single oils Wellness Formulas Testimonials How to use essential oils
About Us About the Distilleries Provence Photo Gallery Shopping Cart Home

Lemon essential oil is an effective astringent and is used for tired skin, cellulite, weight loss and varicose veins. Lemon oil is also a powerful mental stimulant; an inhalation of lemon can help dispel mental fatigue and psychological heaviness. French Aromatherapist, Pierre Franchomme, states that using lemon oil before sleeping helps to prevent nightmares.

The aroma of lemon can inspire increased concentration and awareness. A Japanese study showed that after diffusing lemon oil throughout a busy office building, typing errors decreased by 54%. Lemon and Peppermint oils are also used in German office spaces to increase efficiency and productivity.

Lemon Links:
Why Organic Lemon Oil?
How does Lemon work?
Indications & Treatments
Contraindications
Active Properties



Why Organic Lemon Oil?
Like other citrus peel oils, lemon is cold pressed and not steam distilled. Therefore, when the pesticide-sprayed peel is pressed, the end result is the oil that contains these pesticides. So, it is crucial that citrus oils come from only organic cultivation. Around 3,000 lemons are cold pressed to make 2 pounds of lemon oil (1 liter). Therefore, it is quite expensive to produce. If you are looking to buy true lemon organic essential oil, the price should be around $20 - $25 per ounce (30ml).


How does Lemon work?
Antiseptic - Inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi.
Antidepressant - Helps uplift mood
Anti-nausea – reduces nausea
Astringent - Contracts, firms, and strengthens skin and other tissue; reduces secretions.
Circulatory Stimulant – helps to increase blood circulation
*Photosensitizing, phototoxic - May cause a skin reaction such as burning, irritation, or pigment change upon exposure to ultra-violet light (sunlight, tanning lights)
Tonic - Increases tone and vitality of skin, other organs or body systems



Indications & Treatments
*Use only organic, therapeutic grade Citrus limon

Mental Clarity/Fatigue/Stress - add 2 drops peppermint, 2 drops lemon, 2 drops basil and 2 drops rosemary to a small cloth. Place cloth close to nose and inhale 5 deep breaths.
For a more intense treatment: avoid this treatment if you have asthma
1. Place the mental clarity blend listed above into your hands
2. Rub hands together
3. Cup hands and cover nose.
4. Breathe in five, deep breaths.
After this inhalation, rub the oils on your hands to the back of your neck, on your shoulders and into the scalp. You will feel a wonderful sense of clarity and alertness.
Note: Please do not place oils near the eyes. If peppermint is rubbed onto the eyes accidentally, put 1 TBSP of olive oil on a paper towel and rub peppermint with the olive oil. The olive oil will remove the peppermint oil. Wipe with a clean towel when finished with the olive oil.

Nightmares - place 3 drops of lemon and 3 drops of lavender on pillow before sleeping.

Skin care: anti-aging and vitality - use to reduce age spots, improve circulation and restore skin elasticity and radiance. To use: add 3 drops to your daily skin moisturizer. (avoid sun after applying lemon oil)

Varicose veins or painful, heavy legs - add 20 drops lemon and 50 drops rosemary cineol 10 drops juniper berry to 4oz lotion or carrier oil. Then use mixture liberally on legs 2-3 times per day.

Cellulite treatment - 3 steps to effective cellulite loss
1. Dry brush the area vigorously daily and finish with hot and cold shower
2. Apply a mixture of the following - fennel, lemon, cypress, juniper, rosemary as described above
3. Eat a low fat, high fiber diet emphasizing organic foods such as: green veggies, brown rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, and fresh veggie juices and other detoxifying foods.
4. Eliminate meat, sugar, tobacco, dairy (good yogurt is ok) and caffeine.

Brittle nails - place 10 drops of lemon oil in a tablespoon of wheat germ oil. Mix. Massage this blend into nail and cuticle 2x per week.

Nausea - place 3 drops Peppermint and 3 drops Lemon on a cloth. Bring cloth close to the nose and take 5 deep breaths. Repeat as needed.

Air Disinfectant - Excellent air purifier. Combine lemon with lavender, tea tree, lemongrass, pine, or other anti-bacterial oils and diffuse for 20 minutes in a NON-HEAT nebulizer or diffuser. Great for use in hospitals, office, home, workspace, childcare centers, etc.




Contraindications
Lemon oil is powerfully astringent and antiseptic. Because it can cause skin irritation if used by sensitive individuals in dilutions exceeding 5%, it should not be applied undiluted to skin. Five drops or less of lemon oil should be added to a teaspoon of a carrier oil. Lemon oil can contain up to two percent furanocoumarin compounds, including bergaptene. These compounds act as photosensitizing* agents, which can increase the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet light, causing accelerated burning and skin damage. Don't use lemon oil on the skin in the presence of sunlight.

*Photosensitizing, phototoxic:May cause a skin reaction such as burning, irritation, or pigment change upon exposure to ultra-violet light (sunlight, tanning lights).



Active properties
Constituents of lemon oil include limonene, which is responsible for the oil's tangy-fruity aroma, and citral, which is responsible for what we recognize as the lemon note in the aroma profile.