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Lemongrass

by Laura Toth on September 29, 2020

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

Lemongrass oil can be extracted, and it’s been used by healthcare providers to treat digestive problems and high blood pressure. It has many other potential health benefits, too.

In fact, lemongrass essential oil is a popular tool in aromatherapy to help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. Keep reading to learn more about how you can use lemongrass essential oil to improve your well-being.

It has antibacterial properties

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

  • skin infections
  • pneumonia
  • blood infections
  • serious intestinal infections

It has antifungal properties

Fungi are organisms like yeast and mold. According to a 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 at least 2.5 percent of the solution must be lemongrass oil to be effective.

It has anti-inflammatory properties

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

According to a 2014 study on animals, 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.

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.

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.

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 3 weeks had lower diastolic blood pressure than those in the control group. Systolic blood pressure and pulse rate weren’t affected.

Source: Healthline.com

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