Lemongrass is an herb well known for its numerous health benefits including beauty. Lemongrass is also called Cymbopogon and it is native to Asia. Lemongrass plant is used for making medicines and herbal tea. Lemongrass leaves & stalks are edible and these are used to make lemongrass oil. As we know lemongrass oil is a vital part of aromatherapy, this oil contains many important natural compounds such as myrcene, citronellal, geranyl acetate, nerol, geraniol, neral, citral and limonene. In addition to the medicinal uses this herb, it is also widely used in different culinary purposes. Lemongrass tea is a very popular herbal drink as it cures many health problems. Let’s find out in detail about health benefits of lemongrass or lemongrass health benefits.
Lemongrass Nutrition
Lemongrass contains many important nutrients. It is a very good source of antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties. Lemongrass is a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, thiamine, niacin and folate. Lemongrass is a strong source of iron, potassium and magnesium. Lemongrass provides good amounts of calcium as well. Limonene and Citral are two important phytochemicals found in the lemongrass and lemongrass oil.
Find out more about health benefits of lemongrass and uses of lemongrass in the next segments.
Health benefits of Lemongrass
Given below are the most important health benefits of Lemongrass and Lemongrass Oil.
1. Weight loss - Lemongrass contains citral, which has been proven to be effective in combating obesity. It prevents the accumulation of abdominal fat and promotes the use of stored energy, which helps in preventing diet-induced weight gain. It aids in healthy metabolism and enhances the oxidation of fatty acids in the body.
2. Depression - The antidepressant properties of lemongrass help treat depression.
3. Mental stress- Lemongrass and Lemongrass oil are very effective remedies to relieve mental stress.
4. Headaches - Analgesic properties of lemongrass relieves from headaches.
5. Arthritis & rheumatism- Due to its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, lemongrass helps cure arthritis, rheumatism, gout, osteoarthritis and other kinds of joint pain. Its anti-inflammatory quality help restrain the activities of cyclooxygenase-2, it is an enzyme involved in inflammation that causes pain, especially in muscles and joints.
6. This herb is very useful to calm down the nervous system.
7. Respiratory Disorders - Lemongrass is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for its healing effects in treating coughs and colds. Along with other beneficial components, the vitamin C content present in lemongrass helps in providing relief from nasal blockages, flu and other respiratory disorders such as bronchial asthma.
8. Burn - Lemongrass oil is used to cure skin infections & burn.
9. Digestion - Drinking lemongrass tea can improve digestive system.
10. Insomnia - One of the major health benefits of lemongrass is that it can treat insomnia and other sleeping disorders.
11. Skin infections - Lemongrass is beneficial for skin. It can solve various skin issues, from large pores to fungal skin infections.
12. Blemishes & oily skin- This herb is also it helps to keep the skin blemish free, young and limits the secretions of oil.
13. Acne and pimples- Drinking lemongrass tea can prevent developing and acne and pimples and also makes the skin firm.
14. Cholesterol - Lemongrass tea is effective of reducing cholesterol level.
15. Edema - Lemongrass is effective in curing the condition of water retention or edema. It has a cleansing effect on lymphatic congestion and helps to soothe the swelling.
16. Blood pressure- It is also an effective remedy for controlling blood pressure levels.
17. Prevents Cancer- There are several antioxidant properties in lemongrass that help lower your risk of cancer by fighting free radicals. A component called citral found in lemongrass causes apoptosis in cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. Simply put, it causes the cancer cells to commit suicide.
18. Flatulence - Lemongrass tea can also give relief from flatulence.
19. Lemongrass and lemongrass tea are excellent for rejuvenating the body & mind.
20. It is useful in treating infections of the stomach, colon, urinary tract and wounds.
21. Body odor- Lemongrass contains component called ‘citral’, which is aromatic in nature. Moreover, it has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that may control excessive sweating and prevent or destroy bacteria that cause body odor.
22. Detoxification - Lemongrass is known for detoxifying liver, pancreas and kidney.
Side Effects of Lemongrass
According to medical experts, lemongrass or any lemongrass product is unsafe during the time of pregnancy and breast feeding. Lemongrass oil can be allergic to some people as it may cause skin irritations. People with diabetes and or individuals who are hypoglycemic must avoid using lemongrass. If you have any medical problem, consult your doctor before using lemongrass or lemongrass products.
How to make Lemongrass tea
You can make lemongrass tea at home to get all the health benefits. Here is the procedure of making lemongrass tea…
1. Get some fresh or dried lemongrass. You can also use lemongrass stalks. Wash them properly and cut them into small pieces. If you’re using lemongrass stalk then remove the outer layer of the stalk and use only the inner part of the stalk.
2. Boil a cup of water and pour it into the lemongrass leaves /stalks
3. Wait for 5-10 minutes.
4. Strain out the liquid and your lemongrass tea is ready. Add some honey to make it sweet. You can also add little bit of lime juice to enhance the taste. That’s it!
Note - Choose lemongrass that is firm and heavy. You can store it in refrigerator, just wrap it in paper or cloth and refrigerate.
