon Benefits

1. Helps Lymphatic Drainage
   Lemon oil can help reduce swelling in your lymph nodes. It has been shown to soothe inflammation and help stimulate lymphatic drainage. This can help reduce the fluid buildup that causes coughing.
2. Purifying
   Lemon oil has a purifying and cleansing effect on both the body and environment. It helps defend the body against harmful pathogens and promotes detox through the blood and liver, and due to stimulating lymphatic drainage, it helps the body cleanse itself of toxins. It is also useful in the home to get rid of pathogens and bacteria. You can use lemon oil as a natural cleaning agent to help keep your home free of dangerous chemicals.
3. Improves Digestion and Help with Weight Loss
   Lemon can help soothe digetive issues such as gastritis and constipation. Lemon oil may also be able to help break down body fat. It contains d-limonene, which is known to help support matabolism and cleanse the lymphatic glands, which can help promote weight loss. You can add 2 drops to a glass of water a couple of times a day to support your metabolism, or add a couple of drops to a glass of water with honey to help with digestive complaints.
4. Boosts Mood
   Lemon oil has a light and refreshing smell that can’t help but just lift your mood and revitalize and awaken your brain. You can add a few drops to your diffuser, or inhale directly from the bottle.

Lemon Uses and Cautions

There are so many ways you can use this oil! Some of my favorites are adding a few drops to a glass of water and honey for a throat-soothing drink, putting a few drops mixed with lavender or peppermint into my diffuser for a mood booster or refeshing scent, or livening up my cooking in the kitchen by adding drops to homemade lemonade or experimenting with different lemon muffin and scone flavors.

This is also my famorite non-toxic goo-be-gone. Just add a couple of drops to a damp cloth and rub away!

As with any citrus oil, lemon can cause photosensitivity, so it’s important to avoid direct sunlight for up to 12 hours after using lemon oil topically. It can also cause skin irritations, so do a patch test on your arm before using it to make sure you don’t have any reactions. If ever in doubt, and even just as a habit with stronger oils, you can dilute with a carrier oil.

Anytime you are dealing with essential oils, but especially those you would ingest, it’s always very important to choose a high-quality oil from a reputable brand. Opt for an oil that’s 100 percent pure grade and USDA certified organic.