Lemon
Scientific name: Citrus limon
Common names:
Ayurvedic names:
Chinese names: Ning meng
Bangladesh names: Lebu, Nebu, Lemon
Arabic names:
Rain Forest names:
Family: Fabaceae
Approximate number of species known:
Common parts used: Fruit, peel, seed, oil
Collection:
Annual/Perennial:
Height:
Actions:
Known Constituents:
Constituents Explained:
Description:
A member of the citrus family. The citrus ???
Traditional Use:
Rich in Vitamin C. It seems to enhance the digestion and uptake of nutrients. The lemon seeds are used as an antiseptic, much like grapefruit seeds.
Clinical Studies:
A study investigated that lemon juice could be an alternative to potassium citrate in the treatment of urinary calcium stones in patients with hypocitraturia. 30 patients with hypocitraturic urinary calcium stones were enrolled into study.
The patients were divided into three groups equally. Exactly 60 mEq/day fresh lemon juice ( approximately 85 cc/day) and potassium citrate (60 mEq/day) were given to the patients of first and second group, respectively.
Dietary recommendations were made for the third group. Blood and 24-h urine tests were performed before treatment and repeated 3 months later. The differences between demographic datas of groups were not significant. There was no significant difference between values of blood tests performed before and after treatment in all groups.
Statistically significant differences were found between pre- and post-treatment urine values in each group. Although there was no significant difference between pre-treatment citrate levels of the groups.
A significant difference was found between post-treatment citrate levels of the groups. There was 2.5-, 3.5- and 0.8-fold increase in urinary citrate level of lemon juice, potassium citrate and dietary recommendation groups, respectively.
Urinary calcium level was decreased only in lemon juice and potassium citrate groups after treatment. While there was no significant difference between pre- and post-treatment urinary oxalate levels in all groups, a significant decrease in urinary uric acid levels was determined in all groups.
It was suggested that lemon juice can be an alternative in the treatment of urinary calcium stones in patients with hypocitraturia. Additionally, dietary recommendations can increase effectiveness of the treatment.
References:
Aras B, Kalfazade N, Tuqcu V, Kemahli E, Ozbay B, Polat H, Tasci AI. “Can Lemon Juice Be An Alternative To Potassium Citrate In The Treatment Of Urinary Calcium Stones In Patients With Hypocitraturia? A Prospective, Randomized Study.” 2008 December http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18946667
Source:
Herb Name: Lemon
Other Names: Citrus Lemonum
Latin Name: Citrus Limon
Family: Rutaceae
Common parts Used: Fruit, leaves, flower
Lemon is evergreen plant. It is native to Asia. It has yellow oval fruit. It belongs to the family Rutaceae. The flowers of lemon are hermaphrodite. The pollination occurs by insects mostly. The plant grows in moist soil and light. The tree grows about 3 to 4 meter.
The fruit is edible; it can be eaten raw as well as cooked. It is used as a drink and flavoring beverages. It is widely used in salads dressing. The dried rind of the lemon is used in cakes and other bakery items. The leaves are used to flavor tea. The flowers of lemon are used in jams and ice cream.
Lemons are used as a domestic and traditional medicine. The lemon is rich in vitamin C. the lemon juice is considered as a good astringent. The skin of lemon is used to treat stomachic. The lemon is also used for gargles and throat infections. The bark of tree is considered a good tonic for digestive system. Fresh lemon juice with green tea is highly recommended to weight loss. An oil obtained from lemon is also used in making soaps and shampoos.
Lemon
Herb Name: Lemon
Other names:
Citron,
Zitrone,
Limone
Latin name: Citrus medica
Family: Rutaceae
Common part used:
The peel (pericarp) of the fruit is used as a spice; also the fruit juice is culinarily valuable. Of the related citron, the thick pericarp is used to prepare candied lemon peel (succade).
Despite their strong and refreshing lemon fragrance, lemon leaves are hardly ever used in the kitchen.
Lemons are used to make lemonade, and as a garnish for drinks. Many mixed drinks, soft drinks, iced tea, and water are often served with a wedge or slice of lemon in the glass or on the rim. The average lemon contains approximately 3 tablespoons of juice. Allowing lemons to come to room temperature before squeezing (or heating briefly in a microwave) makes the juice easier to extract. Lemons left unrefrigerated for long periods of time are susceptible to mold.
Lemon juice is valued in the home as a stain remover, and a slice of lemon dipped in salt can be used to clean copper-bottomed cooking pots. Lemon juice has been used for bleaching freckles and is incorporated into some facial cleansing creams.
Medicinal Uses: Lemon juice is widely known as a diuretic, antiscorbutic, astringent, and febrifuge. In Italy, the sweetened juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and inflammation of the tongue. Lemon juice in hot water has been widely advocated as a daily laxative and preventive of the common cold, but daily doses have been found to erode the enamel of the teeth. Prolonged use will reduce the teeth to the level of the gums. Lemon juice and honey, or lemon juice with salt or ginger, is taken when needed as a cold remedy. It was the juice of the Mediterranean sweet lemon, not the lime that was carried aboard British sailing ships of the 18th Century to prevent scurvy, though the sailors became known as “limeys”.
Herb Name: Lemon
Others names: English Lemon
Latin name: Citrus limon
Family: Rutaceae
Common part used: Juice, Peel, Pulp, Fruits, Essential oil
Description: Lemon is a miniature evergreen tree with thorns, dark oval leaves, pale white flowers, and a yellow fruit with a highly acidic and sour pulp.
Properties: Lemon is an anti-inflammatory herb that is used in herbal medicine to treat rheumatism, arthritis, and gout. Lemon can also assist with cellulite, constipation, and poor peripheral circulation. It is a sour-bitter aromatic herb that has cooling, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Contents: Lemon juice is rich in citric acid and Vitamin C.
Internal use: Lemons are used to treat hemorrhoids and varicose veins, as they help to improve blood circulation. They are also commonly used for minor fevers, bronchial congestion, kidney stones, and stomachic problems. Lemon juice is used together with honey for colds and flu.
External use: Externally, Lemon helps to soothe insect bites and stings, chilblains, eczema, and sunburn. It may also be used as gargles for sore throats. A few drops of Lemon juice can help to brighten dull hair (add a few drops to your final rinse water). Additionally, it is used to decrease permeability of capillaries and blood vessels.
Essential oil and aromatherapy use: Lemon essential oil helps to refresh the mind and to increase concentration. The oil is also useful for rheumatism, arthritis, and gout. It boosts the immune system and circulation, which helps varicose veins. It helps to purify the liver and kidneys, and is used for constipation and cellulite. Topically, it is used for clearing up clogged and greasy skin complexions, to treat minor wounds and cuts, to soften scar tissue, and to smooth out broken capillaries. Lemon essential oil has anti-scorbutic, antacid, anti-neuralgic, antiseptic, astringent, anti-rheumatic, bactericide, carminative, depurative, haemostatic, insecticide, stomachic, laxative, vermifuge, tonic properties, emollient, diuretic, febrifuge, and hepatic properties.
Safety precautions: Pregnant women are advised not to use Lemon essential oil, since it can irritate sensitive skin. It may also cause photosensitivity.