While it isn’t as popular as other oils, lime essential oil has various uses on a homestead.

If you’re not familiar with essential oils, they’re the “concentrated form of the chemical constituents naturally found in plants” that give them their medicinal properties. (h/t to Hillsborough-Homesteading.com.)

The various uses of lime essential oil

Lime essential oil can be useful around the homestead because limes and lime juice possess potent antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifungal, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammation, anti-lipidemia, and antioxidant properties. They can also protect the bones, heart, and liver.

Additionally, limes and lime juice can help prevent urinary diseases. To make your own lime essential oil, just add dried citrus peels to a bottle of white vinegar then let the mixture sit. (Related: 10 Ways to Use Essential Oils to Improve Your Life.)

Below are the many ways that you can use lime essential oil on the homestead:

1. Aromatherapy – Adding lime essential oil in a diffuser or lotion can help brighten your mood.
2. Bug repellent – The essential oil can effectively repel two species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles. You can add lime essential oil to homemade natural bug spray or homemade lotions to make an effective bug repellent.
3. Citrus boost – Lime essential oils are edible and you can add some to homemade lemonade or even drinks like mojitos or margaritas for a delicious citrus boost.
4. Dewormer – Lime essential oil can help prevent the reproduction of Schistosoma mansoni, a water-borne blood fluke. Since the essential oil is edible, you can add a few drops to chicken waterers, fountains, and outdoor water bowls.
5. Medical uses – Lime essential oil is acidic and it can help fight pathogens. Combine it with bergamot, oregano, pepperwort or thyme essential oils to protect against Escherichia coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. Lime essential oil is also antimicrobial and it can be used to help fight mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in the mouth. Aside from using lime essential oil in a diffuser to protect against bad germs, you can also use it in various homemade beauty and cleaning products.

While lime essential oil has various benefits, take note that it can cause photosensitivity. This means that in some individuals, using the essential oil can irritate the skin when exposed to sunlight. Before you use lime essential oils topically, always dilute it with a carrier oil and test it on a small patch of your skin first.

Consult your healthcare provider before using lime essential oil, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep the essential oil away from children and do not apply it to sensitive areas like the inner ear. You must also consult a qualified practitioner before you ingest edible oils to ensure that the oil is food-grade quality.

If you’re looking for a versatile essential oil, consider using lime essential oil around your homestead.

Fast facts on limes

Limes are a type of citrus fruit that is commonly used to accent flavors in different dishes.

• Limes are often used in Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine.
• Limes are grown year-round in tropical climates.
• They are often smaller and less sour than lemons.
• The limes used in cooking are often of the Persian or Tahitian variety.
• Key limes are smaller, rounder, and more acidic than Tahitian limes, and are the main ingredient in a popular dessert called key lime pie.
• A single lime can provide 32 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement.
• Limes contain nutrients that are good for your heart. These nutrients can also lower the risk of asthma and promote healthy skin.

You can read more articles about other essential oils you can use on your homestead at EssentialOils.news.

Sources include:

Hillsborough-Homesteading.com

MedicalNewsToday.com