Essential Lemon Oil for Health

Essential lemon oil is extracted from the peels of fresh lemons via the cold press method.  The high temperatures required of steam distillate will destroy many of the volatile constituents of lemon oil.  Cheaper imitation oils will often blend lemon essential oil with other fixatives and even turpentine to stabilize the fragrance but are not appropriate for aromatherapy or other therapeutic essential oil uses.  The chemical constituents of lemon oil include limonen, citral, a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, a-terpinene, linalool, b-bisabolene, trans-a-bergamotene, nerol, and neral.

The lemon itself is one of the sixteen different species of the genus Citrus and is closely related to the citron and the lime.  Lemon is an evergreen tree which blooms with white, fragrant blossoms year round.  Lemon trees are very sensitive to cold weather and high humidity and grow best in hot, subtropical arid regions of the world such as the Mediterranean and Southern California.  Essential lemon oil was used historically to help sailors combat scurvy and other vitamin deficiencies as it is very high in vitamins A, B, and C.  

Essential lemon oil is generally pall yellow to greenish yellow in color with a scent that is almost identical to fresh peeled lemons.  Pure lemon oil, like other citrus oils, is volatile and has a limited shelf life unlike most other essential oils.  Generally it should be kept no more than eight to ten months before it is replaced.  Older lemon oil may still be effective as a scent placed in diffusers but will lack the chemical constituents that make it effective for other uses.  The oil itself has a rather watery consistency.  If your lemon oil has a one-dimensional, harsh or turpentine-like scent, it has most likely been adulterated with other additives such as citral (either natural or synthetic) and won't have the same properties of natural lemon essential oil.

Lemon oil has an uplifting and clean fragrance and is often included as a scent in many commercial cleaning products.  Essential lemon oil has been shown to help increase concentration, decrease fatigue, clarify mental processes, and increase general awareness.  In one study done in Japan, the simple act of diffusing lemon essential oil through the office building decreased typographical mistakes made by workers by over 54%.  

Similar to numerous other essential oils, lemon oil has been shown to have powerful antiseptic properties but also has a pleasant, uplifting aroma that many enjoy unlike the heavier medicinal smelling oils like eucalyptus and tea tree oils.  Lemon can be blended with these oils or used on its own as an antiseptic.  For people who are especially sensitive to the emotional effect of different aromas, lemon may be the better choice.  Lemon oil also has antibacterial and antiviral properties due to its limonene content, as well as some antifungal properties and has been used to clean contaminated surfaces.

Essential lemon oil is a powerful antiseptic and astringent and can be used in moderation for treating oily skin, blemishes, freckles, and general brightening of dull skin.  Lemon can cause skin irritation and shouldn't be used in concentrations exceeding 5%.  Lemon essential oil will also help to reduce the effects of cellulose and improve the firm appearance of skin.  In addition, essential lemon oil acts to increase photosensitivity because of certain constituents such as bergamotene and shouldn't be used prior to going into the sun or you will experience increased burning and skin damage from ultraviolet light.  Because of its photosensitizing effects, lemon oil is often used on hair during the summer months to lighten and create highlights.  Lemon oil used on the hair will also help clear greasy hair.

Lemon oil works very well to fight infections and illnesses in the body especially because of its high vitamin content.  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and antibacterial agent.  Taken internally, essential lemon oil also aids in digestion, helps to soothe migraines and headaches, boosts the immune system, helps relieve infections in the throat including bronchitis and the flu, and can help reduce a fever.  It works as a cleansing agent within the body and is helpful to assist blood flow, reduce blood pressure, assist with constipation, and improve overall digestive tract health.  Used as a mouthwash, essential lemon oil will help with cold sores and mouth ulcers as well as with controlling herpes.