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How to Grow and Use Lemongrass
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You might have seen various items in stores that had “lemongrass” scent or perhaps you have seen reed diffusers scented with lemongrass. Have you ever looked at those things and wondered, what exactly is lemongrass anyway?
Lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus) is an herb that belongs to the grass family. It is a very common herb used for its very distinct lemon flavor and aroma. This plant is native to India. It’s a coarse, tufted type of plant with thin leaves that grow in thick bunches with plants that stand about 9 feet in height and 3 feet in width.
Lemongrass is often used in cooking dishes but it can also offer us plenty of medicinal benefits. Lemongrass has anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial compounds.
Lemongrass is also loaded with flavonoids, phenolic compounds such as quercetin, luteolin, glycosides, and antioxidants, all of which are known to be disease preventative agents. The main active ingredient in lemongrass, lemonal or citral, is what gives lemongrass its unique scent as well as many of its health benefits.
Some of the health benefits of lemongrass include:
- Anti-Cancer Compounds – Research shows that lemongrass has great promise in the area of skin cancer activities. It can inhibit the growth of hepatic cancer cells and prevent further production of cancerous cells.
- Edema – Lemongrass can stop excessive water retention in the body, which is called edema. It has a cleansing effect on the lymph system, which can relieve swelling.
- Cholesterol – Supports healthy cholesterol levels in the body.
- Detox – This herb is superb at cleansing and flushing toxins from the body. Find out other detox and cleanse foods.
- Stops Infection – Studies show that lemongrass essential oil can help fight against staphylococcus aureus. Lemongrass interrupts the communication and growth of germs, which helps in the inhibition in the formation of biofilms.
- Helps with Insomnia – The sweet, citrusy scent of this herb is soothing to the nerves and muscles, which can help induce a deeper, more restful sleep.
- Fever – You might hear lemongrass referred to as fever grass, since it has super beneficial effect when it comes to lowering fevers. Lemongrass is often used in Ayurvedic medicine for stopping fevers by inducing sweating.
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