Divine Wellness by Traci A. Fonville

Essential Oil Spotlight – Lemon Essential Oil
You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discovery, and always challenge yourself to try new things.

-Nate Berkus

Essential oils were used in early Egyptian cultures thousands of years ago and have gained worldwide attention for their ability to address various health and wellness concerns including physical health and mental well-being. According to Modern Essentials, The Complete Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils, these precious liquids are defined as the volatile liquids that are distilled from plants, specifically the bark, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruit, etc. It is important to note that not all essential oils are considered equal. Therefore, I would encourage you to look for pure therapeutic grade oils to ensure that you have the highest quality for you and your family which will help to avoid toxic ingredients.

This month, I thought it would be helpful to highlight an essential oil that is a part of what I believe are the top ten essential oils to have in your home. These oils can eventually help you replace your medicine cabinet, some personal products, as well as cleaning products that you use on a daily basis, but may not be the safest for your overall health.

So let’s get started with lemon essential oil. Lemon oil is cold expressed from the rind and has a clean, fresh, citrus scent. Some of its historical uses include:

• Fighting food poison, malaria and typhoid epidemics, and scurvy
• Lowering blood pressure
• Helping with liver problems, arthritis and muscular aches and pains

For everyday use, lemon essential oil is an all-around champion for personal health and cleaning your home! Its uses include but are not limited to:

• Cleansing and purifying the air and surfaces
• Cleanses the body and aids in digestion when ingested*
• Supports healthy respiratory function when used internally*
• Helps remove gum, wood stain, and oil spots
• Preserves leather furniture and other leather surfaces and garments
• Added to a spray bottle of water, lemon oil can clean tables, countertops, and other surfaces
• Enhances the flavor of main dishes and desserts

Lemon essential oil is very versatile and can help you keep your home clean and your mood upbeat! *Using caution when selecting your oils, please read all labels before using internally, as not all oils can be ingested. Also, citrus oils such as lemon, angelica root, bergamot, grapefruit, lime, mandarin leaf, orange (bitter) and rue are photosensitive, meaning when exposed to UV light, they can cause an inflammatory skin reaction. So it’s important to check all precautions before usage.

Like to know how you can use lemon essential oil in your home? For more information on the many ways, you can use lemon essential oil, email me at iaffirmwellness@gmail.com with your questions or follow me on Instagram @iaffirmwellness.

Traci A. Fonville is a certified holistic health coach, a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a registered yoga teacher. She is the owner of I Affirm Wellness, which specializes in health coaching and beginner yoga classes. She is a Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA Essential Oils and educates on proper usage and benefits. Traci is also a Brand Ambassador for ItWorks! Follow Traci on Instagram and Facebook @iaffirmwellness. Log onto her websites for health and wellness products at www.mydoterra.com/iaffirmwellness and www.iaffirmwellness.myitworks.com.

Traci A. Fonville

Contributing Writer