There are two main types of lime - Key, West Indian and Mexican, with small round, moderately seedy fruit with thin, smooth peel and a greenish flesh. The other contains Persian types, with larger fruit which is seedless. The lime tree is a small, spreading evergreen which grows to 4-6 metres. It's thought to have originated in Northern India and adjacent areas of Burma and taken to the west coast of Central and South America via the Pacific Islands by the Polynesians. Lime trees were brought from India to Persia, Palestine, Egypt and Europe by the Arabs about the same time as the sour orange and the lemon. Key Limes are cultivated in Mexico, Peru and West Indies, and the Persian limes are grown mainly in Florida and Brazil. There are two main methods of extraction; distilled (steam distillation of the whole fruit, or distilled from the juice) and expressed (cold-pressed from the fruit rind of green limes). Distilled lime is a pale yellow to nearly clear, runny liquid with a fresh, sharp, citrus aroma which becomes harsh with extended storage. Cold-pressed lime is yellow-green to olive-green in colour and runny with a rich, sweet, citrus aroma. This profile is about cold-pressed lime.
Lime's main actions are as an anticoagulant, anti-depressant, antimicrobial (anti-bacterial, anti-viral), antiseptic, astringent, hepatic, lymphatic tonic and nervine (stimulating/refreshing) * See below for meanings
Due to lime's antimicrobial properties it is recommended for throat infections and colds/flus, sinus, congestion, bronchial disorders and as a general aid to help recovery after illness. It combines well with manuka, eucalyptus radiata and lavender true for these conditions.
Lime is a digestive tonic, and therefore is useful for digestive problems, including with the liver and gall bladder. Blend with roman chamomile, ginger and peppermint for the digestive system.
Lime stimulates the lymphatic system, so can be helpful for treating fluid retention and cellulite. Treat these by blending with juniper berry, sweet fennel and grapefruit.
Lime is reviving, refreshing and uplifting for the nervous system, and is ideal for fatigue and a tired mind - especially when it involves apathy, anxiety and depression. Blend with geranium, lavender true, bergamot, rose otto and indian sandalwood for a fabulous pick-me-up. It's also useful for hangovers - lime gives a great kick-start when blended with peppermint. It's also useful as an aid for giving up smoking, and other addictions.
Lime helps to counteract overproduction of sebum, so is particularly useful for oily skin. This combined with its antibacterial properties make it very useful for treating acne. Its astringent properties also make it useful for the treatment of diarrhoea and helping to slow minor bleeding. Blend with cypress, sage and frankincense in these cases.
Lime has a warm, sunny, uplifting fragrance which few people dislike. It soothes the nerves, gives a boost when needed and takes us back to childhood, reminding us of lime iceblocks and lollies. With it's wide range of uses, lime is an essential oil that would prove very handy in the first aid kit.
Safety
Non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitising, but cold-pressed lime is phototoxic, so keep the dilution below 1%, cover up if going in the sun or near any other ultraviolet light, or stay inside for 12 hours following application.
Blends well with floral, herbal, wood and other citrus oils.
*Generally a blending ratio of 2.5% (5 drops of essential oil in 10ml of vegetable oil or base cream) is safe for application to the skin, but this varies greatly depending on age, health issues, other factors of each individual and avoiding exposure to the sun after application. If in any doubt always err on the side of caution and/or consult a qualified aromatherapist. Always test on a small area of the skin first, when applying to the skin or using essential oils in the bath.
For free qualified advice on how to use it, email info@GalaxyAromatherapy.com.
Always take care when choosing your essential oils. Look for botanical names and expiry dates on the label. They should come in dark coloured glass bottles to protect them, and have dripulator tops. Following these guidelines will help to ensure you're buying good quality, pure essential oils.
* Terms:
antidepressant - uplifts and counteracts melancholy
anticoagulant - prevents clotting of the blood
antimicrobial - resists or destroys pathogens
antiseptic - destroys or controls pathogenic bacteria
astringent - contracts, tightens and binds tissue
hepatic - stimulates and aids liver function
lymphatic tonic - restores, regulates and strengthens the function of the lymphatic system
nervine - strengthens or tonifies the nerves and nervous system
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