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The humble lemon contains most of the known vitamins and minerals and has amazing healing powers. It is part of the citrus family and all citrus fruits are rich sources of vitamins A, B and C, with good amounts of iron and calcium.

The lemon plant is highly scented with purple buds that unfold into white flowers, followed by the familiar yellow fruits that have a wonderful fresh aroma and a sharp sour taste. When you think of lemon you think fresh and clean. The candid peel can be found in confectionery. Lemon is classed as an aromatic cooling herb with diuretic, anti-inflammatory properties.

This plant is found in most gardens and has so many uses, besides putting a slice in your gin and tonic. When the fruit is used externally it can soothe poisonous stings and insect bites, eczema, chilblains, sunburn and as a gargle for sore throats. If you have fair colored hair, adding some lemon juice to the water of your final rinse to brighten your hair. The juice can be rubbed into hands to remove stains and the smells of chopping onions or garlic easily and safely.

For medicinal uses internally – lemons have a positive effect on circulation and are used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Used for kidney stones, minor fevers and bronchial congestion. We have all taken at some time in the past lemon juice with honey, in some hot water to help with colds and flu. Squeeze the juice of half a fresh lemon into a small amount of warm water and drink first thing in the morning ? this helps and stimulates the liver, giving the detoxification process a helping hand, or helping to solve constipation problems. It can help jaundice and cholesterol levels can be helped with a prolonged course of lemon juice due to its effect on the liver. Continual use of lemon juice can be extremely helpful remedy for rheumatic problem, arthritis, painful joints, lumbago and sciatica due to the fact it?s alkaline forming and anti-inflammatory. Some people find lemon tea can relieve their headache.

The fact that lemons are alkaline forming within the body is very important these days as the average person consuming a very acid forming diet. One of the ingredients in lemon of-course is vitamin C (found in most fruits and vegetables in varying degrees) lemons happens to be high in it, which encourages and maintains collagen. Collagen is the stuff that holds billions of cells together in the body. It is found in ligaments, joints, bones, skin, gum tissues, and in the walls of all the blood vessels. It also gives elasticity and strength to the connective tissue. It is needed for the normal healing of wounds and to prevent excessive bruising. Its function is also to strengthen the body’s resistance to infection as well as maintain tissue integrity of teeth, bones and gums.

Your need for vitamin C goes up considerably if you are under a lot of stress, or if you smoke and drink alcohol. One cigarette destroys 25 mg of vitamin C in the body. If smoking is continued throughout the day your vitamin C needs are very high. Patients who have been in accidents and had been burned or received injuries or indeed have an infection require large amounts of vitamin C which is necessary for tissue regeneration. The use of antibiotics or barbiturates increases our need for higher intakes of vitamin C. Older people need more vitamin C than younger people. It is found that larger doses of vitamin C strengthen the capillaries in certain vascular diseases like diabetes.

It?s amazing you can cook (so to speak) fish with just lemon juice. The citric acid in limes, lemons, grapefruit, and oranges has precisely the same effect on the protein in fish and other seafood as heat does. We all know the dish is ceviche, very popular in Mexico, Central and South America. Just about any fish will do for ceviche, plus shrimp, clams, lobster, conch and squid (tenderized first). 2lb of fish sliced or sea food of your choice, 2 cups of fresh lemon juice or those very sharp oranges that taste like lemons (some people like to add vinegar ? cup vinegar and 1 ? lemon juice), very thinly sliced onion or several spring onions, 1 crushed garlic clove, salt and pepper to taste, most ceviche recipes call for hot chili pepper ? 1 or 2 fresh chopped or hot cayenne pepper. You could substitute chili with freshly grated ginger. Finally 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro. Place all the ingredients together and put in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours.

Sonia Jones – I am a Brit living and working in Panama for the last five years. A naturopath, nutritional therapist and reflexologist with 20 years experience. A published author of three books. Owns her own spas and clinic, launched her own natural organic skin care range. Married for 34 years – husband and business partner who is also an acupuncturist. http://naturalweightlossmethods.com http://nutritionwithsonia.com