Lemon Love

I am obsessed with lemons right now! This yellow citrus fruit exuberates happiness when you view its bright color and smell its fresh, uplifting scent.

Lemons match the forsythias in my yard.

And the daffodils!

Perfect for this time of year, this fruit has scrubbing power and therefore is a staple for spring cleaning. Our modern-day spring cleaning relates to the pagan celebration of Ostara, the Northern European Goddess of the Dawn, Awakening Earth, and Fertility. This takes place on the spring equinox which marks the moment of the year where light becomes equal with the dark. The sun rises slightly above the celestial equator and for the next 6 months, the day lasts longer than night. This is the time to plan goals for the upcoming year–and in doing so, old ideas must be swept away to make way for the new. Spiritual house cleaning has now become intertwined with our physical house cleaning of the present.

In addition to cleaning, lemons are also beneficial in skin care, for immune support, as a mood uplifter, as an air purifier, for digestive support, and so much more!

My favorite way to use lemons is with essential oil. It takes 75 lemons to make one 15 ml bottle of Young Living Lemon essential oil! This is like “liquid sunshine” in a bottle. Because Lemon essential oil is cold pressed from the rind of the fruit, it is alkaline and not acidic (like lemon juice). The magical constituent of lemon oil is d-limonene, a type of monoterpene. Monoterpenes are one of the chemical constituents found in essential oils and are composed of hydrogen and oxygen. Most have the ability to help with detoxifying the body. They are also known to support the immune system and the respiratory system.

The benefits of d-limonene are fascinating (and more than I can say in this blog article!) I encourage you to google it or search around on Pub Med.

For now, I invite you to try some of these “recipes” for lemon essential oil:

• Diffuse to help kids focus during homework or quiet time
• Morning drink: Add 1-2 drops of Lemon Vitality Oil to your morning drink to help wake up your body, perk up, and get ready for a new day.
• Seasonal support: Diffuse Lemon with Lavender and Peppermint to help you breathe easier throughout the day
• Seasonal support roller: Add 10 drops each Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint essential oils to a 10ml roller ball bottle. Top with carrier oil and roll across sinuses as needed. (Check out more roller ideas with lemon here!)
• Goo remover: Just one or two drops to a sticky surface then rubbed with a cotton ball will remove the residue (Do not use lemon oil directly on marble or granite)
• Goal Getter Diffuser Blend: 6 drops Lemon, 2 Drops Basil, 2 drops Grapefruit, 2 drops Rosemary
• Wellness Tea: To a mug of hot water, add a drop or two of Lemon Vitality Oil, 1 drop of Thieves Vitality Oil and sweeten with honey
• Blemish Fighter: A small dab of Lemon will help shrink blemishes (just be careful of sunlight because lemon oil may cause increased photosensitivity)
• Bathroom Scrub: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda, a few drops of Lemon oil, and a capful of Thieves Household Cleaner to make a paste. Use this to scrub sinks and tubs.
• Replacement for lemon zest: Just 1 or 2 drops in your favorite recipes will add a citrus zing!

Lemon Essential Oil is definitely one that is always in stock in my home. Its uses are numerous! And it blends well with many other oils and adds a little boost of energy and happiness. Enjoy!