Whenever it gets dark outside and the winter months close in, I almost instinctively find myself drawn to the bright, sunshine nature of lemon. This fresh, invigorating essential oil encapsulates the very essence of warm, healing Sicilian sunshine and it should be no surprise that it is one of the finest essential oils for helping to clear the air, lift heavy energy, promote clarity and brighten the mood. In short, it brings a little essence of summer light to the heaviness of the winter days.
A prized oil for depression and negativity, lemon oil shares its brightening qualities with its citrus friends, namely sweet orange, pink grapefruit, red mandarin and delicate bergamot. The citrus oil family have the unique ability to add a drop or two of sunshine into a dark day. Lemon oil helps to sharpen the focus and it is ideally suited to those prone to a busy or burdened mind. So if you’re feeling under the weather, tired, irritable or unhappy remember the virtues of the humble lemon.
A useful antiseptic, lemon oil is perfect for burning when you’re feeling unwell too. Lemon essential oil has a cool, dry nature and this makes it very useful for clearing heat and phlegm – it is a very useful decongestant. It can also help to clear physical congestion in both the lungs and the skin by helping to improve sluggish circulation and promote detoxification. As a lymphatic tonic, lemon oil will help to relieve congestion in any system, emotionally and physiologically. Lemon oil is invaluable for relieving indigestion, nausea, irritability, headaches and insomnia. It’s chief quality is to promote movement wherever stagnation is present. Whether that stagnation or congestion manifests itself as tension, a bad mood or poor skin tone, lemon is there to offer a helping hand.
I like to use a couple of drops of lemon in my facial oil – it really helps to keep the skin clear and bright. If you’re using lemon oil for skincare, be aware that skin may be more sensitive to sunlight after use (I like to use it before bedtime to reduce the risk). Try burning a few drops in an essential oil burner to release some lemon magic into your living or work space. Add a couple of drops to your hair treatment oil or shampoo for extra health and shine.
Lemon oil teams beautifully with many other oils including lavender and frankincense. But one of lemon’s finest collaborations must be with precious rose otto oil, another favourite of mine – I think they are a match made in heaven! Both of these oils nourish the heart, lift the spirits, calm the mind and allay fearfulness and uncertainty. I love them both. Essential oils offer humanity a vast array of botanical treasures and I for one, never tire of learning about them. Do you have a favourite? I’d love to hear about it and share it 🙂
Lindsey x