A Scent for Pandemic Brain: Lemon Essential Oil
Arianna Huffington described something recently that many of us have been feeling…
pandemic brain: the combination of stress, tech overload, and lack of focus felt over the past two years.
I can’t think of a better essential to support this pandemic brain feeling than Lemon essential oil.
Overview of Lemon essential oil
Whenever I use an essential oil, I always visualize the plant.
I think it’s important to feel this sense of connection to the whole living plant.
What does a lemon tree look like?
Citrus limon is a small evergreen tree, growing three to six meters high. It has pale green oval-shaped leaves and highly perfumed white flowers that may appear all year round, but more profusely during late winter.
The essential oil is cold-pressed from the peel of the fresh fruit. The main production areas of lemon essential oil are Italy, Spain, Israel, Argentina, and the USA.
The scent of the essential oil is exactly what you would expect: fresh, lemon, citrus.
It is rich with monoterpenes, in particular the chemical constituent limonene.
The essential oil is phototoxic when used in a blend at more than 12 drops per 1 ounce/30 mL (Tisserand, 2014).
Emotional & mental benefits of lemon essential oil
Lemon’s physiological functions revolve around two basic themes: restoring and decongesting (Holmes, 2016).
Lemon essential oil is uplifting and may help with mental fatigue, fogginess, distraction, and listlessness - which aromatherapist Peter Holmes describes as a mental kind of congested damp.
The scent of Lemon essential oil may help restore the nervous system and relieve tension, unrest, stress, and irritability (Battaglia, 2021).
The aroma is refreshing, energizing, encourages optimism, and helps open our intuition.
Aromatherapist Robbi Zeck says that Lemon essential oil helps cut through the confusion and is a delightfully aromatic spa for the brain.
Lemon is very useful if you are feeling confused and overwhelmed as it rescues a mind bogged down by burdens, decisions, and obstacles (Mojay, 1996).
Diffuser Recipes
Try the following recipes at home. I recommend using organic essential oils if possible.
Remember that you should not run your diffuser all day long. Turn your diffuser on for 30 minutes and then turn it off for at least 60 minutes.
Less is more with aromatherapy.
Just Lemon
I suggest experiencing the essential oil on its own at first. You can diffuse the oil or put one drop on a tissue.
4 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
Nervous System Soother
2 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
2 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
4 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
Calming & Uplifting
The scent of Lavender and Lemon essential oils is one of my favorite combinations. The addition of patchouli essential oil in this synergy is optional.
2 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
2 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
1 drop Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
Citrus Sunshine
Make this recipe in a 5 mL bottle and then add 5 - 7 drops to your diffuser.
8 drops Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
5 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
3 drops Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
2 drops Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
2 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Rest is your birthright.
Now more than ever, it’s important to unplug from technology and from doing and find ways that nurture your whole self - just as we are.
I am passionate about self-care that is rooted in a sense of being and acceptance - instead of constant self-improvement.
Visit the Rest Garden to learn more about my restful offerings.
References
Battaglia, S. (2021). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Volume III - Psyche & Subtle. Australia: Black Pepper Creative Pty Ltd.
Holmes, P. (2016). Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics. London: Singing Dragon.
Huggington, A. (2022). Tweet, retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ariannahuffington_tuesdaythoughts-pandemicbrain-ariannahuffington-activity-6884137092281110528-VOpU/
Mojay, G. (1996). Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. United Kingdom: Gaia Books Limited.
Tisserand, R. & Young, R. (2014). Essential Oil Safety. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Zeck, R. (2014). The Blossoming Heart: Aromatherapy for Healing and Transformation. Australia: Aroma Tours.
Do not take essential oils internally and do not apply undiluted on the skin. Always consult a professional aromatherapist if you have medical conditions. Use caution when using essential oils with children.
