The Citrus Family
Chinese New Year is my personal favorite New Year Celebration!
January 22nd–January 29th, 2023. Year of the Water Rabbit.
Legend has it that Buddha summoned all the animals; those who made it to him first would represent the twelve animals in that order - Rat was first, Ox/Buffalo second and Pig/Boar last. Rat being of a practical intelligent nature jumped on Oxen/Buffalo's back to get there with swift ease and Pig/Boar a bit lazy and smelling every little thing I imagine along the way (distractions), came in last! Oxen/Buffalo most likely hadn't a clue or idea that Rat had jumped upon his or her back.
(Rat-Ox/Buffalo-Tiger-Rabbit/Hare-Dragon-Snake- Horse-Sheep/Ram-Monkey-Rooster/Cock- Dog- Boar/Pig)
The Entry or front door to your home is what people see first, this symbols the face, and how the world views you. Is your entryway welcoming, clean and uncluttered, and symbolize how you would like others to view your way of being in this world?
A renewal and rejuvenating practice each Chinese New Year for bringing in clarity, prosperity, and intentional manifestations for the New Year - physically cleaning and clearing the area and door to your entryway, making sure your doorbell works, all the lights work that illuminate your entryway. The emphasis is on bright and clear energy in your entryway, refreshing and rejuvenating old outdated clutter, things that do not function or represent your way of being. Making way for the NEW in your life in the coming year!
(1st) This Year I will be physically cleaning the front door (inside and out) in a Zen and intentional fashion. I'm feeling like a new curtain may be nice and although I have an orange curtain now, feeling a red flare at this moment that would compliment my inside decor. Red just happens to be a great color for my South facing entryway and inside decor naturally.
Red is the color symbolizing good luck and happiness in Chinese, love and romance in India, and courage and passion in the West. A South facing door is preferable for a red door; as the South direction is related to the fire element energy, other colors that represent the fire Feng Shui element energy are pink, purple, orange, and yellow.
I will share the other three directions; you are welcome to explore more on your own. There are two sects within the use of Feng Shui, Classical and Traditional. I am speaking of Classical methods in Feng Shui.
West - Metal element - colors are white and gray
North - Water element - colors are blue and black
East - Wood element - colors are green and brown
Remember that complimentary elements are Fire and Wood, as wood feeds fire and Metal and Water therefore these colors may be interchanged. The bottom line is what feels right and has a beautiful flow in your personal view. Remembering the entryway absorbs Chi and life force, you are looking to create an effortless, strong, and harmonious energy pathway to the front door entryway (the mouth-gateway-portal-passageway) to your humble abode.
(2nd) I will use Grapefruit Essential oil. If you have a wood door it would be lovely to use a nourishing oil to further clean, condition, and feed the wood. You could add the Citrus essential oil to your nourishing and replenishing oil that feeds the wood however I will be using simply water with Grapefruit essential oil to wipe down and refresh! You could also put 2-3ml “approximately 60 to 90 drops” in a two to four oz. bottle mister and spray around your entryway!
Why Citrus? Refreshing, Uplifting, Peaceful tranquility, and vibrant clarity! Facilitating a conscious energetic vibration that matches bringing in the New! REFRESH!
So let us take a little journey to describe briefly each Citrus. Does one resonate particularly for you, in summoning the NEW in the coming New Year?
All citrus are in the Family - Rutaceae . . . “All sing sweet melodies to the inner child that resides within us all.” All citrus may be skin-sensitive and all citrus are photosensitive, doing a test patch on the inside of the wrist area as a skin-sensitive measure and avoiding direct exposure to the sun after application to the skin. Knowing this you may apply common sense practicalities when using this happy, vibrant, and uplifting family!
My favorite ways to use the citrus family are airborne diffusion due to the anti-depressant, anti-infection, anti-viral, and disinfectant qualities they all possess.
I use the citrus family in cleaning; adding to vinegar and distilled water and all other cleaning endeavors, due to its disinfectant properties.
I also keep a citrus bottle “usually a grapefruit, lemon, or lime” in my car for any anti-viral action I may require throughout the process of a typical day encounter, and places where I may be unable to wash my hands right away. Examples would be: after recycling, grocery shopping, or any place where there is a heavily trafficked area. I find it serves me better than the anti-bacterial gel. Application method – a couple of drops in the palm of the hands and rubbing my hands vigorously together. DYI, make your own with ¼ grain alcohol, and ¾ distilled water, and add your own antimicrobial and antiviral essential oils.
I use the citrus family when flying. I place a couple or few drops on a handkerchief, and I place the handkerchief in a Ziploc bag inside my purse; this way if I am seated next to someone wearing a strong perfume or someone with a sneezing or hacking cough, I will not be bothered. Remember citrus is assistive with jetlag and has anti-viral properties!
I use the citrus family in a spray bottle mist: 2 to 3mls of any citrus suspended in distilled water, simply shake before you spray for general use around the house. Examples would be to spray on fresh linen, in the bathroom, kitchen, or for use in the car!
There are so many ways to use the citrus family however those are my favorite personal applications for citrus. When I use citrus on the body generally the application is in the palm of my hands and you could easily use it on the bottom of the feet with no skin-sensitivity concerns. I also like to smell it in the bottle and generally keep my citrus in the refrigerator.
Bergamot (Latin name – Citrus bergamia)
Plant Part used – peel of nearly ripe fruit
Bergamot is considered to be the most skin and photosensitive of all citrus. Bergamot is also known as the bitter or sour orange. Bergamot has analgesic, anti-depressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antibiotic, and vulnerary properties.
Bergamot assists greatly with psychological and mental depression, as well as having neuroprotective properties that assist in stroke, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and urinary tract infections and enhance liver and spleen function.
Grapefruit (Latin name – Citrus paradisi)
Plant Part used – Fresh peel after it has been juiced
Grapefruit has antidepressant, astringent, antiseptic (especially airborne), aperitif, antispasmodic, antiviral, diuretic, antioxidant, disinfectant, anti-infectious, and depurative properties.
Grapefruit is stimulating for the lymphatic and digestive system, assisting conditions like cellulite, mental and physical fatigue, chills, colds and flu (prevention of), jet lag, and nervous exhaustion.
The emotional and mental aspects of grapefruit may be used for alertness, self-confidence, and positivity.
Lemon (Latin name - Citrus limon)
Plant Part used – Rind or peel of fresh juiced green lemons
Lemon has antiseptic, antibacterial, antioxidant, stomachic, anti-anemic, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, calmative, cicatrizant, depurative, disinfectant, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, insecticidal, tonic, vermifuge, hypotensive, antidepressant and hemostatic properties. Lemon is assistive for oily skin and scalp issues, acne, abscesses, boils, warts, corns, brittle nails, mouth ulcers, insect bites, obesity, varicose and spider veins, cellulite, throat infections, bronchitis, asthma, indigestion, colds and flu, poor circulation and for balancing high blood pressure.
Lemon supports the sympathetic nervous system, cuts down on acidity in the body, boosts the immune system, cleanses the body of toxins, supports the lymphatic system, and is helpful in the treatment of malaria and other fevers.
Lemon clears the mind improving concentration and awareness that serve to facilitate decision-making or rational judgment. The energetic nature of lemon is uplifting assisting to purify destructive emotions and psychological heaviness. Use lemon for concentration, creativity, focus, and optimistic constructiveness.
Lime (Latin name - Citrus aurantifolia)
Plant Part used – rind and peel
Citrus aurantifolia is referred to as Mexican lime, West Indian lime, sour lime, and key lime. Lime has antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, aperitif, antibacterial, disinfectant, febrifuge, hemostatic, antifungal, restorative, anti-scorbutic, anti-oxidant and tonic properties. Lime is assistive for fevers due to colds, sore throats, and flu. Lime is PH balancing, an aid for the immune system, and eases infection of the respiratory tract, which helps ease coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis, and asthma. Lime is a tonic for the digestive system aiding stomach ailments such as indigestion, food poisoning, gas, diarrhea, liver malfunctions, and obesity.
Lime is assistive for cellulite, herpes, insect bites and cuts, muscle and joint pain, jet lag, insomnia, depression, nervous exhaustion, addiction, anxiety, toning the skin, and acne.
Lime helps to renew the spirit and mind, cleanse the auric field, and is a mood enhancer. Use lime for awareness, assertiveness, encouragement, vitality, and delight.
Mandarin (Latin name – Citrus reticulata)
Plant Part used – Rind and peel
Tangerine is a sub-group of the Citrus reticulata; tangerine is a variety of the mandarin orange. Consequently, properties will be similar and harmonious with one another. I find mandarin's essential and energetic structure to be gentler and more refined in spirit than tangerine. Therefore I have referenced tangerine properties within mandarin. Mandarin is the least skin-sensitive of the citrus family.
Mandarin has antifungal, antiseptic, tonic, calmative, stomachic, antispasmodic, antidepressant, antibacterial, depurative, and anti-cancer properties. The most abundant constituent of mandarin is limonene, being between 80 and 84 percent, this certainly accounts for the strategic defense and protective system against cell disease, explaining the anti-cancer activity. All citrus offers this delightful supportive quality for our cellular well-being and a general boost to our emotional well-being. Any citrus will bring an uplifting quality to any day. I highly recommend the use of various citrus essential oils in the winter season or for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), citrus supplies the inner child with sunshine!
Mandarin in particular is useful as a children’s remedy; the nurturing quality of mandarin is much like a security blanket offering warmth, comforting joyful thoughts, and security for the inner child within us all. Mandarin helps to calm hyperactive children, dispel fearful emotions, encourage a restful slumber, and assist with anger, tension, and irritability in children. Children love this essence!
Mandarin and tangerine are soothing for the digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, and sympathetic nervous systems; while offering support for the lymphatic system and gallbladder (assisting bile production). Mandarin is used in traditional Chinese medicine to regulate the flow of chi within the system.
Mandarin and tangerine are gently uplifting, cheery, and soothing. Use for self-awareness, encouragement, self-imagine, and happiness. Mandarin and tangerine are the ultimate remedy for children of all ages, the joyful nurturer!
Orange, bigarade (Latin name – Citrus aurantium var. bigarade
Plant Part used – Peel and rind
The bigarade orange has antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, stimulant, carminative, digestive, antiseptic, anti-depressant, sedative, and tonic properties. Bigarade orange has tonic actions on the liver in addition to the circulatory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, and digestive systems. Bigarade orange is stimulating for the central nervous system and metabolism.
Bigarade orange is assistive for bronchitis, colds, flu, water retention, cellulite, heart palpitations, dizziness, indigestion, constipation, flatulence, sluggish digestion, obesity, gum conditions, insomnia, stress, depression, nervousness, prolapsed uterus. Bigarade orange is helpful as an appetite suppressant and aid in improving skin elasticity.
The energetic qualities of bigarade orange are calming, uplifting, and reminiscent of aromatic sunshine. Use orange for concentration, self-confidence, courage, happiness, joy, and self-worth.
It is also noteworthy to add – that which assists children also assists the opposite spectrum. The Citrus family is wonderful for a physiologist’s office or waiting room (using airborne diffusers – for anti-anxiety), hospice situations, autism, Alzheimer's, and dementia. Lemon is incredible when used in airborne diffusers for study, focus, and concentration!
So what resonates with you? Get your inspiration on with the Citrus Family- Uplift, Renew, and in-vibe the New Year with the Citrus Family.
I highly recommend my Cosmic Essential oil formula Lymphatic Anti-Viral.
LYMPHATIC-ANTI-VIRAL. 100% medicinal essential oils formula - wild and biodynamic sources. High Anti-Viral; assists the lymphatic system, jet lag, sore throat, sinus drainage, cellulite, and protection against invasion of various bacteria and viruses.
A healthy lymphatic system drains interstitial fluid, transports dietary fats, and protects against the invasion of many different bacteria and viruses. External application to the lymphatic system- 3 drops to both sides of the neck and 4-5 drops to the solar plexus area.
With Gratitude and Love
Robin Michaels
© 2011-2013 Robin Michaels, Cosmic Essential oils
31 January 2014 was the year of the horse/wood