The mind goes lemonade when one thinks of lemon, but there are many more uses of this citrus fruit besides making tasty lemonade. The lemon is a hybrid citrus tree of cultivated origin.
The fruit are used primarily for their juice, though the pulp and rind (zest) are also used, primarily in cooking or mixing. Lemon juice is about 5 percent citric acid, which gives lemons a sour taste and a pH of 2 to 3. This acidity makes lemon juice a cheap, readily available acid for use in educational chemistry experiments.
Lemons grow in tropical and sub-tropical climates and cannot withstand frosts and very cold temperatures. Their favoured temperature is between 15-30 °C (60-85 °F) and they need ample quantities of sunlight. They thrive in fertile, well drained soils. Lemons need plenty of water but should be allowed to dry out between watering. Propagation is often by grafting, as the stock is vulnerable to cankers and dry rot.
Lemon juice is typically squeezed onto fish dishes; the acidic juice neutralises the taste of amines in fish by converting them to non-volatile ammonium salts. In addition, lemon juice is widely used, along with other ingredients, when marinating meat before cooking: the acid provided by the juice partially hydrolyses the tough collagen fibres in the meat (tenderise the meat). The juice, however, is not an effective antibiotic, as is commonly thought.
THE VALUE OF EATING LEMONS IS REPORTED BY JETHRO KLOSS IN HIS BOOK BACK TO EDEN: "The medicinal value of the lemon is as follows: It is an antiseptic, or is an agent that prevents sepsis (the presence of pathogenic bacteria] or putrefaction [decomposition of tissue). It is also anti-scorbutic, a term meaning a remedy which will prevent disease and assist in cleansing the system of impurities."
Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently thus controlling constipation and diarrhea.
"Its magnesium, in conjunction with calcium, has an important part to play in the formation of albumen in the blood. The lemon contains potassium 48.3, calcium 29.9, phosphorus 11.1, magnesium 4.4. Lemons are useful in treating asthma, biliousness, colds, coughs, sore throat, diphtheria, la grippe (flu or influenza), heartburn, liver complaints, scurvy, fevers and rheumatism." Why the lemon works so well
Experts suggest that lemon water should use every one, if there is no allergy to use lemon (a very few have a true allergy to lemon) and no active ulcers, then all adults and most children should use the lemon water.
The lemon provides a natural strengthening agent to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute. The liver can make more enzymes out of fresh lemon juice than any other food element.
The lemon helps fix oxygen and calciums in the liver because it regulates blood carbohydrate levels, which affect the blood oxygen levels. According to lemon-based home remedies for sore throat, dilute lemon juice with water and gargle frequently. Dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water. It is even better to use straight lemon juice. A slice of lemon bound over a corn overnight will greatly relieve the pain.
A slice of lemon bound over a felon (pus formation on a finger joint) will not fail to bring the pus to the surface where it can be easily removed. To relieve asthma, take a tablespoon of lemon juice one hour before each meal. For liver complaints, the juice of the lemon should be taken in a glass of hot water one-hour before breakfast every morning.
To break up flu or influenza, drink a large glass of hot water with the juice of a lemon added, while at the same time have the feet in a deep bucket or other vessel of water with mustard added to it. A teaspoon of lemon juice in half a glass of water relieves heartburn.
FOR RHEUMATISM, ONE OR TWO OUNCES OF LEMON JUICE DILUTED IN WATER SHOULD BE TAKEN THREE TIMES A DAY: one hour before meals and at bedtime. In cases of haemorrhage, lemon juice diluted in water and taken as cold as possible will stop it. Scurvy is treated by giving one to two ounces of lemon juice diluted with water every two to four hours.
It is said that there are many benefits to drinking lemon juice, including the prevention and curing of various disorders, diseases and viruses.
ORAL DISEASES: Due to lemon juice's high content of vitamin C, it helps strengthen the gums and teeth. It is also very effective for preventing and curing acute inflammations of the gum margins, pyorrhea, dental caries and other oral diseases.
THROAT DISORDERS: Lemons are highly beneficial in the treatment of throat disorders such as catarrh, choking sensation and itching sensitivities. A ripe unpeeled lemon should be roasted slowly until it begins to crack open. Then one teaspoonful of the juice with a little honey should be taken once every hour. It should be sipped slowly.
DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS: Lemon juice stimulates the flow of saliva and gastric juice and is regarded as an excellent digestive agent. It destroys intestinal worms and eliminates the gases formed in the digestive tract.
It is highly beneficial in the treatment of several digestive problems like dyspepsia, constipation and biliousness. Drinking fresh lemon juice with water easily relieves heartburn.
FEVERS: Lemon juice makes an effective thirst-quenching drink when you are suffering from pox, measles, scarlet and other fevers. These fevers cause you to have an extreme thirst and very hot and dry skin.
RHEUMATIC AFFECTIONS: Although lemon juice can be sour in taste, its reaction in the body is alkaline. This causes it to be valuable in the treatment of rheumatic affections such as gout, rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, and pain in hip joints, which results from too much acid in the body. A sufficient intake of lemon juice prevents the deposit of uric acid in the tissues and thus reduces the possibility of an attack of gout.
COLD: For a bad cold, juice two lemons and combine with 500ml of boiling water, sweeten with honey, and take at bedtime.
CIRCULATORY DISORDERS: The lemon is a rich source of vitamin P, found both in the juice and peel of the fruit. Vitamin P is essential for controlling haemorrhage in a variety of conditions and for preventing capillary fragility. It is regarded as a valuable food medicine in high blood pressure and arterio-sclerosis. It strengthens the entire arterial system and is of value in many circulatory disorders and heart weakness.
CHOLERA: Lemons contain wonderful anticholera properties, and such can kill cholera bacilli within a very short time. It is very effective for this purpose when freshly juiced.
FOOT RELAXATION: A wonderful way to comfort your sore feet is to soak them in hot water, and then rub them with fresh lemon juice. The benefit here is in the contrasting actions of the hot water, which opens the pores and the lemon juice which presents a cooling, astringent action. This treatment is also said to promote healthy sleep, owing to its relaxing action on the foot nerves.
BEAUTY AID: Strained fresh lemon juice mixed with cool water should be used to wash hair to add to the brightness.
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