I absolutely adore lemon trees. It is a dream of mine to have a garden full of fruit trees and vegetable patches. It’s the desire within me to continue family traditions, which often means no modern-day short-cuts. But that’s okay too, as past generations generally lived simpler, happy and healthier lives. Certainly, the diets consisted mainly of whole foods, rather than highly processed, ‘fast’ foods. The quality of food was of a higher standard and was generally organically grown, which in turn meant it was locally produced and sourced.There are multiple health benefits of growing your own fruits and vegetables, from physical to mental. Even the mere act of sowing seeds and watching the fruits of your labor grow has feel good benefits.
So on the weekend I decided to prune my Baba’s (grandmother’s) lemon tree. And, um, I think I went overboard. The result was that I ended up with a whole basket full of big, glorious lemons. Just LOOK at them!
Like I said, there is nothing better than reaching up to pick a ripe, juicy lemon off the tree. The smell and taste are incredible and the joy you get from the memories made planting it’s seedling, pruning, watering, picking… is priceless.
As the days passed we realised we had too many lemons. We had already given away so many, used the juice of a few in our tea or in cooking, and we still couldn’t get rid of them all. So I went on the hunt for ideas on how to use them up.
Firstly, lemons are acidic and when applied topically, have a whitening effect. They are great for whitening nails, brightening the skin and adding highlights to achieve a sun-kissed look to the hair.
Lemon Nail Bath
To whiten yellowing nails, simply squeeze an entire lemon into a bowl of warm water and add your favorite essential oil. Submerge your nails into the mixture for 10 minutes. To see the best results, treat yourself to a nail bath three to four times a week and you should see a gradual change in the colour of your nails.
Secondly, lemon is a great source of vitamin C, a necessary component for keeping the skin healthy. Vitamin C is especially good for treating acne.
Lemon Rosewater Mask
Use this mask regularly to treat acne. But as a warning, do not go out in the sun and expose the skin while wearing the mask or for a few hours after washing it off, as your skin will burn.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 4-5 drops of rosewater
Method:
Spread the lemon juice and rosewater on the face. keep it on for 10 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.
As I said, there are thousands of ways you can use lemon, these are just a few examples. Generally, I tend to use lemon most in my cooking, especially my green juices – so stay tuned for that recipe
Holistical Health 