The Lemon Book - Natural Recipes and Preparations (3 page)

COSMETICS: OILY LEMON MACERATE

The most practical and effective way to use lemons in cosmetics is to make an oily macerate of them.

You have to macerate the zest (only the yellow part) in vegetable oil.

Strongly perfumed and of an intense yellow colour, lemon macerate is a versatile, natural and effective cosmetic product.

The technique of maceration in oil is a very ancient one: before the invention of the still and the distillation process, it was the only technique known for extracting essential oils.

The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans macerated the aromatic parts of plants (flowers, bark, roots and seeds) in animal or vegetable based fats to conserve their perfume and their medicinal properties.

Maceration allowed the essential oil to be transferred to the fatty substance, which could then be used easily.

How to make lemon macerate

Peel 3 large, ripe lemons of organic quality, without removing the pith.

Leave the zest to dry for a few days, to avoid mould when macerating.

Place the zest in the bottom of a glass jar and cover with vegetable oil: 1 part zest to 2 parts oil.

Choose the oil depending on the use it will be put to, but it should always be of organic quality. For the face: jojoba oil or wheat germ oil (very rich in vitamin E, antioxidant and allows better conservation of the product). For the body: sweet almond oil (fragrance-free and easily absorbed).

Close the jar with a piece of fabric or paper held in place with an elastic band and store in a cool, dry and dark place for a month. Stir every day.

Strain through a sieve to remove the zest. The yellow, perfumed oil is now ready for use.

Its properties are comparable to those of essential oil of lemon, but it is less aggressive for the skin.

Uses and effects of lemon macerate

Lemon macerate has a
tonic effect on the circulation
: it stimulates lymphatic and blood circulation, strengthens the blood vessels and thins the blood. It also
stimulates cellular regeneration
and
slows down skin ageing
.

To counter cellulite
: massage the legs and upper thighs.

To drain fluids and relieve heavy legs
, swollen ankles and poor circulation: use the oil to perform a massage, starting at the ankles and moving up towards the heart.

To counter dark rings and bags under the eyes
: gently massage the oil into them using your index fingers, from the inside towards the outside of the eye. Avoid contact with the eyes, as it stings!

To strengthen weak and thin nails
: apply by massaging the fingertips.

To make an excellent exfoliating scrub:
mix lemon macerate with table salt and apply to moist skin.

To lighten liver spots on the hands
, massage lemon macerate into the skin at least twice a week. Take care to avoid exposure to the sun after application, because the photosensitising effects of the macerate could provoke the appearance of new spots!

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COSMETIC USES OF FRESH LEMONS

To treat boils and greasy skin
: rub with half a lemon to disinfect dilated pores.

To make an emollient face mask
to counter excess sebum, mix honey and lemon juice. Once again, it is important to avoid exposure to sunlight (or UV lamps) after application: its photosensitising effects could cause marks to appear.

To make dull hair shine
: add 3 soup-spoonfuls of lemon juice to half a litre of water along with 2 soup-spoonfuls of olive oil. Mix well and then rub the lotion into the hair. Leave in for 30-40 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. The olive oil nourishes the hair and the lemon gives it strength and shine.

Nicotine stains on the teeth of smokers
: rub a few drops of lemon juice onto the teeth to lighten them.

Excessive sweating leading to foot odour
: take a foot bath every day with the juice of one lemon or 2 drops of essential oil in the water.

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ESSENTIAL LEMON OIL

The essential oil is contained in oil-producing glands in the skin of the fruit.

It is usually extracted by cold pressing. The essential oil extracted by distillation is of a lesser quality.

The oil is composed of 94-95% limonene, which must be shielded from oxidising agents (light and air) in order to avoid its deterioration.

Some uses of essential lemon oil

All the known merits of lemons are concentrated into the essential oil. Its
antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal
properties make it very effective in the treatment of many ailments;
bronchitis, colds, throat infections and influenza
, to name but a few. In some cases, preparations made from essential oils can be prescribed by a doctor, instead of traditional chemical drugs. It is always better to ask for advice from one's health care practitioner about how to use these powerful substances correctly.

The usual precautions which apply to the use of essential oils should be taken: a few drops are sufficient in most cases. Pure essential lemon oil should never be applied directly to the skin; it should always be diluted in vegetable oil, such as sweet almond oil.

To stimulate the immune defences
: take 1-2 drops of essential lemon oil in a tea-spoonful of honey.

As a mouthwash, a couple of drops in a glass of water help
to heal mouth ulcers
and relieve
gingivitis and stomatitis
.

Ear infections
: pour a drop of essential lemon oil into a tea-spoonful of vegetable oil (olive, sunflower, sweet almond, etc.), mix with a cotton bud and daub the inside of the ear canal with the mixture. Take care not to push the cotton bud too far into the ear to avoid damaging the eardrum. Reapply the following day if necessary.

Oral thrush
: rinse the mouth several times a day with two drops of essential oil in a glass of water.

Tooth whitener
: once a week, brush your teeth with a drop of essential lemon oil to whiten the teeth, disinfect and freshen the mouth.

As a digestive
: add a drop of essential lemon oil to an infusion of ginger and drink as you would tea.

To reduce bacteria in the sickroom
: put a few drop of essential lemon oil in the diffuser. The aroma of lemon also increases vitality and harmony.

To disinfect combs and hairbrushes
: put a few drop of essential lemon oil in a small bowl of lukewarm water, rinse the combs several times before drying them with a towel. The combs will be clean and scented.

To combat oily hair
: once a week, before shampooing, apply a hair mask using the following ingredients:

10ml jojoba oil

10ml shea butter (melted in a
bain-marie
)

2 drops essential lemon oil

Leave in for 10 minutes, rinse, then shampoo and rinse as usual.

In manicures and pedicures
: to disinfect the hands and feet, replace the usual soaking product with a few drops of essential lemon oil in warm water.

For an astringent and antiseptic effect on
oily skin and acne
: apply a face mask using the following ingredients:

½ pot yoghurt

1-2 slices of cucumber

1 drop of essential lemon oil

Mix together and massage onto the face. Leave on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse.

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VEGETARIAN LEMON-BASED RECIPES

SAVOURY DISHES

LEMON RISOTTO

Allow one cup of rice per person and adapt the quantities of the other ingredients according to taste.

organic brown rice

one good-quality lemon

a bunch of parsley

almond milk

1 egg yolk

dry white wine

vegetable stock

extra-virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

Heat the rice in 2 soup-spoonfuls of oil, deglaze with a drop of white wine.

As soon as the wine has evaporated, add a ladleful of hot vegetable stock.

Continue to stir, and when the liquid has been completely absorbed, add another ladleful of stock, and so on until the rice is cooked
al dente
.

In the meantime, prepare the sauce with the egg yolk, almond milk, salt, freshly-ground pepper and the grated zest of half a lemon (only the yellow part). Put on one side.

Add the juice and the grated zest from the other half of the lemon to the rice.

Turn off the heat, blend in the sauce and leave it to absorb with the lid on for 2-3 minutes before serving sprinkled with chopped parsley.

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RICE WITH LEMON AND WALNUTS

organic brown rice

1 chopped onion

1 crushed glove of garlic

1 lemon

a bunch of parsley

a few basil leaves

4-5 walnuts

dry white wine

vegetable stock

extra-virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

In a saucepan, soften the onion and garlic in a few soup-spoonfuls of oil.

Add the rice and stir well.

Sprinkle with white wine, add salt and pepper and the grated zest of a lemon.

Cook the rice by adding the hot vegetable stock one ladleful at a time.

Turn off the heat when the rice is almost cooked.

In the meantime, prepare the sauce as follows: crush the walnuts in a mortar, add the juice of a lemon and the chopped herbs, mix well and stir into the rice.

Leave it to absorb with the lid on for 2 minutes before serving, garnished with fresh herbs.