Appearance: Lemons are small trees, usually 3-6 meters in height. The branches have irregular spines, the twigs are pale purple, and the shoots have soft hairs. The leaves are oval or ovate, 5-10 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide, with blunt serrated edges. The leaves are thick in texture, dark green and glossy in color, smooth on the surface, and sparsely pubescent on the back. The petiole is short and stout, and the wings are broad or narrow, obovate. Lemon flowers are solitary or clustered in the axillary of the leaves, the petals are oblong, mostly white, slightly purple on the outside, the flowers are fragrant. The fruit is oval or oval in shape, narrow at both ends, usually with a papillary projection at the top. The peel is bright yellow at maturity, with a rough surface and many oil cells. The peel is thick and difficult to peel. The flesh is light yellow, the juice cell is small, the juice is sour, and the seed is small and many, ovate-shaped.
Plant family Genus: Rutaceae citrus.
Common name: Lemon, mother fruit, lime fruit, etc.
Extraction parts: mainly fruit peel, which contains rich volatile aromatic substances and lemon essential oil; The fruit juice is also often extracted and used in the food and beverage industry.
Extraction method:
Peel extraction: Commonly used cold pressing method, the fresh lemon peel is directly pressed, and the essential oil is extruded by physical means, which can maximize the natural activity and aroma of essential oil. Steam distillation can also be used, using water vapor to bring out the essential oil components in the peel, through condensation, oil-water separation and other steps to obtain essential oil, but it may decompose some heat-sensitive components, resulting in loss of aroma and efficacy.
Juice extraction: Usually using the pressing method, the lemon fruit is squeezed out of juice, and then through filtration, clarification and other processes to obtain pure lemon juice.
Main chemical composition:
Peel: The main components of lemon essential oil include moniterpene compounds such as limonene, gamma-terpinene, laurene, as well as alcohols and ester compounds such as linalool acetate, linalool, nerolol, which give lemon a fresh aroma. In addition, it also contains flavonoids, such as hesperidin, naringin and so on.
Juices: Contain organic acids such as vitamin C, Vitamin B₁, Vitamin B₂, citric acid, malic acid, quinic acid and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and iron.
Main origin: Native to Southeast Asia, it is now mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. China's main production areas are Sichuan Anyue, Yunnan Dehong, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places. Foreign countries such as California, Italy, Sicily, Spain and so on are also important production areas of lemons.
Note: With a fresh, bright fruity note, the first smell is a strong citrus aroma, fresh and natural, then exudes a light floral and a hint of herbal smell, rich layers, giving people a pleasant and exciting feeling.
Aroma concentration: The aroma is strong and volatile, only a small amount can emit a significant aroma, and can be clearly smelled within a certain range.
Suitable essential oils:
Lavender essential oil: With lemon essential oil, it can add fresh fruit aroma on the basis of soothing and relaxing. It can be used in aromatherapy to help relax the body and mind, improve sleep quality, and purify the air.
Peppermint essential oil: The combination of the two can create a unique smell of cool and refreshing, which is excellent in the summer or when you need to refresh your mind. It can effectively relieve fatigue and improve concentration.
Tea tree essential oil: With lemon essential oil, can enhance the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, for skin care, acne, acne and other skin problems have a certain improvement.
Rose Essential oil: Mixed with lemon essential oil, it creates a romantic and refreshing atmosphere and can be used in skin care products to lighten, moisturize and soothe the skin.
Functional characteristics:
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory: The ingredients in lemon have an inhibitory effect on a variety of bacteria and fungi, which can be used as an auxiliary treatment for skin inflammation, acne and other problems, and can also purify the air and prevent respiratory infections.
Enhance immunity: Rich in nutrients such as vitamin C help to enhance the activity of white blood cells, improve the body's immunity, and help ward off disease.
Promote digestion: organic acids such as citric acid can stimulate gastric secretion, promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, relieve indigestion, bloating and other problems, and enhance digestive function.
Beauty and skin care: With antioxidant, whitening, astringent skin and other effects, can improve the skin dark, rough and other problems, make the skin more smooth and delicate.
Soothing mood: Its fresh aroma can soothe nerves, reduce anxiety, depression, tension and other bad emotions, make people feel happy, relax.
Common application:
Muscle conditioning: Diluted lemon essential oil can be used for massage to promote blood circulation, relieve muscle soreness and fatigue, and relax muscle tension. For example, after exercise, take 3-5 drops of lemon essential oil, add 10ml of base oil (such as sweet almond oil, olive oil), mix well, apply to sore muscles, gently massage until absorbed.
Immune system: Drinking lemon juice or inhaling the aroma of lemon essential oil through aromatherapy can regulate mood, strengthen the body's immunity, and help fight disease. During the flu season, you can use an indoor aromatherapy machine and add 5-8 drops of lemon essential oil to fill the room with fragrance.
Nervous system: A few drops of lemon essential oil on the pillow before going to bed, or aromatherapy, can soothe nerves, reduce anxiety, insomnia and other symptoms, help relax the body and mind, promote sleep. You can also drop lemon essential oil on a cotton ball and place it next to your pillow for a continuous aroma. In addition, while working or studying, smell the aroma of lemons to refresh the mind and improve concentration.
Taboo to use:
Photosensitivity: Lemon essential oil is photosensitive, and if exposed to sunlight after use, it may cause skin allergies, sunburn and other problems, so direct sunlight should be avoided within 8 hours after use.
For allergic people: Before use, it is necessary to conduct an allergy test on a small area of skin, such as applying a small amount of diluted essential oil on the inside of the wrist, observing for 24 hours, if there is no allergic reaction such as redness, swelling, itching, etc., then normal use. Not for those allergic to lemons.
Too much stomach acid: lemon juice is acidic, too much stomach acid drinking may stimulate the gastric mucosa, aggravate stomach discomfort, should be appropriate to drink.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women: Use with caution, large amounts of use may have an impact on the fetus or baby, if necessary, be sure to use under the guidance of a doctor.
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