Lemon (Citrus limon) essential oil is cold-pressed from the rind of the fruit. This essential oil contains the following health properties: anticancer, antidepressant, antiseptic, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, astringent, invigorating, refreshing and tonic.

Historically, lemon oil was used to fight food poisoning, malaria, typhoid epidemics, and scurvy. It has also been used to lower blood pressure and to help with liver issues, arthritis, and muscular aches and pains. The French have used lemon medicinally to help with anemia, disinfecting the air, asthma, gout, intestinal parasites, rheumatism, throat infection, varicose veins, and more.

Today, lemon essential oil is commonly used to help with air purification, anxiety, autism, brain injury, carpet stains, colds (common), concentration (poor), constipation, depression, disinfection, dysentery, fever, gout, grief/sorrow, hangover, heartburn, kidney stones, malaria, overeating, postpartum depression, stress, and water purification.

Lemon essential oil is also known to be helpful with aging, improving clarity of thought, digestive problems, hair cleaning, lymphatic system cleansing, memory improvement, nerves, respiratory problems, and eliminating sore throats.

Safety Data: Avoid direct sunlight for 12 hours after topical use. Can cause extreme skin irritation.

Ways to Use Lemon Essential Oil

1. Lemon essential oil serves as an effective household cleaner, furniture polish, and solvent for removing grease and gum.
2. Allergies are something nobody wants to deal with. If you are affected by seasonal allergies, combine 2 drops each of lemon, lavender, and peppermint with 1 tsp. (5ml) fractionated coconut oil. Apply the mixture to the temples, under the nose, and on the bottoms of the feet morning and evening.
3. Diffuser blends are a great way to enjoy the aromatic benefits of lemon essential oil. Aromatically, lemon is said to promote health, healing, physical energy, and purification. It provides an invigorating, enhancing, and warming fragrance. Here are a few of our favorite blends for loving lemon!

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4. Lemon oil is known to be useful in soothing coughs. Simply combine 1 drop eucalyptus and 1 drop lemon with 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) honey. Mix 1/3 of the honey mixture with 1 c. (240 ml) warm water, and drink slowly. You can also combine 1 drop each of eucalyptus, melaleuca, and lemon with 1 tsp. (5 ml) jojoba oil, and apply over the chest and back several times a day.

5. Cooking with lemon essential oil is a great way to add wonderful flavor to your food plus added benefit for your health! You can substitute 1 drop of lemon oil for 1 tsp. lemon zest in most recipes. Here are a few of our favorite lemon recipes.

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Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2018 Edition, pp. 88–89.