Aroma: Fresh, citrus and tart
Extraction method: Cold pressed
Part used: Fruit peel/rind
Main benefits:
Lime oil has an invigorating and stimulating effect on the mind. With its awesomely refreshing aroma, it boosts mental clarity.
Lime oil also helps to cleanse the body. It is recommended for oily, dull, and congested skin. Additionally, it is perfect for lymphatic drainage when diluted in a carrier oil.
Last but not least, due to its antibacterial properties, lime oil is successfully used in natural home cleansers.
MAIN CONSTITUENTS
Limonene, β-pinene, γ-terpinene
LIME ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS
Often, the fragrance industry uses lime as a top note in perfumes. You can enjoy the lime scent in Limes by Floris and Pacific Lime by Atelier Cologne (L'Oréal company).
Lime oil blends with angelica, bergamot, lemon, sweet orange, grapefruit clary sage, ginger, juniper, neroli, rosemary, and ylang-ylang oils.
HISTORY OF LIME
Nowadays, Mexico, Turkey, and South Africa hold the highest share of lime production, but the historic origin of limes is rather vague, as no one can say when and where limes came into existence. Generally, limes came from the Indonesian archipelago or nearby mainland Asia.
It is believed that the Arabs may have brought limes to the eastern Mediterranean countries and Africa around A.D. 1000. Later, limes were introduced to the western Mediterranean countries by returning crusaders in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Christopher Columbus is said to have brought limes to the West Indies on his second voyage in 1493. Later, limes became widely popular in the West Indies, Mexico, and Florida.
To prevent scurvy during the 19th century, British sailors would take limes daily. The usage of citrus plants was initially a strictly guarded military secret, as scurvy was a common disease among the navy. And so, thanks to a regular intake of limes and lemons, marines could spend long periods in the sea. And because of this healthy habit, British sailors acquired the nickname "Limey".
Naturally, you may be most familiar with lime through its culinary uses as a zesty delight, especially in bakery and beverages. However, lime oil also offers a wave of health benefits.
Detoxifies, perfect for lymphatic massage
Lime oil can help stimulate and detoxify the lymphatic system. D-limonene, which is present in lime essential oil, is known to support metabolism and cleanse your lymphatic glands. Incorporating lime oil into your massage blends or bath oils can help with weight loss, and more importantly, stay healthy and energetic.
Helps treating dandruff
Lime oil can be very beneficial for your hair, too. Due to its cleansing properties, lime oil is good for oily and congested skin. As lime has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, it can help you get rid of dandruff and keep your scalp clean and healthy.
Cleans your home
When it comes to natural home cleansers, citrus oils are considered top-notch, and invaluable help. Together with other citruses, such as lemon, sweet orange oil, and grapefruit, lime oil can be very handy, especially when it comes to dirt and grease in the kitchen. Lime oil is also good at removing stains from mirrors and windows. Last but not least, it is perfect for sanitizing countertops, and for removing nasty odours.
Lifts the mood
Do you feel like you have been struggling recently? Do you lack energy? Well, zesty lime is here to spark some inspiration and to help chasing your dreams.
Lime essential oil is rich in limonene and beta-pinene, which adds to lime oil’s cheering qualities. When diffused, lime oil creates an optimistic and lively environment. The refreshing aroma is perfect for moments of low motivation, or even for when you have to cope with sadness and sorrow.
Repels insects
Lime essential oil is often added to bug-repellent sprays. It is said to provide good protection against mosquitoes and ants, thanks to its main constituent limonene. Though not as effective as eucalyptus, lemon, and citronella, lime oil can be used in bug-repellent compositions very effectively.
MEDICINAL USE OF LIME OIL
A clinical trial from 2019 identified 60 volatile compounds present in lime essential oil, with limonene, γ-terpinene, and β-pinene being predominant.
The study explored the protective effects of lime essential oil against hyperlipidaemia in a rat model. Some rats were administered lime oil regularly, others none. Within eight weeks, the obesity status of the rats, who received lime oil, was significantly improved.
The lime essential oil has also been studied for its potential spasmolytic effects. Using an animal model, the study indicated that lime oil possesses important spasmolytic properties, possibly due to the high concentration of limonene, beta-pinene, gamma-terpinene, and citral.
Another study found that lime essential oil can be used in massage therapy to treat the delayed onset of muscle soreness experienced more often by athletes. The delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), also known as 'muscle fever', is an aching, painful condition affecting the muscles after an unaccustomed, highly intense workout.
The vascular occlusive disease is a chronic condition with а significant mortality rate. Although there are a lot of medications that can stop the abnormal growth of vascular smooth muscle cells, there is a high risk of recurrence. A study testing 34 types of essential oils found that lime oil has great potential for treating occlusive disease.
A research paper that gathers results from different studies reports that lime oil, together with rosemary and tea tree oil, has great potential as a natural remedy against dandruff. Thanks to the terpenes and the phenolic components in those oils fungus can be neutralized causing dandruff and itchy scalp.
- Use in the bath for aromatherapy benefits
- Diffuse for the emotional and mental benefits
- Massage, well diluted, for physical ailments
Healing properties:
- slightly anti-inflammatory
- spasmolytic (relieves spasms)
- analgesic (pain-relieving)
- antithrombotic (prevents thrombosis)
- anti-infective
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS: Lime oil is a highly concentrated product and should only be used with extreme caution. Please note that all information is provided for informational purposes and we always recommend additional consultation with a specialist before usage, especially when used in childhood, during pregnancy, breastfeeding or if you suffer from chronic diseases! Citrus oils are photosensitive, so you should avoid exposure to direct sunlight at least 12 hours after topical usage.
Avoid contact with eyes, mucous membranes, inner ear and other sensitive parts of the body! Keep out of reach of children.
Lime oil body massage blend
Lime oil helps remove toxins from your body, and thus is good for improving immunity. To support lymphatic flow, mix equal parts of lime oil, zdravets oil, and rosemary oil and dilute in coconut oil. Apply directly and massage for a few minutes.
Kitchen cleaner with lime oil
Lime essential oil is present in many natural cleaning sprays, as it can cut through grease and be an effective multi-purpose cleaner, especially in the kitchen. Use this easy recipe to keep your kitchen spotless and fresh.
Mix, spray, and wipe. It is that easy.
Goodbye dandruff lime oil
Get your scalp feeling clean, healthy, and fresh with this easy DIY recipe. You need to mix:
Mix well and apply before bath. Rub to your scalp for a few minutes, then rinse well. Leave it for at least 15 minutes before rinse.
Get-up-and-go diffuser blend
Citrus essential oils such as lime oil have the incredible ability to cheer you up. Those fresh, tangy scents can increase your serotonin level, which is the happy hormone. If you feel gloomy and tired, here is an easy recipe for an ultimate energy boost. Try it!
Comments
There are no comments yet!