Lemons : Alternative Uses

Alternative uses of lemons : handy home remedies (and other) helpful and economical hints from the early 20th century  . . .

HOW TO KEEP LEMONS FRESH

• Keep lemons in the house if possible, as they are sure to be in demand for more purposes than one, and are very healthful. It is claimed, where a large quantity of lemons is purchased, and there is a fear of their not keeping till wanted for use, that if they are placed in a jar, covered with clear water, and the water is changed every day, they will keep as long as desired, and are as fresh when removed from the jar as when first purchased.

BREAK UP A COLD WITH HOT LEMONADE

• There are few things as efficacious for breaking up a cold as hot lemonade, taken before bedtime. It is best, to render this more effective, to bathe the feet of the patient in hot water and mustard (powder) just before retiring, then give hot lemonade to drink. Put the patient to bed almost immediately thereafter, there to remain, well covered, till morning, when unless there is something more serious than a cold, the latter will have almost wholly disappeared. To make a good lemonade, take a goblet of hot (boiled) water, and into it squeeze the juice of one medium-sized lemon, and sweeten (with sugar or honey) to taste. This makes a strong lemonade, and may not be fancied by some; but it is one of this kind that will do the most good when used as a medicine.

MAKE YOUR OWN LEMON COUGH SYRUP (for a few cents!).

• For a cough, roasted or baked lemon is good. Put a large (thin-skinned) lemon in the oven, and let it remain until baked, which will be when the whole is very soft; then take out and add a quantity of sugar (or honey) to make it a thick syrup. Take a teaspoonful of this frequently, keeping it warm, and, unless in a very obstinate case, it will effect a cure in a short time.

PREVENT BILIOUS ATTACKS

• The juice of a lemon taken in the morning while fasting is often a preventative of those attacks to which bilious people are so frequently subjected.

KEEP HANDS SOFT AND FREE FROM DISCOLORATION

• Lemon juice rubbed over the hands each night before retiring will keep them soft. It is good for removing suntan, and is a wonderful whitener of the skin. Don’t throw away bits of lemon from which the juice has been extracted, for they are good to keep for cleaning purposes. When the juice is not convenient they are nice to rub on the hands to remove any ink stain and other discolorations. (NB: never eat or allow to be eaten bits of lemon left standing for any length of time, more especially when they have remained in a sick-room).

COMPLEXION CARE

• Women who are careful of their complexions but are fond of vinegar on certain foods, would do well to use a few drops of lemon juice when any acid is desired, as vinegar has a bad effect on the skin.

REMOVE CORNS

• A piece of lemon bound on a corn, changing for a fresh piece each day, for three days, is said to loosen the corn that it may be easily removed.

POLISH COPPER KETTLES (and other copper articles)

• A piece of lemon dipped in salt and rubbed briskly over a copper kettle (or other copper article) will give it a good polish.

DRY LEMON PEEL FOR FLAVORING

• Don’t throw away any lemon peel, but dry it in the oven, and keep for flavoring. A bit of this dried peel cooked in apple sauce, or put in an apple-pie, gives a delicious flavor that nothing else imparts.

BANISH WORMS AND SKIN COMPLAINTS

• Lemons are a specific against worms and skin complaints. To combat excessive oiliness and close facial pores, dampen a swab of cotton-wool with water, add a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice and use morning and night as an astringent. Dab undiluted lemon juice on pimples (if you can bear the sting!) or dilute with a little water and use daily as a lotion.

KEEP GUMS IN A HEALTHY CONDITION

• Rub your gums with lemon juice to keep them in a healthy condition.

PREVENT CHILBLAINS

• Lemon juice also prevents chilblains.

REDUCE FEVER 

• Lemon is used in intermittent fevers, mixed with strong, hot, black coffee, without sugar.

CURE NEURALGIA  AND WARTS

• Neuralgia, it is said, may be cured by rubbing the parts affected with cut lemon. It is valuable also to cure warts.

REMOVE DANDRUFF

• Lemon juice will remove dandruff by rubbing the roots of the hair with it.

ALLEVIATE AND CURE COUGHS, COLDS AND DISEASED LUNGS

• It will alleviate and finally cure coughs and colds, and heal diseased lungs if taken hot on going to bed.

The alternative uses of lemons are manifold, and the more we enjoy the fruit  internally, the better we shall find ourselves.