Image by Silvia from Pixabay
Lemon essential oil is a multi-purpose oil.
It's unique properties can help you clean your clothes, wash your dishes, and even fight signs of aging.
It's one of the most important essential oils to keep on hand around the house.
Because, it's not only natural ...
It's cost-effective.
So, if you want to make changes and live a more natural lifestyle, start with lemon essential oil
Lemon oil is a safe alternative to several harmful chemicals found in many OTC products. Simply subsitute your DIY products made with lemon essential oils for the commercial products you currently use.
It's easy to do and the benefits are huge. Let's take a look how you can jump in and get started.
What is Lemon Essential Oil?
Have you squeeze a lemon peel? Did you see the fine mist shoot out from the peel?
If so, you experienced first-hand lemon essential oil.
Traditionally, lemon essential oil is cold pressed from the peel. This is the best way to preserve the aroma and chemical compounds found in the oil.
Most likely you could recognize it anywhere. The scent has a classic fresh, clean, and citrusy aroma.
The most abundant component in lemon oil is limonene. This ingredient gives lemon oil its light refreshing scent.
But there's more to limonene ...
Research has shown Limonene contributes to the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and even anti-stress properties associated with lemon oil.
This is why lemon essential oil is the perfect oil to turn to when you start your journey with essential oils.
Benefits of Lemon Oil for Your Health
Lemon essential oil can help make you feel better in a variety of ways.
Here are a few examples of the benefits of lemon essential oil. Lemon oil can:
1. Help Create a Sense of Well-Being
Need an emotional lift? Try lemon essential oil. The lemony and citrusy scent is bound to lift your spirits and help you beat the doldrums. Whether you diffuse lemon oil, apply it at night in a soothing body butter, or simply crack open the bottle and inhale, the uplifting scent of lemon oil can help you feel better.
Here's how it works ...
The lemon scent from the oil stimulates your limbic system which plays a key role in how you feel emotionally.
When the aroma from the lemon oil stimulates the limbic system, it can help decrease stress and in turn help improve your mood.
In addition, researchers believe the citrus scent increases the neurotransmitter serotonin. Increased levels of serotonin may help calm you down and help you feel happier.
Plus, researchers believe the aroma of lemon essential oil helps decrease the hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels have been linked to increased stress which could make you more susceptible to feelings of depression.
So the next time you need a pick-me-up or a solid ally in helping ward off the blues, reach for lemon essential oil. It's soothing aroma can help you stay grounded.
2. Help Improve Cold Symptoms
Colds can be brutal. Wouldn't you agree?
Fortunately, lemon essential oil may help some of your symptoms.
Lemon essential oil has several properties that could help your immune system. These include antibacterial properties, antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory properties.
To get started add 4-5 drops of lemon essential oil to your diffuser. You could also add a couple of drops of either eucalyptus or peppermint oil for an added boost.
If you prefer to apply essential oils topically, add 6-7 drops of essential oils to an ounce of carrier oil and rub the oil on your chest and your neck.
And of course, don't forget the age old remedy of including lemon juice in your battle plan. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to your glass of water for extra help fighting your cold.
Fresh lemon juice is an awesome source of the powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C, which can also help alleviate your symptoms and help you kick your cold to the curb faster.
3. Help Increase Concentration & Focus
It can be frustrating when you're anxious and can't focus.
Especially when you need to concentrate.
It makes you feel crazy and frazzled, especially when you don't know what to do about it.
Hang in there.
Lemon essential oil can help you out.
Research has shown the ingredient limonene found in lemon essential oil may be just what you’re looking for. The invigorating and refreshing scent can help improve your mood, stay centered and control worry.
My favorite way to use lemon oil to relax is to put a few drops in my diffuser. I find aromatherapy is a great way to help me stay centered and on task.
4. Help Promote Beautiful Skin
Did you know Lemon essential oil can be a boon for your complexion?
Lemon oil has several properties which can help fight signs of aging. Regular use can help promote softer, smoother-looking skin.
If you're plagued by fine lines and wrinkles, you may want to consider lemon essential oil to your beauty arsenal. The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of lemon oil can help reduce their appearance and offer a less expensive option to the higher priced commercial brands. Plus, DIY beauty creams and astringest made wth lemon essential oil don't contain the harmful chemicals found in so many OTC products.
However, since lemon oil may cause photosensitivity, it's best used in your evening skincare regimine.
But the lemon essential oil beauty benefits don't stop there.
If menopausal acne is a problem for you, the astringent, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties of lemon oil may give you relief. Lemon essential oil can help manage excess oil production (sebum) which can block pores. It also can help control redness, and inflammation and can help promote healing.
And there's still more ...
If you're dealing with issues such as age spots or skin discoloration, lemon essential oil may help with these challenges as well. According to research, lemon essential oil may promote more even skin tones and provide a natural solution to unsightly skin blotches.
5. Help Promote Wound Healing
It’s always a good idea to have a home first aid kit on hand. Your kit needs basic essentials such as bandaids, sterile gauze squares, and paper tape just to name a few items.
You’ll also want to include a product to help clean and sanitize minor cuts and scrapes. Research has shown that lemon essential oil has beneficial qualities that can help promote wound care.
Lemon oil possesses both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to help promote healing and provide a first line of defense in fighting infection and wound healing.
According to research, lemon essential oil is especially effective against fighting staph aureus. Staph aureus is a common bacteria found on the skin and often found in infected wounds.
For peace of mind it's a good oil to include in your kit.
In the event you or your loved one gets a minor scrape or cut, here are the basic steps you need to take to help prevent infection:
1. Dilution: first, dilute the lemon essential oil. Put 2-3 drops in a tablespoon of carrier oil such as coconut oil. Don’t skip this step. It’s not a good idea to apply essential oil directly to the skin because of the risk of irritation or possible adverse reaction.
2. Clean the wound: wash your hands and then gently clean the wound with mild soap and water. Pat the wound dry with a sterile gauze square.
3. Apply the diluted lemon oil: use a clean cotton ball or swab and carefully apply the oil to the wound.
4. Cover the wound: depending on the type of wound you may or may not need to cover the wound with a sterile bandage or gauze square.
5. Repeat the process: reapply the diluted lemon essential oil two to three times daily until the wound heals.
*Be sure to contact your health care provider in the event of a serious wound or scrape or at the first sign of infection.
Every day Uses for Lemon Essential Oil
For example, lemon essential oil can help:
- Add a boost to your DIY laundry powder
- Cut the grease on dirty dishes
- Restore the shine to tarnished jewelry
- Give a jump-start to your homemade cleaner
- Enhance your face wash for softer skin
It's one of my favorite oils I keep on hand because I can use it in so many different ways. I regularly add it to my DIY laundry powder and my all-purpose cleaner. Before bed I apply coconut oil infused with lemon essential oil to smooth and moisturize my skin. I find the scent relaxing and it helps me get to sleep.
Here are a few ways you can get started with lemon essential Oil:
Helpful Recipes
Citrus Delight Diffuser Blend
Try this diffuser blend to help lift your spirits and make your day brighter.
- 4 drops lemon essential oil
- 4 drops wild orange essential oil
- 2 drops bergamot essential oil
Add essential oils to your diffuser. Run diffuser for 20 or 30 minutes for maximum benefit.
Citrus Burst All-Purpose Cleaner
Add the bacteria fighting power of lemon essential oil to your general DIY household cleaner. Enjoy a home that not only smells fresh and clean, but is clean.
- 1 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
Optional: add 5-10 drops of tea tree essential or eucalyptus essential oil for additional cleaning power.
Directions:
Add the vinegar, water, and lemon essential oil to a dark, glass spray bottle (16 oz).
Gently shake to mix well and label the bottle.
How to Use:
Shake well prior to use
Spray on countertops, kitchen appliances, bathroom surfaces, & glass.
*Avoid use on marble or granite. The vinegar may erode these surfaces. It's always a good idea to test your DIY cleaner on a small area first before cleaning the entire surface.
Safety Tips and Guidelines
1. Lemon Oil can cause photosensitivity. When you use lemon on your skin it's best to avoid the sun. This includes your DIY bath and beauty products made with lemon oil. The best rule of thumb is to stay out of the sun for approximately 12 hours after applying lemon essential oil to your skin.
2. Be sure to dilute lemon essential oil before applying to your skin. You can use carrier oils like fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil or almond oil. For a 2% dilution mix 6 drops of lemon oil with 10 ml of carrier oil in a glass bottle.
3. Do a patch test on your inner forearm with the diluted lemon essential oil. You want to be sure you're not sensitive or allergic to the oil. Do not apply lemon essential oil directly to your skin without diluting first in a carrier oil or cream.
4. Avoid contact with sensitive areas such as eyes, ears, and sensitive areas.
5. If you are under a doctor's care consult your physician.
6. Store the the bottle of lemon oil in a cool dark place away from sunlight in order to maintain quality and extend the life of your essential oil. (All your essential oils need a good home such as a designated drawer, cabinet, or box.)
Enhance Your Life With Lemon Essential Oil
Imagine how it would feel to wipe down your bathroom sink and experience the clean, fresh aroma of lemon essential oil. Or before bed applying a soothing DIY night cream with lemon essential oil, lavender essential oil, and frankincense essential oil. Not only does it smell great, but it doesn't have the harmful synthetic chemicals so many OTC products contain. You can experience all this, and save money at the same time. All you need to do is make a decision to get started and gather together the ingredients you'll need for your own DIY products.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Association. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.