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Lemongrass
From TipThePlanet
Scientific Name(S):
- Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. Andropogon citratus DC, A. schoenathus. C. flexuosus, A. flexuosus.
Family: Poaceae (Gramineae), Grass.
Common Name(S):
- Lemongrass. C. citratus, is known as Guatemala, West Indian, or Madagascar lemongrass; C. fIexuosus is known as cochin lemongrass, British Indian lemongrass, East Indian lemongrass, or French Indian verbena.
Contents |
[edit] History
- Lemon grass ( Cymbopogon citratus ), a native of India, is widely used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. Lemon grass is a perennial, which means once you plant it, the grass comes back year after year. Depending on the area you live in the plant will go dormant in the winter. In harsh climates the plant will need to be potted and wintered indoors. This aromatic herb is used in Caribbean and many types of Asian cooking and has become very popular in the United States. Most of the commercial crops for the United States are grown in California and Florida. Lemon grass is also used for medicinal purposes.
- Botany: Cymbopogon is a tall, aromatic perennial grass that is native to tropical Asia. C. citratus is cultivated in the West indies, Central and South America, and tropical regions. The linear leaves can grow up to 90 cm in height and 5 mm wide. Freshly cut and partially dried leaves are used medicinally and are the source of the essential oil.
- Lemongrass is one of the most widely used traditional plants in South American folk medicine. It is used as an antispasmodic, analgesic, for the management of nervous and GI disorders, to treat fevers, and as an antiemetic. In India, it is commonly used as an antitussive, antirheumatic, and antiseptic. It is usually taken by ingesting an infusion made by pouring boiling water on fresh or dried leaves. Lemongrass is an important part of Southeast Asian cuisine, especially in Thai food and has been used in flavoring. In Chinese medicine, lemongrass is used in the treatment for headaches, stomachaches, abdominal pain, and rheumatic pain.
[edit] lemongrass benefits
- In a study that was conducted it has shown that every 100g of edible lemon grass, when boiled can contain up to 24.205 micrograms of beta-carotene the powerful anti-oxidant that scientist believe can help prevent cancer. In another study it has shown that lemon grass oil has the potential as topical eye medication against keratomycosis, an inflammation of cornea often associated with burning or blurring of vision. Researchers note that lemongrass oil's antioxidant qualities and ability to inhibit the enzyme that promotes the growth of cancer cells are promising.
[edit] Health Benefits of Lemon Grass
- It contains an antibacterial and antifungal properties
- It helps to detoxify the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract.
- Helps boost the immune system
- Helps reduce uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats
- It helps alleviates indigestion and gastroenteritis.
- Helps improve the skin by reducing acne and pimples
- It helps tone the muscle and tissues.
- Helps in menstrual troubles
- Helps reduce blood pressure and improve blood circulation
- Helps reduce cellulite
- Act as sedative for the central nervous system.
- May help prevent color cancer.
- Helps in reducing fevers
- Help in flatulence and colic
- Relieves arthritic pain and rheumatism
- Lemon grass for Cooking: The leaves and base of lemon grass are used as a food flavoring especially in Southeast Asian dishes. The long thin grey-green leaves are tough and fibrous, the outside leaves and the tips are usually chopped very finely or discarded from the dish before it is served.
[edit] lemongrass oil
[edit] health benefits oil
- The health benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties like analgesic, anti depressant, anti microbial, anti pyretic, anti septic, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicidal, galactogogue, insecticidal, nervine, sedative and tonic.
- Essential Oil of Lemongrass is extracted with the help of steam distillation of dried Lemongrass. The Lemongrass is known by scientific names Cymbopogon Citratus or Andropogon Citratus. Main constituents of its essential oil are Myrcene, Citronellal, Geranyl Acetate, Nerol, Geraniol, Neral, Limonene and Citral. Justifying its name, the Lemongrass smells just like Lemon, but it is more mild and sweet. It is not sour to taste. This grass is used in countless beverages (including tea), desserts and other forms of culinary as a flavoring agent, where fresh lemon is not available or is not to be used. It is very much in use in Chinese and Thai recipes. It grows and spreads very fast like any other grass and fetches a good price in the market. Thus there is a lot of business involved in this.
- What’s more, it comes with many medicinal properties too. Let us see what these properties are.
- Analgesic: Analgesic is a property that reduces pain and inflammation. Lemongrass Essential Oil helps relieve pain in muscles, joints, toothache and headache etc. resulting from viral infections like cough & cold, influenza, fever, pox etc. It also helps cure body pain resulting from sudden exercises, sports etc.
- Anti Depressant: Lemongrass Oil boosts self esteem, confidence, hope and mental strength, uplifts spirit and fights depression. This can be very helpful to drive away depression for those who are suffering from depression due to failure in career or love, insecurity, loneliness, stagnation, someone’s death or any other reason. This also relieves anxiety. Being an anti depressant, it can be systematically administered to patients of acute depression who are undergoing rehabilitation after some shock. Just take it with tea and relax.
- Anti Microbial and Anti Bacterial: This has anti microbial properties which makes it inhibit microbial and bacterial growth in the body, internally or externally. It is seen to be effective in inhibiting bacterial infections in colon, stomach, urinary tracts, wounds, respiratory system etc. and helps cure diseases resulting from bacterial or microbial infections such as typhoid, food poisoning, skin diseases, body odor, malaria (caused due to protozoon) etc.
- Anti Pyretic: An anti pyretic is an agent that brings down very high fever. This is quite similar to febrifuge but is effective on very high fever too. This oil can bring down the fever when it tends to reach the danger mark. This property of Lemongrass, which comes from its essential oils, is extensively used. It is often given with tea for this purpose.
- Anti Septic: The anti septic properties of Lemongrass Oil makes it a good application for external and internal wounds as well as an ingredient of the anti septic lotions and creams. The anti septic properties of this oil do not let the external and internal cuts and wounds go septic.
- Astringent: An astringent helps stoppage of blood flow by contraction of blood vessels. If somebody is bleeding profusely, you need an astringent to speed up clotting of blood and stop the flow to save his life. Being an astringent helps in a different way too. It promotes contraction of gums, hair follicles, muscles, skin and blood vessels, thereby preventing loosening and fall of teeth, hair fall and flow of blood through vessels. Both of these properties can be life saving. This oil has good astringent properties.
- Carminative: Lemongrass Essential Oil can efficiently handle gas trouble. It does not only help remove gas from intestine, but also stops further gas formation. Moreover, it gives the gases a safe downward passage by relaxing the muscles in the abdominal region.
- Deodorant: The Lemongrass Oil is far better than those synthetic deodorants which cost heavy on the pockets and the environment and their effects do not last longer too. Moreover, sometimes they produce irritations on skin and allergies. This oil can be a far better choice as a deodorant from these points of view. In diluted form, it serves as an efficient deodorant without any side effects. The best thing about this is that it is herbal
- Diuretic: Lemongrass Oil increases urination, both in frequency and in quantity. This may sound not that important but it can be very beneficial for health. With urine, fats are lost from the body to the extent of 4% of the volume of urine. So, it is obvious, the more you urinate, the more you lose fat. Then, urination promotes digestion and also does not let gas form. It removes excess water from the body and reduces swelling etc. Its biggest contribution is that it removes toxins from the body. What’s more, it also reduces blood pressure. That is the reason most of the drugs for lowering blood pressure induce frequent urination. Urination also helps clean kidneys.
- Febrifuge: Lemongrass Oil helps bring down fever by fighting the infections due to which the fever is caused as well as by increasing perspiration.
- Fungicidal: Lemongrass Oil has good fungicidal properties and may be used to cure fungal infections, both external and internal.
- Galactogogue: Galactogogue is a substance or an agent that increases formation of milk in the breasts. It also enhances the quality of milk. This property is very helpful for the lactating mothers and the babies. Lemongrass oil is a Galactogogue. Apart from increasing milk, it also helps babies in another way. Babies are prone to infections. The anti microbial and anti bacterial properties of Lemongrass oil are also absorbed in the milk and thus indirectly help the baby get rid of such infections.
- Insecticidal: Lemongrass is quite popular as an insect repellant due to its insecticidal properties. It kills insects and also keeps them away (but I am not sure whether it repels cockroaches!).
- Nervine: Lemongrass Essential Oil acts as a tonic for the nerves and the nervous system. It helps cure many nervous disorders such as shaking hands or limbs, nervousness, vertigo, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and convulsions, sluggishness, lack of reflexes etc. It strengthens nerves and activates them.
- Sedative: This is perhaps one of the most important and most appreciated medicinal properties of Lemongrass Oil. It is an excellent sedative. It has a great soothing, sedating and calming effects on mind, cures inflammations, itching of skin and relieves tension and anxiety. This feature can help patients of insomnia too.
- Tonic: An agent which tones up and boosts health is a tonic. Lemongrass Oil is a tonic in real sense. It tones all the systems functioning in the body, such as respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system and excretory system and facilitates absorption of nutrients in the body, thus providing strength and strengthening immune system.
- Other Benefits: Helps cure cellulite, fungal infections and digestive problems and reduces excessive perspiration too.
- Few Words of Caution: It is likely to irritate skin and produce other types of irritations too. Hence it should be avoided during pregnancy.
- Blending: Lemongrass Essential Oil goes fine with essential oils of Basil, Cedar Wood, Coriander, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Lavandin and Tea Tree.
[edit] Lemongrass Tea
- Benefits of Lemongrass Tea
- Lemongrass has been used in South Asian cooking since a long time. It is known to have a calming effect on the body, thereby helps in inducing sleep and curing insomnia. Lemongrass is also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal in nature, which makes it an effective remedy for a wide variety of complaints. Lemongrass tea, provides relief from nausea, severe menstrual cramps and acts as a diuretic too. Lemongrass tea health benefits are, detoxification of liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder and the digestive tract. Lemongrass tea also helps in maintaining normal cholesterol levels in the body, toxins, excess fats and improves digestion. Lemongrass also finds a place in Ayurvedic medicine for its innumerable properties, relieving common cold and cough being the famous ones. Read more on lemongrass oil uses.
- Lemongrass tea has been an ancient remedy for curing chest congestion, colds and coughs. A concoction, called as, 'kadha' is given to the patient to help him get rid of the common cold. Also, if you add a dash of pepper to lemongrass tea, it will help you ease all menstrual problems like cramps and nausea. Interestingly, lemongrass tea benefits in acne prevention and in dealing with other skin problems too. Studies have shown drinking lemongrass tea on a regular basis, prevents the skin from developing any acne or pimples. This is true, as acne is a result of bacteria, and the anti-bacterial nature of the tea, helps the skin to look good and feel good.
[edit] How to Make Lemongrass Tea
Ingredients
Method
- Peel the outer layer of the leaves and discard them. The outer layers, will give your tea a bitter taste.
- Boil the water and add the clumps of peeled leaves to it.
- Let the water boil on a slow heat for around twenty minutes. This extracts all the essence of the leaves.
- Add the sweetener and boil it for another 5 minutes. If you want, you can add some milk at this point.
- Remove from the stove, strain it in a cup and drink it hot.
- You can also serve iced lemongrass tea. Go along with the suggested lemongrass tea recipe, let it cool and serve it with ice. If you are making it iced lemongrass tea, refrain from adding milk.
[edit] Lemongrass Tea Side Effects
- Avoid drinking lemongrass tea in excess and make sure that it's a real herb and not some hoax. Say, if you have been drinking lemongrass tea for 10 days, skip 5 days. If you are suffering from any ailment, make sure you consult a doctor, before you start consuming this herbal tea. In case, you feel any side effect after drinking this tea, immediately stop taking it. Also, lemongrass tea during pregnancy isn't a good idea, so avoid completely.
- There is a plethora of lemongrass tea uses. This folk medicine has to have some truth, since it's been used for so many years. To make a start, combat the cold, with a cuppa lemongrass tea.
[edit] lemongrass tea kills cancer cells
- If you are a cancer patient in Israel, your doctor is telling you to drink fresh lemon grass tea on the daysthat you go in for radiation or chemotherapy treatments. Ben Gurion University of the Negev researchers made adiscovery last year that the lemon aroma in herbs like lemon grass kills cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. In a fascinating article published in the Health section of Israel 21c, it states that the study found the citral in lemongrass causes cancer cells to commit suicide in a process called apoptosis, a mechanism called programmed cell death.A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to signal the cancer cells to commit suicide.
- Lemon grass is a perennial, aromatic tall grass with a light lemon scent used for culinary and medicinal purposes. For centuries, herbalists have used the herb as an effective digestive tonic and nervous system relaxant. Lemon grass oil is used to help clear blemishes and maintain balanced skin tone. Lemon grass is also used as an insect and mosquito repellent. Now, according to Israeli scientists, they can add cancer prevention to the list of attributes associated with lemon grass.
[edit] Side Effects of Lemongrass
- Lemongrass is considered to be of low toxicity. Constituent beta-myrcene was found to interfere with cytochrome P450 liver enzymes, suggesting possible toxicities.
Toxicology: Lemongrass is "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) in the US.
- Topical application of lemongrass has rarely led to an allergic reaction. Two cases of toxic alveolitis have been reported from inhalation of the oil. No laboratory test abnormalities were noted after ingestion of lemongrass tea. Oral doses equivalent to 208 times the normal human dose did not potentiate the sleep-time of sodium pentobarbital in mice. An infusion of lemongrass given orally to rats for 2 months in doses up to 20 times the corresponding human dose did not induce any toxic effects. The tea did not affect male rats in any way.
- Similarly, female rats showed no abnormality in the estrus cycle, nor did doses interfere with fertility, pregnancy, or the development of the offspring. No external malformations were noted in the pups. The authors concluded that the lack of toxicity and pharmacologic activity made lemongrass a valuable placebo. Achara, an herbal tea made from dried lemongrass leaves, was found to be a toxic. Substance beta-myrcene was found not to be genotoxic in another report. Aqueous extracts of the plant used as an insecticide led to some mitotic abnormalities in Allium cepa root tips grown in these extracts, which may have implications in humans. In addition, constituent beta-myrcene was found in reports to interfere with cytochrome P450 liver enzymes, suggesting possible toxicities.
- Lemongrass should not be used in pregnancy because of uterine and menstrual flow stimulation.
