8 LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL USES & HEALING BENEFITS

LIMONENE AND THE BENEFITS OF LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL

The key to it’s healing power, lemon rinds (where the essential oil is extracted from) are one of the richest sources of d-limonene, which is the most common cancer-fighting terpenes in nature. (source)  Additionally, we know that d-limonene can help:

Boost immunity 

Reverse liver and pancreas damage 

Kill pathogens and acts as a food preservative Aid in weight loss 

Decrease anxiety 

Promote restful sleep 

Some of the richest sources of d-limonene are: 

Sweet orange (83.9 – 95.9%)

Grapefruit (84.8 – 95.4%)

Clementine (94.8 – 95.0%)

Bitter orange, peel (89.7 – 91.7%)

Tangerine (87.4 – 91.7%

Lemon, expressed (56.6 – 76.0%)

Celery seed (68.0 – 75.0%)

Mandarin (65.3 – 74.2%)

Tangelo (73.2%)

Lemon, distilled (64.0 – 70.5%)

Dill seed (35.9-68.4%)

Elemi (26.9 – 65.0%)

Palo santo (58.6 – 63.3%)

Yuzu (63.1%)

Lime, expressed (51.5-59.6%)

Lime, distilled (55.6%)

Fir needle, silver (54.7%)

Bergamot, expressed (27.4 – 52.0%)

Caraway (36.9 – 48.8%)

In addition to d-limonene, other commonly shared chemicals in the citrus family are furocoumarins like bergapten, notable for their phototoxic effects. When bergapten is left on the skin, then exposed to the sun, it amplifies the effect of the sun and can leave burns. Some people like to avoid using bergapten-heavy oils topically altogether, but simply avoiding the sun after use (such as using it at night before bed) is sufficient. Alternatively, steam-distilled citrus oils have lower concentrations of bergapten and mitigate this effect.

This list of photosensitizing and non-photosensitizing came from the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapists. (3)

Great care should be taken when using citrus oils, including lemon essential oil uses, during summer months and with your children, but you don’t have to avoid them all together. Many aromatherapists agree that heavily diluting citrus oils minimizes the risk.

For example, the Essential Oil Safety text and Aromahead Institute teach that phototoxic oils can be used if diluted as follows:

Cold Pressed Bergamot — 2.4 drops (I just consider this 2 drops per oz)

Cold Pressed Lemon — 12 drops per oz

Cold Pressed Lime — 4.2 drops (I just consider this 4 drops per oz)

Cold Pressed Grapefruit — 24 drops per oz

CURRENT RESEARCH

Hundreds of studies have referred to the benefits of lemon essential oil, and exploring the dozens of traditional uses. Its most prominent component, limonene, is likely the key to its potency, found in many citrus oils. Its cancer-fighting antioxidant power is impressive, as well. With such a strong foundational composition, it’s not surprising that the science is catching up to 1,000-year-tradition at breakneck speed!

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Dementia occurs when brain nerve cells become damaged. Being that this affect several areas of the brain, people experience dementia quite differently. There are various types of dementias, and they are often categorized by the part of the brain damaged and whether the condition worsens. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia in seniors over 65 years old is, has been researched extensively and essential oils can be of great help.

For instance, the effects of aromatherapy were evaluated on elderly people suffering from dementia, with the majority being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. They were given rosemary and lemon inhalations in the morning, then lavender and orange in the evening. Through multiple tests and forms of analysis, the “patients showed significant improvement in personal orientation” without any deleterious side effects. (3)

Nausea and Vomiting

An interesting study came out the spring of 2014, highlighting the benefits that lemon essential oil has for pregnant women dealing with nausea and vomiting. This was actually the first study of its kind and they discovered some promising results. Basing their research findings on the personal report 100 women provided to the researchers, they learned that the majority were significantly more satisfied with aromatherapy (i.e. simply smelling lemon essential oil out of the bottle) than with the drugs that they were given or the placebo. (4)

Antioxidant

Another component of lemon that researchers have recently validated is geraniol. To evaluate the antioxidant ability to reverse damage from inflammation and oxidative stress, scientists in India gave geraniol to rats with diabetic neuropathy. Over the course of the 8-week study, markers of sciatic nerve damage and mitochondrial enzymes were both restored significantly. As a bonus, they also observed restored dopamine levels, the neurotransmitter that is associated with healthy functions like movement and unhealthy functions like addiction. (5)

Although this was an animal study and not necessarily indicative of mirrored results in humans, the potential beneficial effects of regular lemon essential oil use are promising, especially with our current influx of mitochondrial disease and the effects of stress on the heart and aging. And, as concluded,

“From our data, we hypothesize that [geraniol] may be a promising therapeutic candidate in the management of [diabetic neuropathy] in humans!”

Food Safety

Food safety is another major benefit of lemon essential oil use. A USDA study utilized lemon in a study regarding E. coli and Salmonella. It successfully protected apple juice against the dangerous bacterial strains, confirming its antimicrobial use. (6)

                               

FUN & EFFECTIVE LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL USES

We’ve already walked through quite a range of uses for lemon essential oil, so there’s no surprise at the long list of practical applications. These are just a sampling, and some of my favorite ways to use lemon outside of medicinal benefits.

1. Lemon Essential Oil Uses – Freshen Clothes: We’ve all forgotten to switch laundry to the dryer at least once. Just add a few drops of lemon EO in a rinse to prevent that awful odor.

2. Lemon Essential Oil Uses – Remove Gum and Sap: Playtime around trees can quickly become a mess. Remove pine gum or tree sap from clothes and carpet with an essential oil application.

3. Lemon Essential Oil Uses – Wash Greasy Hands: Soap just doesn’t always cut it after doing mechanic work. But with a couple of drops of lemon essential oil added to your soap, the grime should wash right off!

4. Lemon Essential Oil Uses – Disinfect (Without the Toxins!): Alcohol and bleach are harsh, especially when little hands and lungs are around. Instead, add 40 drops lemon oil to 8 oz pure distilled water and 8 oz witch hazel or white vinegar to clean the moldy shower and germy countertops.

5. Lemon Essential Oil Uses – Safe Leather Treatment: A dab of lemon oil on a cloth will restore leather furniture, shoes, and clothing to their original luxe.

6. Lemon Essential Oil Uses – Polish Silver: Try the same effect on tarnished silverware and jewelry to bring back the shine.

7. Lemon Essential Oil Uses – Goo-Be-Gone: Sticker books are a parent’s nemesis when the stickers find their home on windows and furniture. Remove stickers, gum, and other gooey remnants with the help of lemon essential oil!

8. Lemon Essential Oil Uses – In Recipes: We love using lemon in some of our favorite recipes like our Healing Lemon Cooler.

                       

Resources:

http://journal.ashspublications.org/content/126/3/309.full.pdf

http://easyayurveda.com/about/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20377818

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24829772

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jnr.23393/abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15366861

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15366861

http://www.perkinelmer.com/cmsresources/images/app_lim