Lime oil and Juice

The lime tree is a member of the Rutaceae family. It grows well in any tropical and sub tropical area. There are two types of limes one being sweet and the other sour. Sour limes possess a greater sugar and citric acid content than lemons and have an acidic and tart taste and sweet limes lack citric acid so like their name are sweet to taste.

Most parts of the lime tree are used, leaves, fruit, peel and oil for health, nutrition, beauty and for flavor. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, and a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron and copper and they are low in sodium. They also contain the flavonoids called flavonol glycosides which have antibiotic properties. Limes help to prevent gum disease and ease bacterial infections and colds. They are also a remedy for indigestion, heartburn, and nausea.

Important : Cold pressed essential lime oil is photosensitive. If you apply it to the skin do not go out in direct sunlight for at least 5 hours to prevent the brownish spots possibly appearing on your skin.

The essential oil from the lime has a sweet, tangy scent and has cooling and astringent properties. The oil is extracted by being cold pressed from the skin or by steam distillation of the fruit. The main antiseptic and astringent constituents of lime essential oil are limonene, bergapten, citral, camphene, and linalool.

For first aid remedies and beauty treatments in the home lime juice and oil is a must:

Burners and vaporizers
Lime oil lifts depression and energizes a tired mind. A great mood enhancer.

Taken Internally
Bilious stomach and headache : Make herbal tea from lime leaves.
Diarrhea : Drink fresh lime juice. If this does not relieve it contact medical practitioner.
Morning sickness : 1/2 tsp ginger juice, 1 tsp fresh lime juice, 1 tsp mint juice
Vomiting : Sip chilled lime juice. If it persists contact medical practitioner.
Gout : Juice of ½ a lime in 1 glass of water. Drink this morning, noon and night.

Hair
Dull hair : Add juice of half a lime to final rinse when washing hair. Will make hair shiny.
Hair lightener : Apply lime juice and sit in sunshine for half an hour. If haor poly leave in. If hair dry wash and add good hair conditioner as lime oil dries the hair.
Hair loss : Daily application of refined coconut oil mixed with lime juice on the hair, prevents loss of hair and lengthens it. Application of the juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also considered beneficial.
Head louse : Mix 1 teaspoon lime juice and 1 teaspoon garlic, make into a paste and massage into scalp. Leave in for half hour, comb the hair with a special fine-toothed nit comb and then wash hair.

Skin
Oily skin :
1) Face toner : Squeeze lime juice in a bowl of iced water. Splash this over the face, massage for five minutes and then wash off.
2) Before applying makeup : Dab some diluted lime juice very lightly on the face. Wait for 10 minutes before using foundation or make up.
3) Face pack : Take 1/2 cup of rice flour, 1/2 cup mashed ripe papaya and the juice of 1/2 a lime. Wet the face and gently massage the face and neck with the paste. Leave on for 15 minutes then rinse.
4) Acne and pimples : Take a cotton ball or cotton tip, and apply a mixture of one drop of lime essential oil and two tablespoons of witch hazel to the affected area. Will minimize scarring.
5) Face rinse : To improve dull and greasy complexion, mix 1/2 teaspoon of lime juice with one teaspoon of cucumber juice and a few drops of rose water. Apply on the face and neck and leave on for 15 minutes. Remove with water.
6)Blackheads and blocked pores : a) In a pan add 5-6 cups of water and add the juice of 1 lime. Remove from heat when the water boils. Place on a table and covering the head with a large towel, steam the face. Rub the blackheads firmly with a face towel after 10 minutes of steaming. Wash the face with chilled water to close the pores. b) Take 1 tsp lime juice mixed with 1 tsp of finely powdered cinnamon. Apply at bed time and wash in the morning.
7) Close Large pores : Tomato juice to which a few drops of lime juice has been added. Apply on open pores for 20 minutes. Wash with cold water.
Dry skin
1) Dry scaly skin : Massage with ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil, 3 drops of lime juice and ½ teaspoon almond or avocado oil. Leave on for as long as possible and then gently wipe off.
2) Face pack : Add a few drops of lime juice to the pulp of banana. Apply to face for 15 minutes and then rinse off.

Respiratory System :
Bronchial tubes : To open the tubes and make breathing easier with coughs, bronchitis, asthma and sinusitis : Use 6 drops of lime oil or a mixture of two drops each of lime oil, pine oil, and rosemary oil and add to bath water or diffuser.
Sore throat: Mix 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar and 1 drop of lime oil in a glass of warm water and gargle with this mixture twice daily.

Massage :
Circulation : Blend 1 tablespoon safflower oil, 5 drops of lime oil and 3 drops of orange oil, and then use this as a massage applied daily. Will also keep your skin moisturized in the process.
Cellulite and arthritis : Lime oil with base oil.

Always use pure essential lime oil for all remedies and beauty preparations.
For more info on limes and cookery recipes see my other blog "The Vegan Diet" , todays entry.

Thanks to 1st Holistic and MedIndia for many of the health and beauty tips.

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