Lime

Originally from Asia, it is now cultivated in most warm countries, especially Italy, the West Indies and the Americas. It is an evergreen tree growing up to 4.5 meters (15 feet) high with smooth, green leaves, stiff sharp spines and small, white flowers. The fruit is green and although there are many varieties they usually measure about two inches in diameter. It was introduced into Europe by the Moors and from there it migrated to the Americas. Ships transporting it were called 'lime juicers' and ship crews depended on it to prevent scurvy, because of the high vitamin C content.

It is used to flavor ginger ale and cola drinks, and also used in the perfume industry.

Limes are an excellent source of Vitamin C and they are a great substitute for lemons. They can be used for drinks, desserts, cakes, biscuits and marmalade.

Lime Essential Oil

Description: Lime oil is extracted from Citrus aurantifolia (also known as Citrus medica var. acida and C. latifolia) of the Rutaceae family and is also known as Mexican and West Indian lime, as well as sour lime.

Lime essential oil is cold-pressed from the rind of ripe lime - the fruit of a small evergreen tree native to many tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It is a yellow/clear liquid with a fresh, sweet citrus aroma, which is considered uplifting and refreshing. Like essential oil of Lemon, Lime oil is cooling and cleansing. Lime essential oil is an excellent antiseptic oil. It has been used for many conditions, from breathing, to acne, and just for self-care and well-being. With its pleasantly citrus scent, it is a must for everyday well-being.

Common Name:

Botanical Name: Citrus aurantifolia

Family: Rutaceae

Plant Part: the peel and /or the whole ripe fruit

Extraction: Lime oil can be extracted by expression or by distillation - the peel of the unripe skin by cold expression or the peel and /or the whole ripe fruit by steam distillation.

Color: pale yellow to light olive in color.

Consistency:

Note:

Strength of Aroma:

Aromatic Scent: pleasantly, sweet, tangy citrus scent.

Blends well with: neroli, lavender, clary sage and ylang-ylang.

Chemical main composition: The main constituents in the distilled lime oil, like the one we sell is a-pinene, b-pinene, myrcene, limonene, terpinolene, 1,8-ceneole, linalool, borneol, citral and traces of neral acetate and geranyl acetate.

Therapeutic properties: The therapeutic properties of lime oil are antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, aperitif, bactericidal, disinfectant, febrifuge, haemostatic, restorative and tonic.

The therapeutic properties of lime pure essential oil are refreshing and uplifting. The main constituents in lime essential oil are limonene, bergapten, citral, camphene, and linalool. All of these substances are antiseptic and astringent. This allows lime essential oil to help with many conditions.

Common Uses: One of the external uses of lime pure essential oil is to help clear up pimples. All you need to do is 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. This mixture helps to preserve the protective layer of oil on the skin and will also help minimize scarring.

Another condition lime oil is know to assist with is opening up your bronchial tubes and helping with your breathing. Since lime essential oils is disinfecting and cleansing, it is an excellent addition to your bath, shower, or sauna. Just mix two drops each of lime oil, pine oil, and rosemary oil. Then add these to the water. It is this mixture of oils, which will help make the bronchial tubes stronger and fortified, opening them up and making it easier to breath. You can also use this same blend in a diffuser.

Lime pure essential oil is an excellent method of self-care and well-being. Aromatherapy is more than just breathing in scents. It is about achieving the perfect balance and harmony in ones life and it is the combination of certain scents, or oils, which help achieve this. Blend 2 ounces of safflower oil, 5 drops of lime pure essential oil, and 3 drops of orange pure essential oil, and then use this as a massage applied daily. This blend of oils will help improve the circulation and also help to keep your skin moisturized in the process. Lime oil can also be used to help relieve and cure a 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. Most essential oils are not meant to be taken internally, but there are a few of them where it is feasible. Lime oil is one of them. Really, lime oil is even added to soft drinks.

Lime oil is useful to cool fevers associated with colds, sore throats and flu and aids the immune system while easing coughs, bronchitis and sinusitis, as well as helping asthma. Lime oil can stimulate and refresh a tired mind and helps with depression. It can be helpful for arthritis, rheumatism and poor circulation, as well as for obesity and cellulite and has an astringent and toning action to clear oily skin and acne, and also helps with herpes, insect bites and cuts.

Lime oil is beneficial to the immune system, easing infection in the respiratory tract and relieving pain in muscles and joints, while revitalizing a tired mind and banishing the feeling of apathy, anxiety and depression.

Lime oil may be used interchangeably with lemon oil, though it certainly has its own characteristic flavor and aroma. It can be helpful with fever, infections, sore throat, colds, etc. It is also helpful in cases of rheumatism. Lime is also a sharpener of the mind, bringing clarity of though and focused concentration. Lime oil is often used as a flavoring agent in drinks as well as Asian and Indian cooking.

Lime oil may be helpful with acne. A drop of essential oil per two teaspoons of Witch Hazel makes and excellent, anti-bacterial astringent. Store in a mixing bottle and apply a small amount twice a day. Witch Hazel is a plant extract found grocery stores, though we recommend natural varieties without addititves (Email Us if you are looking it - we sometimes keep it in stock for blending).

The essential oil is also though useful for opening the breathing passages. Lime can be sprinkled in the shower, or inhaled from a steaming bowl of water for this effect. The oil would blend nicely with Eucalyptus varieties, giving a little fruity aroma to the herbaceous scents from the Eucalyptus trees. Their action would be complementary for the breathing passages; the sweetness of the Lime oil would soften the intensity of the cineol, the primary component of Eucalyptus.

• Burners and vaporizers
  • In vapor therapy, lime oil can be used to lift depression and energize a tired mind, while easing breathing and assisting the digestion.
• Blended massage oil or in the bath
  • Lime oil can be used as a massage oil or diluted in the bath, to help with painful muscles and joints, respiratory problems and cellulite, as well as when colds and flu strike.
• Cream or lotion
  • When used in a cream or lotion, it is helpful to clear oily congested skin and is also often used to help fight cellulite and remove the cottage cheese effect from the skin.

Precautions: Non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing if the oil is obtained by steam extraction, yet the oil obtained from cold expression can cause photosensitivity in strong sunshine and can irritate the skin - exposure to sunlight should be limited for 72 hours where it has been applied to the skin.

GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION: Caution should be taken when using Essential Oils. Do not use any oils without consultation from a qualified aroma therapy practitioner. All Essential Oils should be kept out of the reach of children.

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided purely for informational purposes only, and does not in any way purport to be medical or prescriptive suggestions. Any reference to medicinal or health benefits is not meant to treat or diagnose any problem and is not meant to replace professional medical advice and should not take the place of any prescribed medication that has been prescribed by a physician.

The material in this website is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. Since the actual use of essential oils by others is beyond our control, no expressed or implied guarantee as to the effects of their use can be given nor liability taken. Essential oils are to be used at your own discretion. Any application of the recommendations is at user's sole risk. The Altiec disclaims any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information and assumes no responsibility for any actions taken.

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