Lisa's Fragrance N' Such

"Smell the sweetness of Honey"

What is it?

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.

 

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.

1. It has antibacterial properties

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 including those that cause:

 

skin infections

pneumonia

blood infections

serious intestinal infections

 

2. It has antifungal properties

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.

 

Researchers found that, to be effective, at least 2.5 percent of the solution must be lemongrass oil.

 

3. It has anti-inflammatory properties

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

 

According to a 2014 study on animalsTrusted Source, oral lemongrass essential oil showed powerful anti-inflammatory abilities on mice with carrageenan-induced paw edema. The oil also demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects when applied topically on mice with ear edema.

 

4. It has antioxidant properties

Antioxidants help your body fight off free radicals that damage cells. Research has shown that lemongrass essential oil helps hunt free radicals.

 

According to a 2011 study, lemongrass oil mouthwash showed strong antioxidant abilities. Researchers suggest it’s a potential complementary therapy for non-surgical dental procedures and gingivitis.

 

5. It may help prevent gastric ulcers or relieve nausea

Lemongrass is used as a folk remedy for a number of digestive problems, ranging from stomachaches to gastric ulcers. According to a 2012 study on mice, lemongrass essential oil helped prevent gastric ulcers, a common cause of stomach pain.

 

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.

 

6. It may help ease diarrhea

Diarrhea is often just a bother, but it can also cause dehydration. Over-the-counter diarrhea remedies can come with unpleasant side effects — like constipation — leading some people to turn to natural remedies.

 

According to a 2006 study, lemongrass may help slow diarrhea. The study showed that the oil reduced fecal output in mice with castor oil-induced diarrhea, possibly by slowing intestinal motility.

 

7. It may help reduce cholesterol

High cholesterol may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. It’s important to keep your cholesterol levels stable.

 

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.

 

8. It may help regulate blood sugar and lipids

Lemongrass oil may help reduce blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a 2007 study on rats. For the study, the rats were treated with a daily oral dose of 125 to 500 milligrams (mg) of lemongrass oil for 42 days.

 

Results showed lemongrass oil lowered blood sugar levels. It also changed lipid parameters while increasing so-called good cholesterol levels (HDL).

 

9. It may act as a pain reliever

The citral in lemongrass essential oil may help ease pain as it relieves inflammation. According to a 2017 study on people with rheumatoid arthritis, topical lemongrass oil decreased their arthritis pain. On average, pain levels were gradually reduced from 80 to 50 percent within 30 days.

 

10. It may help relieve stress and anxiety

High blood pressure is a common side effect of stress. Many studies have shown that aromatherapy eases stress and anxiety. Combining aromatherapy with massage may bring greater benefits.

 

A 2015 study evaluated the effects of lemongrass and sweet almond massage oil during massage. Study participants who received a massage using the oil once a week for three weeks had lower diastolic blood pressure than those in the control group. Systolic blood pressure and pulse rate weren’t affected.

 

11. It may help relieve headaches and migraines

According to researchers in Australia, native Australian lemongrass may relieve pain caused by headaches and migraines. The researchers believe that a compound in lemongrass called eugenol has similar abilities to aspirin.

 

Eugenol is thought to prevent blood platelets from clumping together. It also releases serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and cognitive functions.

 

Caution*****Caution*********You should talk to your doctor before use if you*******Caution********Caution*********

 

have diabetes or low blood sugar

have a respiratory condition, such as asthma

have liver disease

are undergoing chemotherapy

are pregnant

are breastfeeding

Sources:

This article was found at:  https://www.healthline.com/health/lemongrass-essential-oil

 

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