Lemon

Latin name: Citrus Limon
Part used: Fruit peel
Origin: Italy
Extraction method: Cold-pressed
Use: for external use only (never ingest), suitable for fragrance burners/diffusers, dilute in a fragrance-neutral carrier oil for use in a (foot) bath and on the skin (undiluted essential oil can irritate sensitive skin). 

Lemon Essential Oil has a sharp, fresh scent and is extracted from fresh lemon peel through cold expression. This oil is refreshing for the mind and sharpens concentration, which is why it is often preferred in air fresheners for offices. It is believed to help with rheumatism, arthritis, and gout. It has been used to help heal skin problems such as abscesses, boils, carbuncles, and acne. It stimulates the immune system and cleanses the body. 

When used in an oil burner (a few drops in water), the vapors of lemon oil are used for colds, sore throats, headaches, and the flu. Inhaling the scent is beneficial for mental discomforts such as depression, irritability, stress, lethargy, and fatigue. It uplifts and clarifies the mind.

When a few drops are added to the bath or mixed into a massage oil, it is said to alleviate digestive problems, lack of energy, fatigue, infections, heaviness, rheumatism, depression, and stress. It is also used to get rid of hangovers. 

The lemon plant is native to India and possibly China, and was brought to Europe by the Crusaders in the Middle Ages. Because the fruit contains a good amount of vitamins A, B, and C, sailors were given one ounce a day to prevent scurvy, eye problems, and other vitamin deficiencies. The first real lemon cultivation in Europe began in the mid-fifteenth century in Genoa. It was later introduced to America by Christopher Columbus. Spanish conquests helped spread lemon seeds further. Lemon was mainly used for decoration and as medicine. It was much later that it began to be used in cooking.