Hydrosol: Lemon Verbena Social Enterprise

Aloysia citrodora is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family Verbenaceae, native to South America. Other common names include lemon beebrush. It was brought to Europe by the Spanish and the Portuguese in the 17th century and cultivated for its oil.

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Add to a soothing hot bath!
Make skincare products!
Use it with witch hazel for an awesome toner!
Use as a base in an air freshener!

In foods and manufacturing, lemon verbena is used as an ingredient in herbal teas, as a fragrance in perfumes, and as an ingredient in alcoholic beverages.

The herb Lemon verbena is used in traditional medicine in Latin American countries. Lemon verbena is used for digestive disorders including indigestion, gas, colic, diarrhea, and constipation. It is also used for agitation, joint pain, trouble sleeping (insomnia), asthma, colds, fever, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, skin conditions, and chills. Lemon verbena contains a substance that might kill mites and bacteria.

The hydrosol has similar properties to its essential oil. The oil was historically steam-distilled from the leaves for use in the perfume industry, but it has skin-sensitizing and phototoxic properties. The hydrosol is much safer to use for its scent.

Flower waters, or hydrosols as aromatherapists call them, are the waters that emerge from the distillation of essential oils. These contain the lightest, wateriest parts of the plant's essence. All of my floral waters are free of emulsifying agents and preservatives.

Flower waters are extremely versatile. They can be used anywhere that water is required. They are an excellent linen spray, and a simple, safe way for the novice aromatherapist to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

Photo thanks to Kurt Stüber [1], CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons