Table of Contents
Introduction
Lemon grass is a tropical plant native or original to Southeast Asia and a typical component of Thai cuisine. Now produced in South America, Australia, and North Australia, lemongrass is widely used as a natural remedy for neurological problems, digestive issues, and high blood pressure.
Lemon grass reportedly has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It has traditionally been utilised as a pain reliever and fever reducer. It includes citral, a natural plant combination with anti-inflammatory effects.
Lemon grass extract also delivers a fresh scent in many disinfectants, candles, soaps, and insect repellants.
The best way to appreciate lemongrass is in tea, either commercially designed or made from fresh lemongrass stalks. You may find fresh lemongrass stalks in Asian grocery stores.
Lemon grass
Lemon grass, scientifically known as Cymbopogon citratus, is a grass-like perennial plant with a lemon scent. It originated in Sri Lanka but is now grown in tropical and subtropical regions in North and South America, Europe, North Africa, India, and Australia.
People frequently use lemongrass in curries, soups, seafood, poultry, and tea. It can also be found in dried forms or as an essential oil for food or other purposes.
In folk medicine, lemongrass has been used for various purposes, including aiding digestion, treating fevers, and addressing high blood pressure. People in Singapore have historically used the plant to ease cold and flu symptoms and to treat insect bites, while people in Africa have used it to treat cough, headache, athlete’s foot, and cuts. In India, people have used lemongrass to treat fevers, stomachaches, headaches, insect bites, and rheumatism.
Lemon grass is named for its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer capabilities. However, research on its effectiveness in treating various conditions or illnesses is limited.
Lemon grass Nutrition
Lemongrass contains several key vitamins and minerals that can benefit the body, including iron, zinc, and magnesium. It also has a high water content, which can help boost hydration, especially if you consume it raw. One cup of raw lemongrass provides 47 grams (g) of water. One cup of raw lemongrass also contains:
- Calories: 66.3
- Fat: 0.33 g
- Protein: 1.22 g
- Sodium: 4.02 milligrams (mg)
- Iron: 5.47 mg, or 30% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Folate: 50.2 micrograms (µg), or 13% of the DV
- Zinc: 1.49 mg, or 14% of the DV
- Potassium: 484 mg, or 10% of the DV
- Magnesium: 40.2 mg, or 10% of the DV
Lemon grass Benefits
1. Anti-Inflammatory Effects: It contains quercetin, a flavonoid known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Quercetin reduces inflammation, inhibits cancer cell growth, and prevents heart disease.
2. Reduced Cholesterol: It is used in Africa to treat coronary heart disease. One study conducted a seven-day lemongrass extract treatment on rats, significantly decreasing elevated cholesterol levels.
3. Topical Antifungal: Its essential oil has shown antifungal and anti-inflammatory results when spread topically. Investigators tested the topical application of lemongrass oil on fungal infections and inflammatory skin infections in mice. Although it offered promise as an effective treatment for skin disorders, more analysis must be conducted.
4. E. Coli Infection: E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacterial conditions may induce food poisoning if you eat contaminated or toxic foods. It may also provoke urinary tract infections and pneumonia. One investigation found that lemongrass extract effectively lowers the toxicity of E. coli cultures and may assist in treating bacterial infections in the digestive tract.
5. May Help Treat Dandruff: Preliminary research in adults with dandruff found that using a hair tonic containing 5-15% lemongrass essential oil twice daily reduced dandruff compared to a placebo. The study also found that applying a 10% lemongrass formulation twice daily for 14 days reduced dandruff by around 81%.
However, the researchers had difficulty determining the standalone benefit of lemongrass essential oil since the base formula (without lemongrass) used in the study decreased dandruff by up to 58%.
6. May Support Oral Health: One study in children ages 9-12 with mild gingivitis found that using 10 millilitres (mL) of a lemongrass oil mouthwash of 0.25% lemongrass twice daily for three weeks moderately improved plaque and gingivitis scores.
This study suggests that lemongrass may be a good alternative to chlorhexidine-containing mouthwash, which can cause unwanted side effects. However, more research on the long-term use of lemongrass essential oil for dental health is needed to confirm this benefit and its safety.
7. May Help Manage Arthritis Pain: Preliminary research among adults with rheumatoid arthritis found that applying pure lemongrass essential oil to the skin daily for 30 days reduced pain scores compared to baseline pain levels. The participant’s pain levels gradually reduced from 80% to 50% within 30 days. However, this study lacks a control group, which undermines the validity of the results.
8. May Help Fight Fungal Infections: One small, older study found that consuming 250 mL of a lemongrass infusion twice daily for 10 days decreased oral thrush symptoms in people with HIV/AIDS. The injection consisted of 12.5 mL of dried lemongrass and 500 mL of water, boiled for 10 minutes.
Researchers noted that this treatment was more effective than applying a topical solution of gentian violet 0.5%, a common antifungal medication.
9.It may act as a diuretic.: In the globe of natural health, lemongrass is a known diuretic. A diuretic ( A drug that causes the kidneys to produce more urine) pushes you to urinate more often, ridding the body of excess fluid and sodium. Diuretics are often specified if you have:
- heart failure
- edema (Edema is the medical or medicative term for swelling caused by excess body tissue fluid.)
- liver failure
A 2015 examination of 55 men and 50 women discovered that drinking lemongrass tea raised urine output more than other liquids.
Lemon grass Tea
Lemongrass tea is a folk treatment that encourages sleep, boosts immunity, and relieves pain. While its properties indicate promise, more human analysis is required to confirm its possible benefits.
Many individuals find sipping hot tea relaxing, but lemongrass tea may offer further anxiety-reducing properties. Lemongrass tea can be a delicious beverage or liquid that may provide health advantages.
Regardless, most of the investigations are small-scale or lab-based, especially studying the effects of lemongrass oil rather than lemongrass tea.
Lemon grass Tea recipe
It is likely to make lemongrass tea at house. After buying the stalks at a grocery store or herbalist, individuals may take the following steps to brew their tea:
- use 1-2 stems cut into 1- to 2-inch slices
- boil a cup of water
- pour the boiling water over the lemongrass stalks or stems to steep
- leave the stalks or stems in the water for at least 6 minutes
- strain the liquid from the stalks or stems and pour into a teacup
Adding ice cubes will make a cold lemongrass tea.
The tea should have a citrusy, fresh taste. An individual could start with one cup of lemongrass tea per day and, if they wish, add more to their diet over the following days.
Lemon grass Side effects
Because lemongrass has such powerful ingredients, you should consult the doctor before taking it or any other supplement. Evaluate the following risks before taking lemongrass or lemongrass tea:
Skin Irritant
Lemongrass oil may irritate the skin when spread topically. If you encounter an allergic reaction after using the oil on the skin, you may also want to avoid taking lemongrass orally.
Pregnancy Concerns
Some authorities claim that pregnant women should avoid or bypass lemongrass. While proof that lemongrass can trigger menstrual flow is lacking, there is some problem that lemongrass could provoke a miscarriage. More analysis is necessary to decide whether or not it is safe to consume during pregnancy.
Tips for Consuming Lemon grass
Known for its earthy, citrusy taste, lemongrass is a versatile plant that you may use in many different ways. Here are some ideas for incorporating lemongrass into your regular diet.
- Make lemongrass tea: One of the more common uses of lemongrass tea is to make tea. Add fresh lemongrass to boiling water and steep it to bring out the flavour. Once complete, some people enjoy adding sugar or honey.
- Use it as a marinade: For extra flavour, add lemongrass to a marinade for pork, shrimp, or chicken. Try combining lemongrass with olive oil, lime, scallions, brown sugar, and garlic. Or experiment with your favourite mixtures to create a unique marinade.
- Create dipping sauces with it: Serve grilled meats, broiled potatoes, or roasted vegetables with a lemongrass dipping sauce. Start with a Greek yoghurt or sour cream base and build from there using your favourite flavours, herbs, and spices. Consider coconut milk, fresh ginger, green onions, jalapeño, garlic, and more.
- Add it to your favourite recipes: Give your dishes a unique flavour by finely slicing and mincing lemongrass and adding it to meatloaf, meatballs, burgers, stews, soups, and stir-fries. You can also use skinny slices of raw lemongrass in salads.
- Make a simple syrup: Lemongrass can be used as an infused drink sweetener for lemonade, iced tea, or a mocktail. Add water, sugar, and lemongrass to a saucepan and cook until the mixture thickens to a syrup.
- Prepare a compound butter: Lemongrass adds herb-infused butter to grilled salmon, steak, or pasta. Finely mince lemongrass and mix it into butter with other herbs and seasonings of your choice. Roll the mixture into a log, wrap it in plastic, and place it in the fridge. When ready to use, slice it and put it on your dish.
Conclusion
Lemongrass, scientifically known as Cymbopogon citratus, is a grass-like perennial plant with a lemon scent. It originated in Sri Lanka but is now grown in tropical and subtropical regions in North and South America, Europe, North Africa, India, and Australia.
