Lemon (Citrus limonum)

Family: Rutaceæ

Parts used in Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy

• Rind,
• Fruit pulp,
• Seeds, and
• Essential oil

The different parts of the Lemon have different indications and are used in different ways. The essential oil, for example, is primarily used in Aromatherapy, where it is applied externally together with either other oils or in a carrier oil such as Almond, Apricot or Wheat Germ oil. Almost never is it used undiluted on the skin. The oil, externally, is a strong rubefacient (Herbs that promote circulation to a specific area by dilation of the blood vessels. Thus, inflammation and congestion of tissues is relieved.), and taken internally in small doses has both stimulating and carminative properties.

The rind is favoured by Chinese medicine and is used in dried form together with other herbs. Similarly, Western herbal medicine uses the juice or tincture of the fruit, pulp and seeds as medicinal constituents in herbal compounds and concoctions.

Uses in Natural Skin Care Products:

Lemon is used in natural skin care to cleanse, tone and refresh oily skin types. The actions of Lemon are similar to those of Grapefruit in that it also tightens puffy skin, reduces enlarged pores and helps to disperse pockets of accumulated fluid and impurities. It is also used in toning lotions and blends for skin conditions that resemble the peel of the fruit itself.

Lemon oil is a constituent of the following Wildcrafted Herbal Products:

• Lemon Cleanser,
• Mandarin Toning Lotion,
• Avocado Day Crème and
• Ginseng Hydrator For Men (Normal Skin Blend).
• Lemon & Orange Body Moisturising Lotion

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Lemon Oil Contains the Following Properties:

The following is an extensive list of the properties of Lemon which is useful in the treatment of various diseases and conditions. It must be remembered, that like any other medicine, Lemon Oil and other forms of Lemon preparations can also have adverse effects and therefore must be used with care and in appropriate doses.

• Anti-depressant,
• Anti-anaemic,
• Anti-spasmodic,
• Anti-bacterial,
• Antiseptic,
• Antiscorbutics,
• Astringent
• Calmative,
• Cardiotonic,
• Cooling.
• Detoxifying,
• Disinfectant
• Diuretic,
• Febrifuge,
• Haemostatic,
• Immune stimulant,
• Gastro-hepatic and pancreatic secretions,
• Nutritive,
• Tonic for the nervous and sympathetic nervous system,
• Venous Tonic

Indications:

Anti-Microbial and Anti-Inflammatory

• Malaria, Dysentery, Diarrhoea, Typhoid, Intestinal parasites (Oxyuris)
• Asthma, Bronchitis, Influenza, Pneumonia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis,
• Head colds, Sinusitis, Sore throat, Tonsillitis, Otitis, Gingivitis, Inflammations of the mouth and tongue.
  

Cardio-Vascular System / Circulatory System

• Varicose veins, Phlebitis, Capillary fragility, Hyperviscosity of the blood, Arteriosclerosis, Anaemia, Venous tonic
  

Nervous System

• Depression, Hypertension, Migraine
  

Urogential System

• Urinary and gall stones
  

Gastrointestinal Tract

• Debility, Loss of appetite, Ascites, Gastric hyperacidity, Stomach ulcers, Gastritis, Dyspepsia, Aerophagy,
• Jaundice, Vomiting, Hepatic and pancreatic deficiency, Hepatic congestion, Meteorism, Flatulence.
  

Musculo-skeletal System / Muscles, Bones & Joints

• Rheumatism, Arthritis, Gout,
  

Integumentary System (Skin, Nails and Hair)

• Skin and Beauty care, Eruptions, Boils, Cellulite, Minor skin conditions, Verrucas, Warts, Herpes, Chilblains, Infected and putrid wounds, Insect bites, Tinea, Scabies, Facial seborrhoea, Freckles, Prevention of wrinkles, Hand care, Brittle nails, Tender feet.
  

Nutritive

• Scurvy, Mineral deficiencies.

 

Constituents:

Lemon Oil consists mainly of terpenes, particularly limonene, also gamma terpinene and beta-phellandrene. There are small amounts of sesquiterpenes and aldehydes. Among the aliphatic aldehydes are n-octyl aldehyde, n-nonyl aldehyde, and citral. In addition Lemons ontain 6-8% citric acid, Malic acid, citrates of lime and potassium as well as vitamins B, B2, B3, A, C and PP.

Recent Scientific Research into Lemon Oil's effect on Stress and Depression

Migiwa Komiyaa, Takashi Takeuchib, and Etsumori Haradac (2006) Lemon oil vapor causes an anti-stress effect via modulating the 5-HT and DA activities in mice. Behavioural Brain Research. Volume 172, Issue 2.

Abstract

We examined the anti-stress action of the essential oils of lavender, rose, and lemon using an elevated plus-maze task (EPM), a forced swimming task (FST), and an open field task (OFT) in mice. Lemon oil had the strongest anti-stress effect in all three behavioural tasks. We further investigated a regulatory mechanism of the lemon oil by pre-treatments with agonists or antagonists to benzodiazepine, 5-HT, DA, and adrenaline receptors by the EPM and the FST. The anti-stress effect of lemon oil was significantly blocked by pre-treatment with frumazenil, benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, or apomorphine, a nonselective DA receptor agonist. In contrast, agonists or antagonists to the 5-HT receptor and the alpha-2 adrenaline receptor did not affect the anti-stress effect of lemon oil. Buspirone, DOI, and mianserine blocked the antidepressant-like effect of lemon oil in the FST, but WAY100,635 did not. These findings suggest that the antidepressant-like effect of lemon oil is closely related with the 5-HTnergic pathway, especially via 5-HT1A receptor. Moreover, the lemon oil significantly accelerated the metabolic turnover of DA in the hippocampus and of 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. These results suggest that lemon oil possesses anxiolytic, antidepressant-like effects via the suppression of DA activity related to enhanced 5-HTnergic neurons.

Conclusion

As is clearly evident, medicines prepared from Lemons have powerful effects on our bodies and can help in treating many disorders. It is a simple fruit, easily available to anyone, almost anywhere and yet its healing properties are amazing.

Increasingly, scientific research into essential oils such as Lemon and others is re-discovering, what Herbalists have been telling their patients for many, many decades.