What are the benefits of lime?

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Recognizable by its gray, smooth bark, lime grows in the woods of Europe and Asia Minor. It is part of the Tiliaceae family which includes more than 450 different species. This tree has large leaves on which grow yellow flowers that unfold from mid-June to mid-July. It attracts multiple foraging insects such as bees and can reach up to 40 meters in height. To cure everyday ailments, two components of lime tree are used: leaves and sapwood.

What are the properties of lime?

For centuries, lime has been used for medicinal purposes. Concerning the leaves of the lime tree, they have powerful analgesic, anti-inflammatory and sedative properties. As for the sapwood, it has properties such as:

choleretic action
an antispasmodic action
antipruritic action (fight against itching)
a cleansing action

Less used, the flowers of the lime tree are also anxiolytic and diuretic. This plant therefore contains many benefits that treat and soothe several disorders.

When can you use lime?

Very used in herbal medicine, the leaves of the lime have a hypnotic substance that promotes the onset of sleep. For people who have difficulty falling asleep, consuming this part of the lime tree helps them quickly fall into the arms of Morpheus. For times of stress, these flowers can repel anxiety. Slightly bitter, lime blossom honey also calms nervous people.

It is not uncommon for stiffness to appear after physical activity. Painful and embarrassing, the latter are soothed with an herbal tea of lime leaves after the sports session. In herbal tea or infusion, they help calm digestive disorders. They are also recommended in the event of migraines.

With the help of its purifying properties, the sapwood acts on the kidneys, liver and intestines. It works on these organs by draining the various toxins that are stored there. Its regular consumption also helps stimulate the gallbladder. With its antispasmodic action, the sapwood therefore improves digestion.

As it acts on the digestive system, the sapwood of the lime tree is a great ally in relieving gas, nausea and bloating. In some cases, it manages to reduce hepatic migraines (related with the liver).

What are the precautions to put in place?

Powerful drainer, the sapwood acts directly on the kidneys, so it is better to be careful with its consumption. It is advisable not to drink more than one liter per day of sapwood-based drinks. If kidney pain occurs, reduce the doses and make an appointment with your doctor to see if you can continue to drink it.

To be healthy, one should drink about 1.5 liters of water per day and supplement with foods rich in water such as fruits and vegetables. Drinking sapwood herbal teas is therefore not enough, because the latter tends to dehydrate the body. If you suffer from renal or gallstone disease, the absorption of sapwood is strongly discouraged.

How to consume lime?

To fight against problems sleeping or falling asleep, you can prepare an infusion of lime:

Immerse in 25 cl of boiling water, three or four bracts (leaves that accompany the flowers) of the lime tree.
For 10 minutes, let the mixture steep, covered before straining.
Drink a cup at night, an hour before going to bed.

When spring returns, do you want to cleanse your body of all the toxins accumulated during the winter? A sapwood decoction is the ideal solution.