Uses of lemon essential oil By: Rebecca Noel

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

All about the amazing uses of lemon essential oil including both therapeutic uses, cosmetic uses and uses around the home.

By: Rebecca Noel

In aromatherapy Lemon essential oil has an amazingly wide range of uses. The lemon conjures up images of freshness and cleanliness and sunshine and lemonade.

Research by Jean Valnet, M.D., showed that vaporized Lemon essential oil can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, staphylococcus aureus in two hours and germs causing pneumonia within three hours.

Even a 0.2% solution of Lemon essential oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria. Its antiseptic properties will last for twenty days. It is perfect for destroying air-borne germs in hospital rooms, waiting rooms, and schools. It is particularly effective in neutralizing unpleasant body odors of patients suffering from cancer.

Lemon essential oil is an essential oil with high vibrations, comparable to a high-toned whistle. Sandalwood, in comparison, hums like a bumble bee. Essential oils with high vibrations lifts spirits, especially when one may be feeling mental fatigue.

Lemon especially brings a sense of warmth and fun to intellectual pursuits. Although Lemon essential oil is beneficial for both physical and psychological heaviness, it mostly stimulates the mind, increasing concentration and the ability to memorize.

Brain research concerned with the effects of fragrances has found that Lemon essential oil primarily activates the hippocampus. University researchers in Japan found that diffusing certain aromas in an office environment dramatically improved mental accuracy and concentration.

Diffused Lemon essential oil resulted in 54 percent fewer errors. When aromas were diffused during test taking, scores increased by as much as 50 percent. In other research Lemon essential oil has shown to have antidepressant effects.

A 1995 Mie University study found that citrus fragrances boosted immunity, induced relaxation, and reduced depression. Lemon essential oil is an immune stimulant. It increases white blood cells, improves microcirculation and is antiseptic.

Lemon essential oil consists of 68 percent d-limonene, a powerful antioxidant. Lemon has an approximate ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) of 6,619 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter. D-limonene has been extensively studied for its ability to combat tumor growth in over 50 clinical studies.

 

Some Great Therapeutic Uses for Lemon Essential Oil

For colds or throat and mouth infections, gargling with Lemon essential oil (2 drops diluted in half a glass of water) and taking Lemon essential oil orally by adding it to a propolis tincture is helpful.

Place a drop of Lemon essential oil on cold sores, herpes or other mouth ulcers to lessen pain and aid in healing.

For treatment of itchy eczemas and measles add Lemon essential oil to a sponge bath (1-2 drops to a quart of water)

Lemon essential oil because of its vitamin C content is beneficial for treating anemia.

Since oils strengthen vascular tissues, it is used for treating varicose veins by improving circulation and relieving pressure on the veins. It may be applied in skin lotions and compresses, mixed in a 1 to 1 ratio with Cypress essential oil.

Lemon essential oil acts as an astringent, an antiseptic, a disinfectant, and a styptic that stops wounds from bleeding. It becomes an excellent remedy when used in a compress or as a cleanser for treating bleeding wounds. Put a drop of Lemon essential oil on bleeding gums caused by gingivitis or tooth extraction.

Essential Lemon essential oil taken orally will help counteract a high acid content in body fluids by stimulating production of potassium carbonate, a neutralizing substance and is a preferred remedy for rheumatism and gout, since it cleanses the body of uric acid, a side effect of high acidity. In this case, the oil may be taken both orally and topically.

Lemon essential oil is a very good stimulant of the body’s own immune system. It activates white blood cell formation and helps protect the body during flu epidemics.

Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil on a wart morning and night until it disappears. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on a corn, callous or bunion mornings and evenings. Rub two drops of Lemon essential oil topically to clear athlete’s foot.

Rub several drops of Lemon essential oil on cellulite to improve circulation and help eliminate waste from the cells.

Put a drop of Lemon essential oil on oily skin or acne to balance sebaceous glands (oil glands).

CAUTION: Citrus oils should NOT be applied to skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light within 24 hours.

 

Some Great Household Uses for Lemon Essential Oil

Use 6-12 drops of Lemon essential oil in a spray bottle mixed with distilled water to use in the bathroom as an air freshener. Or you can diffuse Lemon essential oil to clean and disinfect the air in any room.

Use 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil to remove gum, oil, grease spots or crayon.

Add 2-3 drops of Lemon essential oil to water and spray counter tops to sterilize them.

Soak your dishcloth overnight in a bowl of water and a drop of Lemon essential oil to disinfect and kill germs.

Add a drop of Lemon essential oil to your dishwasher before the wash cycle.

Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil on your hands after using a public bathroom.

Use a paper towel soaked with several drops of Lemon essential oil to sanitize bathroom fixtures and toilet seats.

Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil to clean a butcher’s block or other cutting surfaces.

Put 10-15 drops of Lemon essential oil in each gallon of carpet cleaning solution to help pull out stains and brighten the rug. This also leaves a fresh smell in the room.

Use 30 drops of Lemon essential oil in the washing machine instead of chlorine bleach.

Put Lemon rinds in your garbage disposal to disinfect.

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is based solely on the use of 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils due to their high quality and tested purity.
The use of a brand of uncertain quality and/or purity will provide you with potentially dangerous, if not lethal, results. The author assumes no responsibility for your improper use of this information.
The statements about these oils have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.