Who doesn’t enjoy drinking a glass or two of fresh lemonade?

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we are all busy planning for the big day with family and friends.  Along with the meal planning, shopping and travel plans comes the cleaning before and after company.  Lemon (Citrus limonum) is the essential oil to reach for.  Why do you think so many cleaning supplies smell like lemon?  Lemon essential oil is expressed from the peel of the fruit and has many varied applications from cleaning to cooking.  Even the ancient Greeks and Romans included lemon in their medicine chests.

Did you know Lemon essential oil can stimulate the body’s defenses to fight all kinds of infections?  Here’s just a few – beneficial in helping sore throats, inflamed gums, mouth ulcers, colds, flu, and bronchitis.  Besides keeping germs at bay, Lemon helps us de-stress, as well as having anti-depressant properties, making it an excellent oil to diffuse in the air in a dental or medical office.  As an astringent it is excellent for oily skin types, acne and also used to reduce a fever.  In an emergency it can help stop bleeding in minor cuts and nosebleeds.  It is considered both a diuretic and laxative.  It is known to have a tonic effect on the circulatory system, helping to reduce fluid retention, poor circulation, treating high blood pressure, and varicose veins.  Lemon is also known to help counter acidity in the body.  It helps to eliminate the toxins which cause arthritic and gout pain.  Adding a few drops in your water daily is said to have a rejuvenating effect on the body.  Who doesn’t need some of that?

For me, I like adding 1-2 “drops” to my batter while cooking the lemon-drop cookies and lemon-glazed mini-muffins, adding a few drops to the lemon butter while cooking the turkey, and don’t forget the special holiday libations and so forth.

Lemon has so many uses for the day but be sure to include this simple aromatic diffusion blend for some refreshing family hospitality.

■ 10 drops Lemon   ■   7 drops Pink Grapefruit  ■   5 drops Sweet Orange.
Mix the essential oils and then add to a diffuser before family and friends arrive.

It’s sure to promote happiness, playfulness, creativity and thankfulness!

Have a favorite lemon blend you’d like to share?

‘til next time,