Medicinal properties

Internal use:

Digestive tract : With intestines too much prone to defecation, it is very useful to stop diarrhoea. It has got anti-ulceric properties offered by beta- bisolobene and it also eliminatesgastric acidity. Very suitable for hepatic insufficiency, by stimulating the liver ( Drink lemon juice at will) ( With digestive disorders an infusion can be prepared with the maceration of lemon rind in alcohol 80 %. Take about 5 gr. a day)

Antiescorbutic and vitaminic: Very rich in vitamin C, reason why it's got fantastic antiescorbutic properties, with a high content in potassium and calcium. Its potential to regenerate white corpuscles, makes it very desirable to strengthen body defences, preventing many diseases to appear.

Antimigraine: By constraining the pericraneal blood vessels, caffeine, besides being a stimulant, relieves headache, resulting specially interesting with migraine. Caffeine is a component which appears in this plant with a high proportion and can also be found in the greatest proportion in tea and other plants as cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L ), cola ( Cola acuminata ), and coffee ( Coffea arabica L.) and in the flowers of some citrics , such as the orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) OSBECK ) .

Depurative: Ascorbic-acid and lemonene confer it depurative properties, so that it is an excellent remedy against rheumatism, arthrosis, arthritis, gout, cholesterol, arteriosclerosis and uric acid. To combat these diseases it is very useful the lemon diet which consists in drinking the juice of a lemon diluted in water. Increase progressively the dose by adding a daily lemon till reaching 11 or 12. Revers the process till one daily lemon.

Respiratory tract: In respiratory affections , the essential oil components confer it antibacterial and expectorant properties, very useful to heal colds. Alpha- pinene is an anti-influenza component so that it is very adequate to drink lemon juice when having this disease. It is also very useful to appease thirst and remove fever.

Circulatory system:Besides being a good cardiac tonic, it helps in blood circulation, prevents cholesterol, decreaseshypertension and combats arteriosclerosis. It also stimulates the formation of red corpuscles, being very fitting in amen.

Diuretic: Because the stimulation power of caffeine and the ascorbic acid, it can be used as a diuretic in obesity treatment, by increasing micturition which will get rid of undesirable water. ( Drink lemon juice at will )

Anticancerigenous: The main components of essential oil, previously possess anticancerigenous and antitumoral properties, preventing the formation of cancerous cells and helping the body not to develop metastasis once the disease has appeared. Lemon juice has been recognised as a good antioxidant and alkalinising , so it contributes to reestablish cell equilibrium.

External use:

Halitosis, gingintivitis and caries: Because of its bactericide properties it is very useful to eliminate bad breath and protect the mouth against infections, produced by inflammation of gums. ( gargles with the lemon juice)

Skin and nails.: Lemon juice is very suitable to fight skin disorders, being one of the best astringents. A couple of daily applications on the skin help it to get rid of spots, shinbones, scabs In the same way alpha- terpineol and ascorbic acid give this fruit vulnerary properties, very useful in healing wounds or scars, even insect stings ( Use the juice or the essence diluted in water )

A good way of regenerating the nail, making them stronger, is by means of nail baths in lemon juice for some minutes every day in the morning and before going to bed.

Tonsillitis and otitis: Before the appearance of anginas or sore throat, it can be useful to carry out gargles with the juice. In a same way, we can use the lemon juice applied with a soaked cotton inside the hearing when we feel pain in this area.

Rheumatism: To alleviate the articular pains taken place because of the rheumatic illnesses frictions with the essential oil in the affected areas can be carried out

Another uses:

In the kitchen lemon is used to decorate and to perfume many plates. It is used habitually in this way with fish and with salads. It appears like complement of many cocktails to those that it contributes with its aroma and its digestive properties and it enters, mainly, as first component in the production of the lemonade, a very advisable drink to remove the thirst and for all their medicinal properties, provided that it becomes from home-made elaboration,

HOME-MADE PRODUCTION OF THE LEMONADE

 

Ingredients: 4 lemons 1 cup of brown sugar (You could substitute it for honey) 1 liter and half of water Preparation: Cut the lemons in two . Squeeze them and pour the juice in a jar. Strain the juice and add the sugar and the water. Stir it well and serve cool.

At home you can use the lemon juice or the pulp of the fruit like a product for cleaning, substituting the chemical products that many times produce toxic gases. Therefore it can be good to clean toilets and metals.

The industry of the cosmetics uses its more than 30 aromatic components from the rind so that many industrial cleaning or beauty products may have a pleasant scent. Among these, we could mention the citral or the limonene.

Toxicity: All the citrus species contain fototoxic -irritating essential oils, producing reactions to those that are exposed to strong ultraviolet rays ( those that carry out activities at high mountain) Among these reactions we find pocks in the lips or dermatitis in those external parts of the body that have entered in contact with the juice. It is then convenient not to drink lemon juice if we will be exposed to very strong radiations or if we are allergic to their components. The essential oil is also contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing.

The lemon juice is dangerous for the teeth because it attacks the dental plaque and it can yellow it . A good solution to avoid it consists on drinking it with a straw.

Ways of use : Lemons should be consumed fresh . The gathering time extends from autumn to spring.

Other citric fruits

Orange tree: ( Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck)

Citron tree : ( Citrus medica L.)

Very similar to the lemon tree but of more and more rounded fruits,
thicker bark and sourer juice. It usually reaches between 3 and 5m.

Active components:

Active parts:

The fruit

Medicinal properties:

Syrup of Citron is stimulant, perfuming and sweetener..

Grapefruit: ( Citrus Paradisi)

Bergamot: ( Citrus Bergamia Risso )

Sour orange: ( Citrus Aurantium L.)