LEMONGRASS HEALTH BENEFITS

LEMONGRASS HEALTH BENEFITS

Cymbopogon flexuosus
Family-Poaceae

Lemon grass or Cymbopogon is a tall tropical grass also known by names of barbed wire grass,silky heads,citronella grass,chade Dartigalongue,fever grass,Cochin Grass or Malabar Grass, Hierba Luisa or Gavati Chaha. Stalks and leaves are commonly used parts of Lemon grass. It contains an essential oil which is also present in lemon peel which gives it lemon like odour, which is mainly due to the presence of citral, a cyclic monoterpene.

Lemongrass oil is used in culinary flavoring. It is used in most of the major categories of food including alcoholic and non alchoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy baked foods, gelatins and puddings, meat and meat products and fat and oils. It is used to improve flavor of some fish and can be used to flavor wine and sauces. As a spice, fresh lemon grass is preferred; however it is also used in dry forms like lemon grass powder, dry chopped slices, or lemon grass oil extract.Lemongrass oil is thus used as a main substitute for ‘Cod liver oil’. Citral itself is used in perfumery for various grades of soaps detergents, cosmetics and flavour agent for soft drinks. Consumption of Lemongrass in Ayurvedic preparation like Balm is also increasing. 

#1. Stimulant: Medicinal properties of lemongrass are known traditionally and considered a diuretic, tonic and stimulant. It is considered a tonic and relaxing agent. Fragrance of lemongrass is refreshing and mentally stimulating, and it eases anxiety, stress and cramps.Lemon grass essential oil helps tighten weak connective tissue and strengthens blood vessels.A preparation of lemon grass with pepper is considered home remedy on menstrual troubles and nausea. It is found effective treating bruises, pulled ligaments and swollen tissue. Because of astringent properties of Lemongrass is it is used as treating oily skin and reducing the look of large pores. Lemon grass oil prevents formation of pimples and acne and hence used in various beauty products.

#2. Antibacterial and antifungal properties: Lemongrass is known for its anti bacterial, anti fungal and antiseptic properties. Scientific studies confirm antimicrobial, especially antibacterial and antifungal, activity of lemongrass oil and its components.It is considered effective on fever and in some parts of world known as fever grass. Herbal tea from lemon grass is used as medicine on fever, cold and cough. It has medicinal properties and used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine.

#3. Insect repellent: Lemongrass oil is known to be mild insect repellant due to presence of citronella. Hence it used as a pesticide in manufacture of insect sprays and candles, mosquitoes lotion, soaps.

#4. Lemongrass as preservative: Lemongrass Oil been traditionally used as preservative in protecting ancient palm leaf manuscripts in India.

#5. Anti Cancer properties:A research team in Ben Gurion University Israel has showed anti cancer properties of lemon grass. Study shows that citral, found in lemon grass, causes apoptosis in cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.Fresh Lemon Grass Drink Causes Apoptosis to Cancer Cells (apoptosis): a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself; a cell suicide mechanism that enables metazoans to control cell number and eliminate cells that threaten the animal's survival.In other words, cell commits suicide. A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube.