Lemongrass Essential Oil

Overview:

Lemongrass is a tropical, grassy plant used in cooking and herbal medicine. Extracted from the leaves and stalks of the lemongrass plant, lemongrass essential oil has a powerful, citrus scent. It’s often found in soaps and other personal care products.

The Uses of Lemongrass Essential Oil:

Although lemongrass has traditionally been used to treat digestive problems and high blood pressure, the essential oil has many other potential health benefits. For example, it’s becoming a popular tool in aromatherapy to help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.

When Should You Use Lemongrass Essential Oil?

For antibacterial:

Lemongrass is used as a natural remedy to heal wounds and help prevent infection. Research from 2010 found lemongrass essential oil was effective against a variety of drug-resistant bacteria.

For antifungal:

Fungi are organisms like yeast and mold. According to an older study from 1996, lemongrass oil was an effective deterrent against four types of fungi. One type causes athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch.

For antioxidant:

Chronic inflammation is thought to cause many health problems. These include arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. Lemongrass contains citral, an anti-inflammatory compound. 

To relieve nausea:

Lemongrass is also a common ingredient in herbal teas and supplements for nausea. Although most herbal products use dried lemongrass leaves, using the essential oil for aromatherapy may provide similar benefits.

To help reduce cholesterol:

Lemongrass is traditionally used to treat high cholesterol and manage heart disease. A 2007 study helps support its use for those conditions. The study found lemongrass oil significantly reduced cholesterol in rats who had been fed a high cholesterol diet for 14 days. The positive reaction was dose-dependent, which means that its effects changed when the dose was changed.

Example of Lemongrass Essential Oil Usages:

• Add up to 12 drops of essential oil to 1 teaspoon carrier oil such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil.