Lime oil comes from Citrus aurantifolia of the Rutaceae plant family. This evergreen tree is short and bushy, growing between 6 and 13 feet high (much smaller than orange or grapefruit trees), and has dark green leaves, white blossoms, and green oval fruits. There are two main types of lime trees: the Mexican lime (Key lime) and the Tahiti lime (Persian or Bearss lime).
Lime is indigenous to Southeast Asia and then spread to Egypt and Africa.
Contents
Uses
Lime oil has been extensively used in the food and beverage industry, as well as in making fragrances. This versatile citrus oil is also added to household cleaners, detergents, soaps, and other beauty products.
You can also get body-wide benefits by using lime oil in aromatherapy, as it is stimulating and refreshing. Just like lemon oil, lime oil can be used for its cleansing properties. Its rich vitamin C content also makes it an ideal immune system booster, helping protect you from colds and flu
Benefits
- Antiseptic: Lime essential oil can cure infections, protect against their development, and also contains antiseptic properties. More specifically, it can prevent tetanus if you are wounded by something made of iron. When externally applied, lime oil can cure infections on the skin and in wounds. When consumed, it effectively helps to cure infections of the throat, mouth, colon, stomach, intestines and urinary system. It is miraculously effective in curing sores, gangrene, psoriasis, ulcers, rashes, carbuncles and other similar problems. It can even cure viral infections of the respiratory system, thus benefiting in the treatment of bronchitis. It is effective in fighting other viral infections such as flu, mumps, coughs, colds, and measles.
- Antiviral: This essential oil helps to fight and protect against viral infections which may cause the common cold, mumps, measles, pox and other similar diseases
- Astringent: Being an astringent, lime essential oil helps to cure toothaches, strengthen the grip of gums on the teeth and protect them from falling out. It also tightens loose muscles and gives a feeling of firmness, fitness and youth. This property can also be used to cure diarrhea. The final important benefit of astringents are their ability to stop hemorrhaging by contracting blood vessels.
- Aperitif: The very smell of lime oil makes the mouth water. In small doses, it serves as an appetizer or an aperitif. It also activates the secretion of digestive juices into the stomach before you even starts eating and increases your hunger and appetite.
- Bactericidal: Lime essential oil is a good bactericide. It can be used in the treatment of food poisoning, diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera, all of which are caused by bacteria. Furthermore, it can cure internal bacterial infections like those in the colon, stomach, intestines and urinary tract as well as external infections on the skin, ears, eyes, and in wounds.
- Disinfectant: Lime oil is also known for its disinfectant properties. Added to food, it protects them from getting spoiled through infection by microbes. When consumed, it can cure microbial infection in the colon, urinary tract, kidneys, and genitals. When applied externally, it protects the skin and wounds from infections and helps them to heal quickly. It can also be used in a diluted state for applying on the scalp. This will protect hair from various infections like lice, and also strengthen it so it won’t fall out prematurely.
- Febrifuge: Fever is just a symptom that shows the immune system of our body is fighting against infections or various unwanted substances. Thus, fever almost always accompanies infections, such as colds, viral infections, bacterial infections and infections on wounds, liver malfunctions, pox, boils, allergies and arthritis. Lime essential oil, since it is an antiallergenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, cicatrisant, fungicidal and antiseptic substance, can help cure the cause of fever and eventually reduce the fever, thereby acting as a febrifuge.
- Haemostatic: An agent that can stop bleeding, either by promoting the coagulation of blood or by means of contracting the blood vessels, is considered a hemostatic. Lime oil is a hemostatic, by virtue of its astringent properties, which help to reduce hemorrhaging by contracting the blood vessels.
- Restorative: This oil serves as a restorative by restoring health and strength to organ systems throughout the body. This is quite similar to the effect of a tonic, and is very good for those who are recovering after extended bouts of illness or injury.
- Tonic: Lime essential oil tones up muscles, tissues and skin as well as the various systems that function in the body, including the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive and excretory systems. This tonic effect helps retain youth for a long time and prevents the appearance of aging symptoms like hair loss, wrinkles, age spots, and muscle weakness.
- Other Benefits: Apart from having the medicinal properties discussed above, it is an antidepressant and anti-arthritic substance. It can reduce pain in the muscles and joints and is a very good antioxidant.
Cautions
In very rare cases, this oil can cause photo-sensitivity if exposed to strong sun directly after application.
Interactions
None are recorded.
Other names
N/A
References
Source: OrganicFacts, http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/lime-essential-oil.html
Articles.Mercola, http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/lime-oil.aspx