Not only is this tasty thready grass a great citrus flavored ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking, but most of us would never believe that its fibrous stalks are packed with so much healing power.
We are talking about lemongrass, namely lemongrass essential oil that is used to ease muscle discomfort and more.
This oil is used both internally to support your digestive system and externally to destroy bacteria, repel insects, and lessen bodily aches.
It may also be used for flavoring tea and soups, and it gives a nice natural smell to cosmetics, soaps, and homemade deodorizers.
It is well known that the ingredients in lemongrass essential oil include antifungal, insecticidal, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Due to its antioxidant content, lemongrass may inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and yeast. It also has ingredients that lower fever, ease muscle soreness, and encourage menstruation flow and the uterus.
What exactly is Lemongrass Essential Oil?
What is lemongrass, first, before we get into further detail about lemongrass oil? It is a herb that is a member of the Poaceae family of grasses.
It is a genus of grasses that includes roughly 55 species. It is also known as Cymbopogon.
Clumps of lemongrass can reach heights of six feet and widths of four feet when they grow densely. It is native to warm and tropical locations, such as India, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
It is frequently used in Asian cooking and is utilized as a medicinal plant in India. It is often used to make tea in nations in Africa and South America.
The Cymbopogon flexuosus or Cymbopogon citratus plants are the most common sources of lemongrass oil, which is extracted from their leaves or grasses.
The scent of the oil is subtle, fresh, and citrusy with hints of earth. It is calming, balanced, invigorating, and relaxing.
Depending on its place of origin, lemongrass essential oil has different chemical compositions.
Typically, the chemicals consist of alcohols, ketones, esters, hydrocarbon terpenes, and mostly aldehydes. Around 70–80% of the essential oil is made up mostly of citral.
Vital vitamins and minerals that are included in lemongrass essential oil include:
- vitamin A
- vitamin B1
- vitamin B2
- vitamin B3
- vitamin B5
- vitamin B6
- folate
- vitamin C
- magnesium
- phosphorus
- manganese
- copper
- potassium
- calcium
- zinc
- iron
Lemongrass has long been used as a herb and is a staple in Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, and Indonesian cooking.
Owing to its innate antibacterial properties, lemongrass essential oil has also been used historically as a natural food preservative.
Citronelle or verveine des Indes (French), hierba limon or Zacate de limón (Spanish), West Indian lemongrass, and Xiang mao (Chinese) are some of the frequent names for the lemongrass plant (C. citratus). India currently leads the world in lemongrass oil production.
Given its many applications and health advantages, lemongrass is one of the most widely utilized essential oils today. Its cooling and astringent properties are well known for stifling heat and contracting bodily tissues.
At the interface of immunological and structural activities, the connective tissue is specifically targeted by it, according to the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies.
Lemongrass is helpful in edema and lymphatic congestion because it affects on the lymphatic capillaries and arteries that drain from the skin.
Benefits and Applications
For what purposes is the essential oil of lemongrass used? Let's get started with the numerous applications and advantages of lemongrass essential oil.
The following are some of the most popular applications and advantages of lemongrass essential oil:
1. All natural air freshener and disinfecting solution
As a safe and natural air freshener or deodorizer, use lemongrass oil. Using an oil diffuser or vaporizer, you can use the oil mixed with water to create a mist.
You can personalize your own natural scent by incorporating more essential oils, such as lavender or tea tree oil.
Another excellent cleaning tip is to use lemongrass essential oil, which not only helps cleanse your property but also naturally deodorise it.
2. Healthy Skin
Does lemongrass oil benefit the skin? Indeed, one of the main advantages of using lemongrass essential oil is that it soothes the skin.
Lemongrass essential oil (LEO) was investigated for its effects on pre inflamed human dermal fibroblasts in a 2017 study that was published in Biochimie Open.
"This study offers the first evidence of the anti inflammatory activity of LEO in human skin cells and suggests that it is a good therapeutic candidate for treating inflammatory conditions of the skin," the study's authors wrote in their conclusion.
Furthermore, a study that was released in 2022 assessed this oil's possible use in skin care.
"Lemongrass can be considered a promising natural source of readily available, low cost extracts rich in antioxidant, skincare, and antimicrobial compounds that might be suitable for replacing synthetic compounds in the cosmeceutical industry," the study said.
Incorporate lemongrass oil into deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and lotions. All skin types can benefit from the cleansing power of lemongrass oil.
Lemongrass oil is an excellent addition to any natural skin care routine because of its antibacterial and astringent qualities, which help you achieve even, luminous skin.
It can reinforce the tissues in your skin, act as a natural toner, and sanitize your pores.
3. Hair Condition
Apply a few drops of lemongrass oil to your scalp and massage it for two minutes, then rinse it off if you are experiencing hair loss or an inflamed, itchy scalp. Lemongrass oil has the ability to strengthen hair follicles.
Your hair will be lustrous, fresh, and odor free thanks to its calming and antibacterial qualities.
Furthermore, this oil contains anti dandruff qualities and has even been shown to block a yeast that causes dandruff to occur.
4. All natural Bug Insect repellent
Due to the high concentration of citral and geraniol, lemongrass oil has the ability to repel insects like ants and mosquitoes.
This natural repellent can be sprayed straight onto the skin and has a light scent. Lemongrass oil is even effective against fleas.
5. Reducer of Stress and Anxiety
Among the essential oils for anxiety is lemongrass. Lemongrass oil's subtle, relaxing aroma is well known for reducing tension and agitation.
According to a study that was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, subjects who smelled three or six drops of lemongrass oil while in an anxiety inducing situation reported feeling less anxious and less tense overall right away after receiving treatment a difference that the control groups did not experience.
Make your own lemongrass massage oil or use it into your body lotion as a stress reliever. To benefit from the relaxing properties of lemongrass tea, you may also try drinking a cup of it before going to bed.
6. Relaxant for muscles
Are you feeling cramps or spasms in your muscles, or are your muscles just hurting? Benefits of lemongrass oil also include its capacity to ease cramps, spasms, and aches in the muscles. It might also aid in enhancing circulation.
Consider creating your own foot bath or applying diluted lemongrass oil on your body.
7. Detoxifying Antifungal Abilities
Many nations have employed lemongrass tea or oil as a detoxifier. The pancreas, liver, kidneys, bladder, and digestive system are all known to be detoxified by it.
Lemongrass oil functions as a natural diuretic, so taking it can assist your body rid itself of dangerous poisons.
Add some lemongrass oil to your tea or soup to help keep your system clean. You can infuse lemongrass leaves in boiling water to make your own tea, or you can add a few drops of essential oil.
A study was conducted to examine the impact of lemongrass oil on yeast from the Candida albicans species and fungal infections.
A fungal infection called Candida can affect the skin, genitalia, mouth, throat, and blood.
Lemongrass oil's antifungal qualities were investigated by disk diffusion experiments, and the results indicate that the oil has strong in vitro anti candida effects.
According to this study, citral, the main active ingredient in lemongrass oil, may be able to lessen fungal infections, particularly those brought on by the Candida albicans fungus.
8. Relief from Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual cramps in women have been observed to be relieved by drinking lemongrass tea. It can also assist with nausea and agitation.
To ease period pain, have one or two cups of lemongrass tea per day.
9. Helper for the stomach
Lemongrass has been recognized for millennia anecdotally as a cure for stomach irritation, gastritis and gastric ulcers.
A 2012 study demonstrates the ability of lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon citratus) to shield animal subjects' stomachs against aspirin and ethanol induced gastrointestinal injury.
According to the study's conclusion, lemongrass oil "may serve as a lead compound for future development of novel therapies that combat gastropathy associated with nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drug use."
10. Pain Relief for Headaches
It's also common practice to offer lemongrass oil for headache relief.
The pain, pressure, or tension that might lead to headaches can be eased by the relaxing and soothing properties of lemongrass oil.
Try applying some diluted lemongrass oil to your temples and inhale the calming aroma of lemons.
Conclusion
This oil is suitable for internal use (only one drop required), topically (always dilute with a carrier oil), and aromatically.
It is always best to get the therapeutic grade, 100% certified organic lemongrass essential oil.