tangy baby!...medicine making with lemons

Like many Phoenix Valley dwellers, I am so very blessed to have the most beautifully delicious lemon tree right in my own front yard. 

Maybe they're not technically "certified organic" by governmental standards, whatever that really means anymore, but these lemons are grown in a loving space and never sprayed with chemicals, so they are organic to me. They are hands-down the BEST tasting, sweet and tangy lemons I've ever had!

ooo my mouth is watering just looking at them!

.................................................................................................................

Here's a summary for some of lemon's healing powers:

Botanical name: Citrus limon. 

Primary actions: Antiseptic, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Febrifuge (reduces fever)

Lemons are not only foods but effective medicine as well. According to the Natural Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine written by Andrew Chevallier, lemons are thought to have originated in India and were then cultivated in Europe during the 2nd century AD. Now lemons are propagated throughout the world and have served as one of the most important, widely used, and most versatile natural medicines for use at home.

These tart, tangy, sour, and slightly sweet citrus fruits are ideally harvested in the winter time when they're really high in Vitamin C (twice the amount in an orange!). As a long-standing staple in warding off infections, providing antiseptic properties, and supporting healthy digestion, we mostly stifle lemons into the category as a refreshing summertime drink or a condiment to fish and veggies.

But don't limit the power of lemons merely to the juice or to the side of the plate! The most volatile oil (essential oil) and bioflavonoid content is found within the juicy aromatic peel, and in the white, slightly bitter tasting pith that lines the inside of the peel. These bioflavonoids are "antioxidant and strengthen the health of the inner lining of blood vessels". (Chevallier) The volatile oil is antiseptic and antibacterial. So the juice, peel, and pith be used medicinally!

Lemons can be used to treat issues in acute circumstances such as colds and flus, stimulate a healthy appetite, treat stomach acidity and ulcers, and can be used as a gargle for canker sores and sore throats. As an overall general preventative tonic, lemons help those prone to arteriosclerosis, fevers, and acidic conditions.

Interestingly so, although lemons are acidic, once ingested and digested, lemons are actually alkalizing to the body; thus balancing pH levels, supporting healthy circulation, and especially good for the stomach, liver, intestines, and veins and capillaries.

*please do not ingest lemon essential oil
*always consult a holistic health care professional for proper dosaging

When I pressure-rolled these lemons on the cutting board to open up the juice and volatile oil before slicing, the peels were just bursting with zesty aromatic vibes and glossy with rich oil. Herbalists use this "organoleptic assessment" to assess quality and characteristics of our herbs and veggies. All it takes is an exploration of the senses to determine what good quality is. Ya don't see lemons like this at Walmart!
What a treasure to behold! 

After all of that build-up, let's talk about a few ways to use lemons in everyday living!

 FRESH LEMON PEEL EXTRACT


Today we are speaking of an herbal medicine making technique known as the FOLK METHOD.

For this tincture/extract you'll need the following:

* 2-4 med-large lemons ( I used 2 1/2 large lemons for this)
* a clean glass jar w/tight-fitting lid (32 oz QT canning jar is show here)
* a small piece of unbleached parchment paper to fit the size of the jar opening
* 100 proof vodka .....OR...
* everclear & distilled water

Incredibly easy and fun, folk medicine allows us the freedom to be creative and whimsical in our process. Who cares if you don't do it exactly right or things don't turn out perfect. The point is to get into and enjoy the action!
Begin by cleaning your workspace (shoot you could use a combination of lemon essential oil, white vinegar, and water to do that!). Then wash and dry your lemons and begin rolling them back and forth under your palm on a clean, stable cutting board for about 15-30 seconds. As mentioned above, this will open up volatile oils and inner juice. Chop off the ends of your lemons and then slice the lemons vertically in four sections. Squeeze out the juice from each segment into a separate glass vessel. Save the juice for later...

Taking the ends and leftover peels, chop them into quarter-sized pieces (this is the act of comminuting or breaking plant material down for a more effective medicinal extraction). Toss them into your clean jar and fill about 3/4-7/8 of the way up, leaving some space at the top.
Then pour your vodka straight over the lemon peels, or if using everclear, create a 50/50 dilution of alcohol and water in a separate jar, stir, and then pour over the peels. *your dilution can be of any amount...for my recipe I combined 1cup water and 1cup alcohol. I had a bit leftover that I will save in a jar for another day of medicine making*

Cover the opening of your lemon jar with the parchment paper, twist on the cap nice and tight, and give a few gentle shakes (or agitation in the herbalist world). Create a label with all the important info, such as: Fresh Lemon Peels in Vodka started on 1/28/13 and ending on 2/25/13. I always include the date I made the medicine as well as the date the medicine will be done. Generally, extracts/tinctures require a lunar cycle/4 weeks of maceration (soaking time). The key is to shake, or agitate, each day. This offers an additional force of dynamic extraction to the process and your medicine will be of much better quality if you do. This way your medicine will hopefully not just taste like only alcohol but also hold the characteristics of the lemons. Keep your extract out of direct heat or sunlight but in a place where you won't forget about her.

Once the soaking time is over, filter the peels away from the liquid into a clean glass jar. You can use a fine mesh strainer, muslin cloth, cheesecloth, or coffee filter. You may need to filter twice (or colate) to get all the sediment out. Then cap off your lemon medicine and add a fresh label including the date you filtered, how to use it, and you are set! Store your prepared medicine in a cabinet or amber glass bottle. Because the medicine is extracted and preserved with alcohol, your lemon extract will be good for at least a couple of years.

To take this medicine, always consult your local herbalist or health care practitioner, but a 1/4 -1/2 tsp. diluted in warm water taken before meals would be a great place to start. Be mindful that you've created some powerful medicine so start low and take it slow, and then go from there! (you could even add some cayenne, crushed fresh garlic, and raw honey for a nice cold and flu remedy!)

If you are a martini or lemon-drop shot-taker, you could consider preparing this medicine with Grey Goose or Stoli vodka to prepare some tasty homemade cocktails. mmmmhmmmm....so many ideas!

****As for the juice, you can either pour into ice cube trays and add to drinks as needed, or easily make homemade lemonade by combining 1/2 cup - 1 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (depending on personal preference), 1/8 cup - 1/4 cup melted raw honey, and a bottle of Pellegrino sparkling mineral water. Mix well, serve in a beautiful glass carafe, and pour over ice and garnish with fresh mint, basil, a couple frozen raspberries, or even make your own simple lavender flower syrup! The possibilities are endless!

Hope you found some inspiration to take lemons to the next level for the sake of your health. These tangy babies are nature's golden nuggets! Check out your friends who might have an abundant lemon tree or support your local farmer's market to obtain organic, fresh-harvested produce. Tis the season!
When life gives you lemons do something creative!

thanks for reading,
THE WISE OWL
oxoxoxo