Essential oils are the integral organic extracts that mankind has learned to obtain from nature. There is a huge variety of such precious oils available today. The major characteristic of essential oils that lead to their extensive uses is their peculiar odour that distinguishes each and every extract from the other. One such incredible oil amongst them is Lemongrass oil with a soothing citrus lemony essence. However, it’s just not about the smell. Lemongrass essential oil has a large number of benefits associated with its daily use. If that is so, let’s know in depth about the oil, its benefits, uses, side effects and how to incorporate it into our hectic day to day schedule. To begin with, let us start by understanding what lemongrass is, followed by lemongrass oil constituents, its properties, where it grows, and so on.
What Is Lemongrass?
Lemongrass is a low-calorie perennial herb belonging to Poaceae family. It is a green, sharply margined herb that grows about approximately 4 feet wide and 6ft tall. It contains 100 calories for 100grams of consumption. It is also known as Cymbopogon a genus comprising of 55 grass species. But, all of the species are not used for edible purposes or for extraction. Two of the most commonly used species for the daily use or extractions of lemongrass essential oil is ‘Cymbopogan citratus’ and ‘Cymbopogan flexuosus’. Lemongrass oil is extracted by the process of steam distillation of the dried grass.
Lemongrass oil uses has gained an exaggerate use due to its chemical constituents like myrcene, citronellal, geranyl acetate, dipentene, methyl heptenone, terpineol, farnesol, geraniol, neral, nerol, limonene, and citral. These chemical constituents are responsible for the lemongrass oil benefits. Lemongrass essential oil acts as an antifungal, antimicrobial, astringent, antiseptic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, carminative, galactagogue, nervine and sedative agent. It is also used as a daily tonic by adding it in soups, curries, and tea. The benefits of lemongrass essential oil uses are unfathomable.
It can be grown anywhere, inside or outside, in average soil conditions. It majorly grows in tropical and warm regions of India, Africa, Asia and Australia. The balanced composition of the hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohol, esters, ketones, and terpenes produce a cumulative benefitting effect of smell, taste and medicinal properties hence lemongrass and lemongrass essential oil is used in delicacies in Thai and Asian cuisines.
What Is Lemongrass Oil Used For? What Are The Lemongrass Oil Benefits?
1. Aromatherapy-
All the essential oils are renowned for their soothing fragrance that uplifts your senses which in turn help you relax and revitalize. Lemongrass oil is also one such essential oil that is wildly used in the process of aromatherapy along with the other carrier and essential oils. Lemongrass oil uses reduce muscle pain; limit the growth of external unwanted bacteria, improves circulation and thus producing a balancing and stimulating effect.
2. Pest Repellent-
The certain chemical constituents of the lemongrass oil act impervious to the insects and pests. Lemongrass oil benefits by preventing the bugs from approaching the area in its presence. Lemongrass oil mixed with other oils and water thus acts as a pest repellent. You can refer below to the DIY for homemade repellent and get it done easily. This homemade repellent can be used to get rid of dog flea and louse problems.
3. Deodorant-
As already mentioned, lemongrass oil fragrance is its grace. When a small amount of oil mixed with enough amount of water it acts as a mist that can be used to spray at home. Acting as both deodorant and repellent at once. That’s an added bonus!
4. Cosmetics-
Here again, minute quantities of lemongrass essential oil uses are common in cosmetic products like body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, and perfumes. It also acts as toner and antiseptic in skin creams.
5. Skin Ailment-
Lemongrass oil posses wound healing properties. When applied mixed with the carrier oils on the skin it maintains the natural flora and fauna of the skin and fastens the wound healing action too. It also acts as a natural skin toner and leaves you with a glowing skin. Lemongrass oil is used in the treatment of acne as it sterilizes and reduces the pore size and evens the skin tone.
6. Detoxifying Agent-
Lemongrass essential oil benefits the body by removing by toxins from kidney, pancreas, liver, digestive tract. Due to its diuretic action, it efficiently helps in removal of unwanted waste from the body and maintaining good health. Citral, one of the important components of lemongrass oil increases the production of detoxification enzyme glutathione-S-transferase that enhances the removal of toxins.
7. Urination Control-
As mentioned above, production of the detoxification enzyme removes excess water from the body facilitating toxins removal. Removal of excess water via urination maintains and prevents from any pressure build-up on the kidney allowing proper functioning of it and other body organs.
8. Food-
Lemongrass oil is a rich source of Vitamins viz. Vitamin A, B, C, and foliate. Also, adding it to the food recipes magnifies the taste of dishes and adds to the flavor. It is used directly by boiling it with water and ingesting orally. It is normally added to the teas and soups with the other ingredients. It is also used as a flavor enhancer in some of the Asian seafood cuisines.
9. Hair Care-
Add a little amount of lemongrass oil to your shampoos or conditioner or your hair oiling routine to get odor free, thicker and shinier hair. Not only shinier hair but lemongrass oil use prevents itchy scalp and dandruff problems. Lemongrass essential oil with the other oils is an effective treatment for hair loss as it strengthens the hair follicles and allows them to grow.
10. Sleep Disorder-
Lemongrass oil is a sedative agent. Massaging a small amount of oil on your head infused with the carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil relieves you from irritability, anxiety, and insomnia. Lemongrass oil uses induces good sleep and improves the quality of the sleep. And in turn, acts as a stress buster and an energy booster.
11. Temperature Control-
The antipyretic activity of the lemongrass oil benefits by bringing down your fever and lets you achieve some comfort. It brings down the high body temperature by causing sweating. This is why it is also known as ‘Fever grass in Jamaica. Lemongrass and lemongrass essential oil uses are hence prominent in the Ayurvedic medicine for this property.
12. Menstrual Relief-
There you go ladies, don’t want to pop on to the synthetic pills to satiate those cramps? Here is an authenticate natural remedy. Gulping down one or two cups of the lemongrass boiled in water potion during those difficult days is all you need to relieve yourself pain associated with the periods.
13. Stomach Disorder-
Excess flatulence can be easily controlled by the lemongrass oil uses, as it aids in the removal of gases produced in the body. It prevents indigestion and assists in normal digestion. It provides relief from the gastric ulcers.
14. Soothe Inflammation-
Lemongrass oil uses aids in anti-inflammatory action. It is one of the top listed essential oils with the anti-inflammatory property. Inhibitory effect of Citral on the production of cytokines is the reason for this property that lemongrass exhibits.
15. Muscle Relaxation-
Massaging lemongrass oil improves the blood circulation to the body and relaxes muscles from spasms, sprains, and aches. Thus it is used as foot bath wherein add 10 -11 drops of lemongrass essential oil to warm water and soak your feet in it for 15-20 minutes. Due to this muscle-relaxing property lemongrass oil benefits in the treatment of Arthritis. Refer to DIY below to know how to do it at home.
16. Cholesterol Maintenance-
Lemongrass essential oil uses is shown to have an evident effect on the maintenance of the body cholesterol. It maintains the desired levels of triglycerides in body and reduces the bad cholesterol i.e. LDL Cholesterol. Maintained level of cholesterol causes unobstructed blood flow within the body and as a result lemongrass oil uses benefits in prevention as well as cure of cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure problem and diabetes.
17. Cold and Flu Treatment-
Adding few drops of lemongrass oil into the water and inhaling the vapors produces a cooling effect within the respiratory tract and overall body assisting in home remedy treatment for Cold and Flu.
18. Lactation-
For the new mothers, this grass can be included in your diet as it amplifies milk formation in the breasts and improves the quality of milk. It indirectly protects the babies from infection due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory property.
Lemongrass Oil Diy Recipes
Here are the few DIY recipes mentioned for easy lemongrass and lemongrass essential oil uses.
1. Lemongrass Tea
Ingredients-
- Lemongrass leaves – 10
- Honey – 1tbps
- Lemon – few drops
- Ginger – grated
Preparation and Serving-
- Boil the water and add the leaves to it. Then add honey, lemon and ginger to the boiling water. Filter the concoction through a sieve and serve hot.
2. Homemade Pest Repellent
Ingredients-
- ½ cup hazel
- ½ cup cider vinegar
- 40 drops of eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, tea tree and rosemary oil
- 8 glasses of water
- Spray bottle
Preparation-
- Mix all the above ingredients in the water and shake well. Add the prepared mixture in the spray bottle. Spray and use as needed.
3. Arthritis Relief
Ingredients-
- 2 drops of Wintergreen oil
- 2 drops of Cypress oil
- 2-4 drops of Lemongrass essential oil
- Unscented body lotion of your choice
Preparation and Application-
- Add all the three essential oils drop by drop to the lotion of your choice and mix well.
- Apply and massage well on the infected area twice a day.
4. Body Scrub
Ingredients-
- 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil
- Epsom salt
- Coconut oil
Preparation and Application-
- Add 10 drops of Lemongrass essential oil to the Epsom salt.
- Then add coconut oil. Adding coconut oil saturates the salt. Your scrub is now ready.
Application-
- Rub directly all over your body and face and leave for 5-10 minutes while taking a shower. Rinse with water.
Perks of lemongrass oil uses mentioned here are yet limited as the scientific studies on this herb are still ongoing and yet other benefits are still unexplored. Nevertheless, to say, the lemongrass essential oil benefits that we know of now are legit enough reasons to incorporate the use of this disguised grass for a healthy and organic living. Go ahead, take steps for your salubrious health and also spread the word to your cared and loved ones to bring out their good organically too.
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