Quick Facts

Botanical Name: Cymbopogon citratus

Family Name: Poaceae

Common Name: Lemongrass

Part used: Leaves

Specific Gravity: 0.895 to 0.910 at 20 °C

Optical Rotation: -30 to+10

Refractive Index: 1.483-1.489 at 20 °C

Blends well with: Basil, Coriander, Tea tree

Uses: It combats skin related disorders such as acne and open pores.

This oil is used in many skin care products.

Countries where it’s found

The plant is native to India.  It is also found in warm temperate and tropical regions.  It also grows in the United States, Thailand, Caribbean, and Vietnam.

Harvesting Information

The plant grows in cooler regions and is best harvested towards the end of the season. When grown indoors, lemon grass can be harvested throughout the year.

History of the Plant

Ancient Chinese sued lemon grass in their traditional medicine to treat stomach upset, headaches, and colds. The plant is treasured for its traditional uses for more than a thousand years. 

Commonly known Benefits

Health benefits:

• The oil clears headache, nervous exhaustion, and stress related conditions.
• The oil acts as a good overall tonic and relieves the symptoms of jet lag.
• The oil has antiseptic properties and helps in fighting athlete’s foot and nervousness, and mild infections.
• The essential oil of lemon grass is potent against respiratory infections such as sore throats, laryngitis, and fever. It also aids in indigestion, colitis, and gastroenteritis.
• The oil’s analgesic properties reduce pain and inflammation. It helps in relieving pain in muscles joints, toothaches and sudden pains resulting from other activities.
• Lemon grass oil has antimicrobial property that inhibits microbial growth both internally and externally. It inhibits bacterial infections in colon, urinary tract, wounds, abdomen, and respiratory tract.
• The oil also prevents viral infections such as influenza. Pox, cold, fever, and cough.
• The oil also cures diseases formed as a result of bacterial infections such as typhoid, malaria, food poisoning, and skin diseases.
• Lemon grass oil revitalizes the glandular secretions. It also boosts the parasympathetic nervous system.
• The oil’s astringent property improves blood flow and stops profuse bleeding. It also promotes hair follicles, gum contraction, blood vessels, skin, and muscles.
• The oil prevents loosening of gums, hair fall, and fall of teeth.
• Lemongrass oil is an effective carminative. It removes gas from the intestine and also stops the further gas formation.
• The other therapeutic properties of the oil include: antiseptic, galactogogue, insecticidal, antipyretic, febrifuge, nervine, tonic, sedative, and anti-depressant.       

Other benefits:

• In aromatherapy, the oil is used in many skin care products.
• It is found in deodorants to prevent sweating and body odor. It is also found in lotions that eliminate cellulites, and in creams to soothe inflammation or cracked skin.
• In terms of culinary use, the oil is used in various herbal teas and soups and also as a food preservative.
• Lemongrass oil is used as an insecticide, cleaning and deodorizing agent, and repellent.
• The oil is used in soap and scented candle making and in perfumes.