Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia / Citrus latifolia)

Limes are a cooling, drying, and sharply sour fruit that clears excess mucus, wakes up digestion, and gently supports detoxification. With strong affinities for the liver, lymph, respiratory tract, and oral cavity, lime helps reduce dampness, stagnation, and heat in the system. Especially suited for thermic and anabolic types, it brightens and clarifies when used in moderation — best balanced with grounding foods for those prone to dryness or sensitivity.

Monograph of

Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia / Citrus latifolia)

• Family

  Rutaceae (Citrus family)

• Taste

  Sour (primary)

  Slightly bitter (especially in peel)

  More pungent and sharp than lemon

• Season

  Grows in tropical and subtropical climates year-round

  Often used fresh; widely available

• Qualities

  Light

  Drying

  Clear

  Cooling (juice)

  Mobile

  Peel can be mildly warming and aromatic

• Suitability

  Especially balancing for thermic and anabolic types due to its sharpness, drying, and clarifying effects

  May aggravate catabolic types if used excessively without grounding or moistening foods

• Indicated Tissue States

  Tissue states show what’s happening at the tissue level — whether things are too dry, too tense, too inflamed — and what foods or herbs can help fix that. Limes are best indicated for tissue states involving

  Damp / Relaxation – dries excess mucus, phlegm, and tissue laxity

  Stagnation / Excess – breaks up sluggishness in the liver and lymph

  Heat / Excitation – cools the blood and digestive system

  Caution with Dry / Atrophy or Wind / Tension if not balanced with tonics

• Affinities

  Affinities are the targeted tissues that a substance acts on after chemical releases:

  Lime has a strong affinity for

  • Liver and gallbladder

  • Lymphatic system

  • Respiratory tract

  • Digestive system

  • Skin

  • Blood

  • Oral cavity and gums

• Chemical Constituents

  Vitamin C

  Citric acid

  Limonene, citral, and other essential oils (especially in peel)

  Bioflavonoids (hesperidin, rutin)

  Coumarins

  Trace tannins

• Nutritional Value

  (per 1 medium lime, juice only)

  • Calories: ~8 kcal

  • Vitamin C: ~22% DV

  • Small amounts of potassium and B vitamins

  • Lower sugar than most fruits

• Preparation Methods

  Juice in water or teas

  Zest for cooking or medicinal infusions

  Peel for decoctions, bitters, or essential oil use

  Fresh slices in food and drinks

  Preserved limes (Middle Eastern and Indian traditions)

Note:

To find out which foods and dosages are best suited for your body type, please take the Body Type Quiz to detect any current imbalances and consult a traditional whole-person health practitioner (like myself) for personalized support and recommendations.

Medicinal Actions of

Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia / Citrus latifolia)

• Digestive System

  Digestive stimulant(activates bile and stomach secretions)

  Carminative (zest)(relieves bloating when used as zest or in warm teas)

  Appetizer(stimulates taste buds and salivary flow)

  Sialogogue(promotes saliva for digestion)

  Liver stimulant(activates bile for fat breakdown and detoxification)

  Oral health supportive (used in rinses for gum inflammation — must be diluted)

• Liver/Detoxification System

  Cholagogue (stimulates bile flow)

  Liver tonic (supports phase I and II detox pathways)

  Burns toxins (acid and essential oils support detox reactions)

  Hypolipidemic (mild) (assists in lipid metabolism)

• Immune/Lymphatic

  Lymph mover (helps reduce puffiness and stagnation)

  Immune stimulant (vitamin C and essential oils support immune defenses)

  Antimicrobial (peel oils inhibit certain bacteria and fungi)

  Antioxidant (neutralizes free radicals and oxidative stress)

• Respiratory System

  Mucolytic (breaks up thick phlegm)

  Decongestant (dries damp conditions in sinuses and lungs)

  Expectorant (mild) (stimulates elimination of mucus from chest)

  Bronchodilator (zest or oil) *(opens respiratory passages gently)

• Nervous system

  Uplifting nervine (aroma and limonene promote alertness and clarity)

  Cooling nervine *(supports calmness and mental sharpness without sedating)

• Circulatory System

• Skin/Integumentary System

  Astringent (tones skin and mucosa)

  Antimicrobial (diluted juice used topically for acne or fungal issues)

• References

  Herbal Academy – Citrus aurantiifolia Monograph

  American Botanical Council – Citrus Research Review

  USDA Nutrient Database

  Murray, Michael T. Healing Foods

  Bauman College – Food as Medicine Curriculum

  Journal of Ethnopharmacology (on antimicrobial actions of lime oil)