Indian Lemon, a Delightful Summer Aroma

            The lemon tree is a native of India.  Citrus limonum was brought to Europe in the twelfth century with returning Crusaders.  Today, it is cultivated in Sicily, Italy; Florida and California in the United States.  It is a member of the rue family of plants.  The tree reaches 15 to 17 feet in height, producing white blossoms, singly or in pairs.  It blossoms and produces fruit year round.  One tree yields 200 pounds of lemons, in varying degrees of ripeness, producing one pound of pure essential oil in a good year.  The essential oil is extracted from mostly green fruit rinds in a cold pressed process.  Modern extraction uses machines to express the oil and separates it in a centrifuge.  Originally, the skin was pressed by hand into a sponge, a very laborious process.

            The lemon tree traveled from Arabia to reach Sicily in the twelfth century.  The white, star-shaped flowers are named Zagara, the original Arab name.  Sicilians also cultivate citrus medica, a cultivar with deep green, thick-skinned lemons, much more sour than Citrus limonum.  The peel is commercially used to manufacture candied lemon peel, available at Christmas to make fruit cake and baked goods.  An essential oil of Citrus medica is expensive and rare, releasing a rich and fresh, fruity fragrance.  Both essential oils are best used within eight months of extraction.  Sicilian essential oil has a reputation for producing the finest essential oil.

            Locating unadulterated lemon oil is a delicate matter.  The highly aromatic lemon oil has a compound from an isopren added to produce the clean fresh smell, citral.  Citral is one of many components of natural lemon oil. It is synthetically manufactured, or produced from less expensive essential oils, such as lemon grass and litsea cubeba.  It is very easy to adulterate lemon essential oil.  Citral, from other sources, such as lemon grass and litsea cubeba, cannot be detected with gas chromatograph.

            Food grade lemon essential oil is separated from its natural wax by cooling the essential oil to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  The oil is commercially used in many foods, drinks and cosmetics.  Aroma therapists require all components of lemon oil present for therapeutic use.  True lemon oil has amazing properties when unaltered and organically grown.  The bulk of lemon and orange essential oils are produced from trees sprayed with pesticides.  Many aroma therapists prefer lemongrass and oils they can locate grown from organically treated plants.  For therapeutic use, locate lemon oil without citral and stabilizers to extend shelf life added.

            Lemon essential oil stimulates mental alertness. The aroma activates the center of the hippocampus of the brain, enhancing memorization and reducing confusion.  Japanese researchers reported 54 percent enhanced typing skills when lemon oil was dispersed into the room.  Communication and intellectual skills are often improved with the use of lemon oil.

Soothing Immune Enhancer

   In one ounce of carrier oil, add the following essential oils:

                        2 drops of Citrus Limonium

                        1 drop of Angelica root

                        5 drops of Hyssop, Hyssopus officialis

            Bottle in dark glass with a tight- fitting screw cap.  Allow to cure three hours or overnight.  Apply one or two drops on the chest and/or throat.  Massage lightly.  Application may be repeated three times for seven days, or one time for twenty-one days.  Refrigerate leftover blend daily.

For Better Breathing

            In one ounce of carrier oil, add the following essential oils:

                          2 drops of Citrus Limonium

                        10 drops of Lavandula

                           5 drops of Roman chamomile

            Bottle in dark glass with a tight- fitting screw cap.  Allow to cure three hours or overnight.  Massage five to seven drops on the chest or upper back one to three times daily.  The blend may be used as a preventative once daily or weekly.  Refrigerate leftovers daily.

For Insect Bites and Itchy Skin 

            In one quart, four cups of distilled water, add 2 drops of lemon oil.  Bathe the bites or itchy skin once or twice daily until symptoms disappear.  This should prevent insect bites from swelling and becoming infected.

     A drop of lemon oil can be added to two ounces of unscented shampoo to reduce oily conditions of the hair.  To reduce oily skin and eruptions, add 1 drop of lemon oil to distilled water and mist the affected skin morning and night.

   Lemon essential oil is phototoxic. Exposure of skin to sunlight or tanning beds should be limited to 12 hours after application of more than 2% of lemon oil in a blend.  A few drops of the oil in a one-ounce blend or dilution is safe for topical application.  I do not use lemon oil topically on children under ten years old.  Sensitivity and reactions can occur in rare instances.  Aerial diffusion in a room does not cause sun sensitivity, only topical use.  It is best to test a blend on a non-sensitive area of skin, when used topically, to be sure there is no sensitivity to lemon oil. Store all citrus oils in a cold location or refrigerate.

Reference:  Essential Oil Safety, Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs, 1995.