Nutrition

Complete Guide to the Health Benefits of Lemongrass

This article will guide you through the exception health benefits of lemongrass.

Lemongrass is a tropical plant that has been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. Lemongrass can help with digestive issues, improve circulation and even relieve allergies.

Lemongrass tea on wooden boards
©Mareefe

It is a plant that can be eaten in tea or put into cooking recipes. Much like mint and basil, lemongrass makes a great addition to soups, stews and sauces because its flavour is subtle enough not to overpower most dishes but still adds a tasty kick.

Health Benefits of Lemongrass

Health Benefits of Lemongrass – Reduces Stress

Stress is a major cause of many health problems, including headaches, anxiety and depression. Lemongrass can help reduce the effects of stress by lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety and increasing your sense of well-being.

If you are looking for a more immediate way to relax after a stressful day at work. Or as an alternative to alcohol, lemongrass tea is an excellent choice.

Dried leaves and benefits of lemongrass
©Anna Tarazevich

Add 1 teaspoon of dried lemongrass leaves per cup of hot water and steep for 10 minutes before straining out the leaves with a fine strainer or coffee filter paper. If you prefer to drink it cold rather than warm, add in some crushed ice cubes before serving!

Health Benefits of Lemongrass – Eases Stomach Pain

Lemongrass has many health benefits, but one of the major assets is that it can help ease stomach pain.

Specifically, it’s great for indigestion and heartburn—whether you get this from eating too much rich food or just a lot of greasy fast food.

Lemongrass will also help with bloating, gas (flatulence), and nausea because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

Health Benefits of Lemongrass – Improves Circulation

Lemongrass is a powerful anti-inflammatory and, therefore, helps with chronic pain. It can also stimulate the circulatory system and increase blood flow to the extremities.

Lemongrass is used to treat varicose veins by using it topically on the affected area or by drinking it as a tea. Lemongrass helps relieve muscle cramps when massaged into an affected area or applied as an external compress.

Health Benefits of Lemongrass – Provides Relief from Coughs

While the exact nature of a cough depends on the cause, it’s helpful to know that most coughs are triggered by an irritation in your throat or lungs.

A dry cough can be caused by allergies, asthma or postnasal drip; a wet cough can be a sign of respiratory infection or bronchitis. Lemongrass is known to help with both kinds of coughing, whether they’re chronic or acute conditions.

©Sam Lion

Lemongrass has expectorant properties that help clear up mucus and fight off infections, which makes it ideal for treating colds and other viral respiratory infections that cause coughing spells.

Health Benefits of Lemongrass – Repels Insects

Lemongrass has a long history of being used as an insect repellent, both inside and outside the home. It is thought to be effective for its strong scent, which can mask many other scents that attract pests.

Insects are known to avoid the smell of lemon grass oil, making it ideal for use in an insect repellent spray or diffuser. However, if you need something more natural than store-bought bug sprays (which often contain chemicals), lemongrass oil might be just what you need.

Health Benefits of Lemongrass – Manages diabetes

Lemongrass can help lower blood sugar levels.

If you have diabetes and are looking for a way to manage your condition, lemongrass may be able to help.

Lemongrass contains an essential oil called citral that has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in rats with pancreatic disease, which is similar to type 2 diabetes in humans.

It’s also thought that lemongrass might be able to regulate insulin production, prevent type 2 diabetes complications and reduce the risk of heart disease.

What is Lemongrass Good For?

Lemongrass is an aromatic herb that has been used for many years in traditional medicine.

It is most commonly used as a flavouring in food, but it has also been used for centuries as a medicinal herb.

Does Lemongrass Keep Mosquitoes Away?

Lemongrass is a natural insect repellent, and lemon grass oil has been proven to repel mosquitoes.

Lemon grass oil is also an effective repellent for other insects, such as ticks and fleas. This makes it an excellent alternative to chemical insect repellents.

The anti-mosquito properties of lemongrass oil were first discovered by the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech University in 1988 when they found that lemongrass extracts had up to 90% repellence against mosquitoes and stable flies.

They also noted that these extracts effectively repel house flies, horn flies, stable flies and horseflies from livestock areas.

Why Does Lemongrass make you Sleepy?

The compounds found in lemongrass are said to have sedative properties. Citral, which is an ingredient in lemongrass, has been shown to induce sleep and lower anxiety levels.

It also works as a muscle relaxant and helps people who suffer from insomnia or sleep apnea get a good night’s rest.

A study done by the National Institutes of Health showed that citral helped patients fall asleep faster than those who took placebos (inactive pills).

The patients also experienced increased REM cycles during their slumber compared to those who didn’t take citral before bedtime.

What are the Side Effects of Lemongrass?

Lemongrass is not recommended for pregnant women, as it can cause uterine contractions.

If you have a history of kidney stones, lemongrass may make them worse.

Lemongrass is a stimulant and may cause allergic reactions in some people. It also can cause skin irritation such as rashes or hives, muscle weakness, drowsiness and changes in blood pressure; these symptoms are usually mild and go away on their own.

Is it OK to Drink Lemongrass Tea Every Day?

Lemongrass tea is a great way to add a boost of healthful benefits to your day.

Even if you drink it every day, there are no risks associated with drinking it in moderation.

Leaves of a lemongrass plant
©Ksenia Chernaya

However, be sure that you’re drinking high-quality lemongrass tea that has been manufactured properly and is not laced with additional ingredients or sweeteners.

For optimal health benefits:

  • Drink 1 cup of lemongrass tea per day
  • Use fresh leaves or dried powdered forms
  • Add stevia or honey as an optional sweetener

Does Lemongrass Detox the Body?

Lemongrass has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

These properties help to cleanse the body of toxins and reduce inflammation. Lemongrass also contains potassium, which can help to reduce bloating by increasing water retention in the body.

Is Lemongrass Good for Sleep?

Lemongrass has been shown to be a sleep aid. Lemongrass contains a sedative chemical called citral, which is a component of the essential oil in lemongrass that also contributes to its strong aroma.

Citral can help reduce stress and anxiety, allowing you to relax more easily and fall asleep faster. Additionally, it can help you stay asleep longer by reducing insomnia caused by stress or anxiety.

Can Lemongrass Reduce Belly fat?

In addition to its many health benefits, lemongrass is also a good source of dietary fibre and vitamins A and C. It is also rich in B vitamins, potassium and calcium. Lemongrass can help you lose weight by reducing your appetite and aiding digestion.

As an added bonus, it helps detoxify your body by removing toxins from your liver so that they don’t build up inside your body over time.

Lemongrass Sap

Lemongrass is a tropical plant that has been used for centuries in herbal remedies. It’s known for its sweet, citrusy aroma and is often used in tea, cooking and herbal remedies.

The leaves of the lemongrass plant are dried out to make an aromatic herbal tea that tastes slightly bitter but not unpleasant at all (it’s kind of like green tea).

You can drink it hot or cold; simply steep 1 teaspoon of dried lemongrass into boiling water for 10 minutes before straining out the leaves (strain twice if you want to remove all the sediment).

Lemongrass Plant

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a perennial herb native to India, but thrives in tropical and subtropical climates.

It grows up to two feet tall, with leaves that are light green on top and silvery underneath. The plant produces delicate clusters of fragrant white flowers throughout the year.

Lemongrass has been used in traditional medicine for centuries as an anti-inflammatory agent and digestive aid, as well as for its ability to promote relaxation.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), lemongrass oil can be used topically or ingested through capsules or teas made from dried leaves.

Lemongrass Oil

Lemongrass oil is extracted from the leaves of the lemongrass plant. It has a strong, citrusy scent that is similar to lemon but with undertones of pine and mint.

Lemongrass oil
©Ma Minh

Lemongrass oil can be used in aromatherapy and massage oils, as well as soaps and other personal care products.

Lemongrass can be a Useful Tool in your Health Regime

Lemongrass is a versatile herb that can be used in many areas of health. Lemongrass has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to manage diabetes, but it has also been found to help with stress and anxiety, improve sleep patterns and even fight cancer.

If you’re interested in incorporating this plant into your diet or lifestyle, there are several ways to do so:

  • You can use lemongrass as an ingredient in cooking or baking.
  • It can be taken as a tea (usually by steeping fresh leaves or dried whole stalks).

Conclusion

Lemongrass is a powerful and versatile herb that can be used to treat a number of different ailments.

There are numerous effective health benefits of lemongrass so you should definitely consider the plant as part of your nutrition plan.

Other Healthy Foods

Green Tea
Ginger
Pine Needle Tea
Turmeric