How to use lemon essential oil

Prepare to be uplifted and energized when inhaling lemon essential oil. Lemon essential oil is cleansing, purifying and invigorating for a positive boost throughout the day. Spring cleaning never smelled so good! Let's learn how to use Lemon essential oil, its benefits, safety tips, and DIY green cleaning recipes.

There are over 1500 studies published on the benefits of lemon essential oil. The uses are almost endless!

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Top uses for Lemon essential oil

• Uplifting and energizing when inhaled
• Helps purify and freshen the air
• Natural surface cleanser and degreaser
• Pure Lemon essential oil can be added to water daily for a gentle detox*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This is for educational purposes only and not intended to be used as medical advice. This post may include affiliate links and I may earn a small commission on products recommended at no extra cost to you.

Who can use Lemon essential oil?

Pure Lemon essential oil is safe for children, babies, elderly and can be used aromatically, topically and internally. There are some precautions to take with pets. Lemon essential oil should be avoided topically and internally with cats.

Aromatically you can safely diffuse pure essential oils in the home with pets by following some basic safety guidelines.

• Never leave your pet enclosed in a room with a diffuser running and never leave your diffuser running while you are not home.
• Using a water based ultrasonic diffuser is best because the essential oil drops are dispersed into tiny micro drops over a period of time.
• Observe your pets behavior. If you see them panting or behaving different like hiding in a corner stop diffusing that oil.
• When in doubt turn to a trusted resource. I follow Dr. Janet Roark's advice. She is a veterinarian who educates on the safe uses of essential oils with all animals. Her website is the Essential Oil Vet.

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For more safety information, recipes and dilution charts download a FREE 10-page guide to Essential Oils Made Easy!

What are essential Oils?

Essential oils are aromatic compounds found in plants, seeds, bark, flowers and trees. Pure essential oils are 50-70 times more potent than herbs and when used properly are 100% natural and safe.

Have you ever crushed a peppermint leaf between your fingers?  What you were doing was rupturing the essential oil sacs to smell the essential oil aroma.  The aromatic compounds inside those tiny little sacs help the plant protect itself and thrive.  We get the same benefit when we use essential oils. 

How is pure Lemon essential oil sourced?

We get lemon essential oil from trees grown on the Amalfi coast in Italy and Brazil. Where the plant grows, how its harvested and how it is distilled impacts its chemistry and consistency.

Lemon is cold pressed from the rind of the fruit not the juice. Because it does not come from the fruit but the peel, it's pH is neutral rather than acidic. It takes 7 lbs. of lemons to produce a 15mL bottle of essential oil.

The primary constituent of Lemon essential oil is Limonene, which is a popular ingredient in household cleaning products. You can make your own green cleaning products with Lemon essential that are free of harmful chemicals and safe for your home and family.

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How to Use Lemon Essential Oil Aromatically

When inhaled essential oils can positively effect our mood and emotions in less than 30 seconds. The scent molecules of the essential oil enter through the olfactory nerve which sends messages to the limbic system. The limbic system acts as the command center for our mood and emotions.

• Inhale directly from cupped hands for an uplifting energy boost.
• Freshen and purify the air in a room diffuser.
• Make a Room spray with 10 drops of Lemon, 5 drops of Peppermint and distilled water in a 4 oz. spray bottle.
• Use with Peppermint and Rosemary to help focus.
• Immune and respiratory support.
• Anywhere stinky! Add a drop to a cotton ball and place in trash cans or your teens rooms.

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Lemon Diffuser Blend Recipes

Add the essential oil drops to a room diffuser along with tap water to the fill line. Inhale and relax!

How to Use Lemon Essential Oil Topically

Topical use is simply placing the oil on your skin where it is absorbed into the tissue and enters the bloodstream. Essential oils are 50-70 times more concentrated then herbs. We can dilute essential oils with a carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil) to slow that absorption and avoid sensitivity. To effect the whole body apply them topically to the bottom of the feet, spine or navel.

To avoid photosensitivity with citrus essential oils do not apply on skin that will exposed to the sun within 12 hours.

• Add a drop to your toothpaste to help whiten teeth.
• Apply to the bottom of feet and spine at bedtime for daily immune support.
• For respiratory support apply to the chest along with a carrier oil and Breathe respiratory blend.
• Apply topically to pulse points along with Peppermint for energy.

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Lemon Roller Blend Recipes

In a 10mL roller bottle add the essential oil drops and fill the rest with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. Roll on area of concern.

How to Use Lemon Essential Oil Internally

Lemon essential oil is only safe for internal use with pure essential oils labeled "safe for internal use." Do Not Use fragrance essential oils internally. Use glass or stainless steel as citrus essential oils can break down plastic.

• Add one drop of Lemon to a glass of water to aid digestion and a gentle detox.
• For seasonal support add 2 drops each Peppermint, Lavender and Lemon to 4 oz of water or add to a veggie capsule.
• Add a drop to your morning smoothie.
• Add to recipes that call for lemon zest or add flavor to dips, marinades and baked goods.
• Replace soda with a drop of Lemon and Lime to sparkling water.
• Add a drop of Lemon to a teaspoon of honey for a natural throat soother.

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Internal uses with Lemon essential oil

Add to a veggie capsule (or 4 oz of water) the essential oils and take along with water.

Green Cleaning with Lemon Oil

Replace toxic cleaners with all natural ingredients. DIY cleaners are so easy to make an easy swap with so many uses around the home.

• All things sticky! Use it as a substitute for goo gone to remove stickers, on tough grease stains or on hands covered in sap.
• Make a window cleaner with vinegar and water.
• Add to a vinegar rinse in laundry (replace toxic fabric softener).
• Make a furniture polish with a drop or two added to olive oil.
• Remove stains such as permanent marker and sticky messes with a drop of lemon oil.
• Wipe down stainless steel appliances with a soft cloth soaked in lemon oil for a streak-free clean.
• Remove stubborn stains from pots and pans with a drop added to some baking soda.

DIY Cleaning Recipes

What makes doTERRA essential oils different?

Have you seen a $10 Frankincense in the grocery store and wonder why it’s so cheap? Well, you can bet that bottle is synthetic grade and does not have the therapeutic benefits of a pure essential oil. The same thing goes for oils on retail sites such as Amazon. Anyone can buy a replacement essential oil bottle top for .50 cents that will seal as if it was a brand new bottle of essential oil. Buyer Beware: the percentage of adulterated essential oils on the market today is staggering.

There are four main grades of essential oils. Synthetic oils lack purity and can be harmful to the body. These include things like laundry, perfumes and body products. Food grade are measured by the GRAS standard (Generally Regarded As Safe). This is a much higher standard required for internal use, but this grade is mainly used to flavor food and lacks therapeutic benefits. Therapeutic grade is not well regulated. These are generally used for massage, aroma or cosmetic use and have a low standard to pass to qualify.

Certified Pure Tested Grade (CPTG) is exclusive to doTERRA essential oils. Every batch must pass in-house and third party testing to guarantee that no foreign contaminants or fillers exist. This is a standard that far exceeds organic labeling requirements.