Citrus limon
planetary ruler: Moon
element: Water
associated deities: Alakshmi
magical virtues: Protection, dispelling negativity
Despite being associated with the Mediterranean region today, the lemon itself was unknown to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Citrus fruits originated in southeastern Asia and the Greeks probably first encountered them in the form of citrons during the campaigns of Alexander the Great. 168 The lemon is actually a cultivated hybrid deriving from wild species such as the citron and mandarin, and the first description of the true lemon itself is found in an early tenth-century CE Arabic treatise on farming. 169
In lore, lemons—and their precursor the citron—have the reputation of dispelling poisons and other negative influences. The Roman Pliny prescribed citron as an antidote to various poisons, 170 and in one tale reported by the writer Athenaeus of two criminals thrown into a pit of snakes, the one that had taken the precaution of eating a citron beforehand survived. 171 The emperor Nero consumed large numbers of citrus fruits as he was haunted by the fear of being poisoned, probably because he had bumped off several of his close relatives with poison himself. The reputation of lemon as an antidote to poison persisted for many centuries. The English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, in his seventeenth-century herbal, said that all citrus fruits could be used to “resist poisons.” 172
In Hindu lore lemon is used to dispel evil. Alakshmi, the sister of Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune, is believed to bring misery and poverty. She likes sour and spicy things, so people hang lemons and chillies outside their houses and shops so that she will satisfy her hunger by eating those and leave without entering and bringing wretchedness to the inhabitants. 173
Because the shape of a lemon resembles that of a human eye, lemons are thought to repel the evil eye by sympathetic magic. In parts of India, the evil eye is cast off by holding a lemon in each hand and waving them in a clockwise motion around the head. The lemons are then burnt on coal or immersed in flowing water to destroy the malevolent powers; the longer the lemon takes to burn, the greater the infection. 174 In Sicilian folk magic, a lemon with pins hung outside the door would repel the evil eye, while a spell to make an enemy fall ill involved taking a lemon to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, removing a bit of peel, and piercing it with pins while reciting “As many pins as I stick in this lemon, may as many ills befall you.” The fruit was then thrown into a well. 175 This is similar to the spell mentioned by Charles Leland in Aradia (his study of Italian witchcraft in the nineteenth century), the conjuration of the lemon, which describes sticking a lemon full of coloured pins to bring good fortune or using black pins to bring ill luck. 176
The main use of lemon is in repelling negative influences. It can be hung in the home or outside the front door, fresh or dried, to prevent negativity from entering the house. You could incorporate it into a decorative wreath with other protective herbs, such as chilli, or make the Lemon Pomander. Add dried lemon peel to protective sachets and charms. Use lemon juice diluted in water as a wash to purify ritual spaces, robes, and tools, or use lemon juice in the pre-ritual bath to cleanse the body and aura of negative energies. Use dried lemon peel in incense to turn away harmful magic and influences.
Though Culpeper ascribed lemon to the moon and water because of its medicinal properties, 177 it has no traditional associations with moon deities and was unknown to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, so any association you see with deities from those religions is spurious. Its inherent qualities do make it suitable for moon incenses and esbat use, however.
culinary uses
Today, lemons are a kitchen staple for most of us. Whether we use the fresh, zingy lemon zest or lemon juice, they are widely used in both sweet and savoury cooking for flavouring meat, fish, and vegetable dishes as well as desserts, pies, and tarts. Lemon is added to drinks and used to make that perennial summer favourite, Lemonade.
As well as adding a wonderful flavour, lemons are good for us! One lemon will provide about half your daily vitamin C needs. Before people knew about vitamins and their vital role in the body, it was a mystery why sailors developed scurvy on long voyages. In 1747 James Lind found that lemons and oranges were extremely effective at treating the disease, and the British Royal Navy ordered that its sailors should be given a daily ration of citrus juice, which led to them being known as “limeys,” though it is likely that most of the fruits they consumed were lemons, rather than limes.
Be aware that the fruits you buy may be waxed, a coating to which ethanol, milk casein, or soap may have been added; ask for unwaxed lemons.
cosmetic uses
Lemon softens the skin, diminishes wrinkles, and fades freckles and age spots. Applied well diluted to the skin, lemon juice has antibacterial and astringent properties, which helps clear blemishes, brighten dull skin, promote new cell generation, and treat oily skin and hair.
To lighten liver spots on the backs of your hands, try applying diluted lemon juice directly to the area. Leave fifteen minutes and then rinse off with warm water. Repeat daily. For another recipe, try the Lemon Age Spot Remover below.
To subtly lighten your hair, use a lemon hair rinse (add one tablespoon lemon juice to 500 millilitres water) and instead of rinsing it out, allow it to dry on your hair naturally. The effect will be heightened if you sit in the sun. This also treats dandruff and oily hair.
To soften the skin of knees and elbows, cut a lemon in half and sprinkle with sugar. Use this to gently scrub the area. Rinse well and moisturise.
medicinal uses
actions: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiperiodic, antirheumatic, antiscorbutic, antiseptic, astringent, bactericide, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, stomachic
High in vitamin C, which supports the immune system, and with antiseptic, astringent, and fever-reducing properties, lemon is a staple in the treatment of coughs and colds, and it is often added to commercial remedies. Sip Lemon Tea with a teaspoon of honey added or try Lemon Cough Syrup. Use lemon juice diluted in lukewarm water as a gargle for sore throats; the astringent juice helps shrink swollen tissue, and the acidity creates a hostile environment for viruses and bacteria. The vitamin C in lemons helps reduce the levels of histamine responsible for stuffy noses and runny eyes.
Lemon also has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation—and therefore pain—in arthritic and rheumatic conditions, and it helps prevent the buildup of uric acid in gout. People with rheumatism and arthritis are usually told to avoid citrus fruits, but lemon, once digested, has an alkaline effect on the body. Try drinking Lemon Tea morning and evening.
As lemon helps to balance pH levels in the body, this makes it useful for treating stomach acidity. For heartburn, drink a glass of hot water with a teaspoon of lemon juice in it or mix ½ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with 1 teaspoon lemon juice in 250 millilitres (1 cup) of warm water. If you suffer from indigestion, some people find drinking Lemon Tea or Lemon Barley Water after meals helpful. As well as being caffeine-free and rich in antioxidants, lemons contain pectin fibre, which is very beneficial for colon health, plus powerful antibacterial agents. Lemon aids digestion and encourages the production of bile.
Drinking a cup of Lemon Tea or Lemon Barley Water helps to flush out toxins from the body. Many people like to drink a cup of Lemon Tea every morning for this purpose, but it is also a good go-to recipe for hangovers. Try Lemon Barley Water for urinary tract infections such as cystitis.
When you peel your lemons, do you throw away the bitter white pith? You shouldn’t. It contains bioflavonoids that strengthen blood vessels and help prevent and treat arteriosclerosis and varicose veins. Include the pith in your smoothies and the health benefits will more than make up for the bitter flavour. The heart health benefits of lemons and other citrus fruits do not stop there. The pectin in citrus fruits can also help reduce cholesterol levels. 178 The vitamin C in lemons fights free radical damage and helps guard against heart disease.
Lemons contain plenty of citric acid, which reduces calcium excretion and helps prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Treat wasp stings, which are alkaline, with fresh lemon juice to neutralise them. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon and dab it on the sting. (Bee stings are acidic—use bicarbonate of soda.)
Caution: Lemon is safe in food amounts and considered safe in higher medicinal amounts. However, to be on the safe side, avoid medicinal amounts during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Lemon peel may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals, and applying lemon to the skin may increase the chance of sunburn. Always use lemon juice diluted, as otherwise the acid may damage tooth enamel. Those with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease may experience an increase in symptoms when consuming citrus fruit. Eating lemon peel should be avoided by those with kidney or gallbladder problems.
Recipes
Lemon Age Spot Remover
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons vegetable glycerine
Combine and apply to your hands twice a day.
Lemon Tea
Juice from one lemon
250 millilitres (1 cup) boiling water
Combine in a cup. Add honey to taste.
Lemon Pomander
lemon
cloves
orris root powder
powdered nutmeg (optional)
The fruit must be fresh and unbruised. Press cloves all over into the fruit, very close together so that the flesh is not visible between them; it is best to start at the base and work upwards and round in rows. Roll the pomander in the nutmeg and powdered orris root, wrap it up in tissue paper, and put it a warm place for a few weeks until it hardens. Shake off the powder and tie a ribbon round it for hanging.
Lemon Cough Syrup
2 lemons
140 millilitres (½ cup) runny honey
60 millilitres (¼ cup) vegetable glycerine
Juice the lemons and strain the liquid through muslin to get a clear liquid. Add the honey and glycerine and mix together well. Bottle and refrigerate.
Lemon Barley Water
150 grams (¾ cup) pearl barley
2 lemons
1½ litres (6 cups) boiling water
50 grams (¼ cup) caster (superfine) sugar or
150 millilitres (½ cup) honey
Put the pearl barley in a sieve and rinse well under running water. Place in a pan with the grated zest from the two lemons and the boiling water, and simmer gently for ten minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar or honey until dissolved. Cool. Strain well. Add the lemon juice to the liquid. Chill this in the fridge and serve with ice if desired. Your lemon barley water will keep in the fridge for four days. This is a traditional remedy for urinary tract infections such as cystitis, helping to flush toxins from the body, but it also helps lower cholesterol, acts as a digestive tonic, and cleanses problem skin from the inside out. (You can add the discarded pearl barley to muesli and other breakfast mixtures.)
Lemonade
6 lemons
150 grams (¾ cup) sugar
500 millilitres (2 cups) boiling water
500 millilitres (2 cups) cold water
Heatproof jug
Juice the lemons and put the juice in a jug with the sugar. Add the boiling water and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the cold water and mix. Pour into bottles and refrigerate overnight. Serve with ice, mint sprigs, and lemon wedges.
168 Margaret Briggs, Lemons and Limes (Leicester: Abbeydale Press, 2007).
169 Sarton, Introduction to the History of Science.
170 Pliny the Elder, The Natural History.
171 Athenaeus, “The Deipnosophists” (C. D. Yonge, B.A., ed.), online at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu, accessed 9 October 17.
172 Culpeper’s Complete Herbal.
173 Devdutt Pattanaik, Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik (Penguin Books India, 2016).
174 https://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/the-evil-eye, accessed 9 October 17.
175 Elworthy, The Evil Eye.
176 Charles G. Leland, Aradia: Gospel of the Witches (Washington: Phoenix Publishing, 1990).
177 Culpeper’s Complete Herbal.
178 J. M. Assini, E. E. Mulvihill, and M. W. Huff, “Citrus Flavonoids and Lipid Metabolism,” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23254473, accessed 9 October 17. Elisabeth Wisker, Martina Daniel, and Walter Feldheim, Effects of a Fiber Concentrate from Citrus Fruits in Humans,” http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531705801757, accessed 9 October 17. G. S. Choi, et al., “Evaluation of Hesperetin 7-O-Lauryl Ether as Lipid-Lowering Agent in High-Cholesterol-Fed Rats,” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15186844, accessed 9 October 17.