Lemon is a very misunderstood fruit. Due to its naturally sharp flavour and the fact that, in its natural state Lemon has a pH of 2, Lemon is regarded as acidic. However Lemon has a very alkalizing affect on the body. Once metabolized Lemon can bring the body's pH up to 7! The English word Lemon is from the Arabic "lamuin" and Persian "limun" which means citrus fruit. Due to its zesty tang and vibrant yellow, Lemon is often referred to as "Liquid Sunshine". Both fruit and the essential oil, have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for millenia. Native to Asia, the Lemon was loved by ancient Egyptians, Romans and Indians, particularly in treating infectious diseases. Lemon was essential in ancient naval excursions for preventing or treating vitamin deficiencies - such as scurvy. History tells us that the first Lemon to reach American shores was thanks to Christopher Columbus.
We are blessed to have a beautiful old rough skin lemon on our South African homestead. The fruit is huge with plenty of lovely peel. The peel of the Lemon is rich in fat soluble phytonutrients. If you scratch the nutrient dense Lemon peel with a knife you can see the droplets that form are fatty. This is why the essential oil is extracted through cold-pressing the Lemon peel. The zesty aroma and flavour peculiar to a Lemon is evidence of the extremely concentrated active chemical components. Lemon essential oil is an invigorating oil with powerful therapeutic properties. This means it is a very effective in treating mental exhaustion as well as physical fatigue.
Lemon essential oil is a wonderful anti-inflammatory. It is also known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. You can use Lemon essential oil to treat digestive issues. It also stimulates circulation and reduces blood pressure. People suffering from arthritis find relief applying Lemon essential oil topically. The cosmetic industry incorporate this zesty essential oil in their skin, hair and nail products. For a refreshing and balancing hair spray, following your regular wash, add a few drops of Lemon essential oil to a spray bottle of diluted Apple Cider Vinegar (50/50 ratio to water). In culinary dishes, whether raw or cooked, sweet or savoury Lemon really jazzes up food and adding its powerful nutritional properties. While discussing the diverse uses of Lemon let's not forget using it as a household cleaner. Its anti-fungal properties, combined with the ability to break down fats, make it essential in your home. Instead of discarding the peel store them in an airtight container, covered with white vinegar. After 2 weeks strain and use, diluted in a bucket of water for cleaning. My favourite is a generous amount of Lemon and Orange essential oils to my laundry gel (Here you can read about my Sunshine Gel: @buckaroo/laundry-liquid-with-essential-oils-the-sunshine-recipe
Lemon is, by far, my most favourite essential oil. It was only when I was pregnant and suddenly restricted in the use of potent essential oils that I fell in love with Lemon as an essential oil. I made a nutrient dense body butter -rich with jojoba, rosehip, avo, flax and Vitamin E - and plenty of Lemon essential oils. I called it Zest for Life, and it was soon popular with many other pregnant and breastfeeding mamas. A month ago I decided to begin a health series about essential oils. My first of "The Essentials of Essential Oils was the lovely Lavender @buckaroo/the-essentials-of-essential-oils-lavender @naturalmedicine then asked me to contribute to their budding group. After wracking my brains for the past week about a suitable home remedy for the exciting challenge held by @naturalmedicine, I decided that it had to be Lemon!
If the previous information packed paragraphs haven't already blown you away, then buckle your seatbelts for a zesty ride. Since joining Steemit my Husband has encouraged me to write about natural child rearing. "After all" he keeps reminding me; "You have so much to write about! Baby wearing. Cloth diapers. SBO's and probiotics. Breast feeding. Foundational first foods. Your Blue Box and Essential oil remedies! The list is endless. You can help people." But I'm still on the journey of discovery and with so many amazing and experienced mamas and health experts out there, I have to admit, I don't feel quite up to scratch. That said I am passionate about health. I am passionate about my family. And I am passionate about my animals (read goats). I only ever use natural remedies (unless a real life and death crisis) and am amazed by the power of #naturalmedicine.
Recently I was really blown away by the remarkable Lemon essential oil. My one year old loves real food. He starts the day with Barley Green powder and by lunch time is pointing at the Vitamix telling me it's time for fruit smoothies. Among his favourite foods are sauerkraut, bone broth and - yup - you guessed it - Lemon! He loves to chew on lemon. This little boy of mine has never been sick. And then with the last batch of teeth, four at once, he had a cold for 2 days. He was miserable and really congested. Squirting breastmilk in his nose helped for an hour or two, much to my delight. Tissue salts and my well traveled homeopathic Blue Box gave him relief during the day but after the second sleepless night I was a little desperate. My dear Husband then asked "What about your essential oils?" When he's teething I massage my son's little feet and jaw line with coconut oil and a dash of chamomille. It helps the pain, inflammation and calms him. So I added Lemon essential oil to the massage blend. That night I put two drops of Lemon and two drops of Chamomille inside his little pillow. And we all slept! Ater a full night's rest thanks to cleared nasal passages my little boy bounced back - literally. Did I mention that Lemon essential oil is a natural decongestant?
My love and use of Essential Oils goes back many years. While this is the start of my series "The Essentials of Essential Oils", I am by no means an authority. This is an area that fascinates me and I still have much to learn. Essential oils are defined as a: "concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (defined as "the tendency of a substance to vaporize") aroma compounds from plants; a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic odour of the plant or other source from which it is extracted." While not all plants produce essential oils, essential oils can be found in leaves, flowers, stems and even the fruit of certain plants. The essential oil journey is an incredible one and I never leave home without my small natural first aid kit, in my hand bag. I am delighted to contribute to the wonderful #naturalhealth initiative. Join me in this health adventure!
