The refreshing smell of lemons is one of the most recognizable scents. It has been used as a home remedy for various issues. In addition, small medical studies have investigated the benefits of the combination of limonene and terpenes. With support for the use of lemon essential oil increasing, what is lemon essential oil good for?
The refreshing scent of lemons is impossible to miss and brightens the mood of those coming into contact with it. Historically, aromatherapists have used lemon essential oil to improve digestion, relieve nausea, kill germs and bacteria, promote skin health, and more. The lemon essential oil can be diluted and applied topically to your skin, diffused into the air, and inhaled. Every inhale contains components that possess antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. (The Secret Healer, 2014)
What Is Lemon Essential Oil Good For - In Mental Health
Have you ever noticed an uptick in your mood when using lemon-based products? The same can be said when you use lemon essential oil.
A 2006 study on mice showed that lemon essential oil had the strongest anti-stress effect during three stress test experiments compared to other essential oils such as lavender and rose. (Migiwa Komiya, 2006)
Another study conducted in 2016 found that lemon essential oil reduced anxiety among people after undergoing orthopedic surgery. This study aimed to examine the effect aromatherapy, using the lemon essential oil, had on post-surgery anxiety. The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial performed on 82 patients with Distal Radius Fractures. The patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, patients were asked to smell a cloth containing three drops of lemon essential oil for thirty minutes. Study moderators measured anxiety before surgery and eight and sixteen hours after surgery. (Man, 2019)
These studies provided indicators that diffusing lemon essential oil has a positive effect on alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression. These effects are made possible due to the components that make up the lemon essential oil. The research also suggests the ingredients in lemon essential oil also offer energy-enhancing benefits while helping to improve focus and motivation.
What Is Lemon Essential Oil Good For - In Skincare
Several studies have been conducted in the last few years, looking at the benefits the components of lemon essential oil may have in skincare. With its protective properties, it is thought that lemon essential oil may brighten and preserve your skin tone.
The components that makeup lemon essential oil are both detoxifying and antiseptic. The oil might work well for treating and clearing the skin and reducing excessive oil. You can add a few drops of lemon essential oil to your cleanser to assist in removing dead skin cells and provide glowing skin. You will want to ensure you’re using it in a cleanser that is washed off after use, not one that is kept on, as leaving lemon oil on the skin for a long time can increase the risk of phototoxicity. Read more about this below.
Be mindful that lemon oil, like most citrus oils, can cause skin sensitivity in the sun. Some citrus oils, including lemon as thought to create an irritation known as phototoxicity. This irritation can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Phototoxicity causes a temporary redness that looks similar to moderate sunburn. You can usually avoid an allergic reaction by properly diluting any essential oil you use and doing a patch test on your skin before you try to apply it to a larger area.
Related Content: Is Lemon Essential Oil Safe For Dogs?
What Is Lemon Essential Oil Good For In Healthcare?
It's true that the research about essential oils is in its infancy, but some small studies suggest that using aromatherapy can be beneficial. It’s also good to note how you feel may be the most important thing. Many people report that essential oils help them feel better by easing nausea, soothing sore muscles, or promoting relaxation after a stressful day. Lemon essential oil is one of the oils often mentioned when exploring research and how people feel. To that point, experts at Mayo Clinic have suggested lemon essential oil for various things, including to assist with headaches and mental fatigue.
In vitro and in vivo studies conducted in 2018 confirmed lemon essential oil’s effect against infection-causing bacteria and may prevent skin inflammation. A third study followed the impact of several oils on common pathogenic bacteria. The lemon essential oil is effective against strains of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. This makes a good choice for topically cleaning small wounds.
Other potential health benefits include detoxifying organs, improving digestion, relieving nausea, and more. This is due to its components containing antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
What Is Lemon Essential Oil Good For In The Home?
The benefits of lemon essential oil continue when you look at how you can use it in your home. Adding lemon oil to your home cleansing routine makes sense, thanks to its antibacterial properties.
You can add a few drops or the final rinse to freshen your laundry. But, of course, your washing machine will also smell clean. So if you’re looking for a way to freshen up and disinfect your kitchen towels, you can soak them in a water bowl with several drops of lemon oil.
The lemon essential oil can also disinfect wooden cutting boards and kitchen counters. And have you ever wished for an easy way to remove the residue from labels? Again, lemon oil to the rescue is a great degreaser for grit and grime on your hands, tools, and dishes.
And lastly, remember that lemon essential oil is fantastic for moods, meaning it’s great to diffuse throughout the house on dull and dreary days.
Related Content: Is Lemon Essential Oil Safe for Cats?
What Is Lemon Essential Oil Good For? Safety Notes
As mentioned above, lemon essential oil can cause an irritation known as phototoxicity. Phototoxicity causes a temporary redness that looks similar to moderate sunburn. So be mindful of diluting properly and not putting it on before heading out into the sun.
Also, lemon oil isn’t safe to use with your furry friends, so take care when using it and then handling your pets or when diffusing it in your house in a closed-in area with the pets present.
What Is Lemon Essential Oil Good For In DIY Recipes?
Focus Up Diffuser Blends
- 3 drops Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus Limonum)
- 2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha piperata)
- 1 drop Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia carterii)
Safety: Not for topical use.
All Natural Refrigerator and Microwave Cleaner
- 1 cup White Vinegar
- 2 cups Hot Water
- 15 drops Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus Limonum)
Direction:
- Combine all the ingredients in a glass spray bottle
- Spray the mixture where you want to clean
- Wipe with a damp cloth
What Is Lemon Essential Oil Good For In Conclusion?
The lemon essential oil has many uses in your home, and its uplifting scent is refreshing as well. The versatility available to apply it topically or diffuse it provides you various options.
Remember to be mindful when using it right before being in the sun and around your pets. Following these simple guidelines will help you enjoy the antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory benefits its components supply.
