Lime
About
Lime is a citrus fruit. The juice, fruit, peel, and oil are used to make medicine. Oil pressed from the crushed fruit is known as “distilled lime oil.” Oil pressed from the unripe peel is known as “expressed lime oil.”
Lime juice is used for severe diarrhea (dysentery).
Some people apply lime oil directly to the skin to kill germs, treat nausea, and as a stimulant.
In cosmetics, lime oil is used as a fragrance component and as a “fixative.”
How it works
There isn't enough information to know how lime works.
Effectiveness
Not Proven
Iron deficiencyEarly research suggests that drinking one liter of lime juice per day for 6 days per week for 8 months does not improve low iron levels in women who eat foods containing iron that is difficult for the body to absorb.
Concerns
Likely safe
Lime is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when used in amounts found in foods
Possibly safe
Lime peel is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts
Possibly unsafe
Applying lime oil directly to the skin is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Some people are sensitive to lime oil when it is applied directly to the skin. Lime oil can cause the skin to be very sensitive to the sunlight. Wear sunblock and protective clothing outside, especially if you are light-skinned.
Warnings
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking lime if you arepregnantorbreast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid using lime in amounts greater than what is normally found infood.Are there any interactions with medications?
Interactions
Moderate
Medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight (Photosensitizing drugs)Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Lime juice might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Drinking lime juice while taking some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of these medications. Before taking lime, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.Some medications can increase sensitivity to sunlight. Lime oil might also increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Using lime oil along with medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight could increase the chances of sunburn, and blistering or rashes on areas of skin exposed to sunlight. Be sure to wear sunblock and protective clothing when spending time in the sun.Some drugs that cause photosensitivity include amitriptyline (Elavil), Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), norfloxacin (Noroxin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), gatifloxacin (Tequin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Septra), tetracycline, methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen, 8-MOP, Oxsoralen), and Trioxsalen (Trisoralen).