Lemongrass (Cymbopogan flexuosus)

Lemongrass has Sweet and citrus fragrance. It helps in balances emotions and lowers cholesterol.

Lemongrass oil, though not a citrus oil, has a sweeter, more powerfully citrus aroma than lemon oil.  It has a long history of use, dating back thousands of years. 

About lemongrass oil:
Historically, lemongrass has been used for infectious illnesses and fever, an insecticide and as a sedative to the central nervous system.  And, according to Professor Amrine, "African people used lemongrass to manage honeybees for the last 60,000 years."  He noted that this oil boosts the immune system of the bees, making them more resistant to the pathogens carried by mites that can invade the hive. 

Key properties of lemongrass oil 

Primary constituents of lemongrass:
~Aldehydes (geraniol 37%)

Some of the therapeutic properties of lemongrass include: analgesic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, astringent and sedative.

Common uses for lemongrass oil

Lemongrass can be used for its calming effect, to relieve stress.  With its sweet, citrus scent, it is excellent to help restore and balance the emotions.  Whether diffused, used with direct inhalation or diluted for a full-body massage, it's a powerful tool to help stabilize the emotions, especially during times of distress and emotional trauma.  It is also helpful for boosting mental acuity.

Lemongrass can also be used in skin care, particularly for cleansing oily skin and to close pores.  It is also helpful for other skin disorders and bruising. 

Lemongrass is very effective in soothing aching feet, tired muscles and painful backs.  Applied topically, it has an analgesic effect on the back, feet and large muscles.  Many people have also found it effective for migraines.

The FDA has certified lemongrass as GRAS, so it can be ingested for help with digestive or stomach issues.  It may be helpful for stomach ache, indigestion, constipation or flatulence.  Just dissolve 1-2 drops of lemongrass in a teaspoon of agave or honey, or put on a sugar cube, and add to ¼ cup of water.  You may also put the oil into a capsule for easy ingestion.

Since it has anti-fungal properties, lemongrass can be used effectively to aide with athlete's foot and nail fungus. 

If you tend to perspire excessively, just add some lemongrass oil to some water (at about a 5% - 10% dilution) in a spray bottle, shake it well to disperse the oil and spritz yourself.  Many people have found this to be very effective.

Modern research into lemongrass oil 

Lemongrass has been proven to lower cholesterol. 
The University of Wisconsin has published the results of a clinical trial, involving 22 people with high cholesterol.  The participants were given 140 mg capsules of lemongrass oil daily.  On average, cholesterol was lowered from 310 to 294.

Others involved in this study also had a significant drop in blood lipids.  They experienced a 25-point drop in cholesterol, after one month, and this positive trend continued over the course of the short study.  Once the responders stopped taking lemongrass, their cholesterol returned to previous levels.

Other uses for lemongrass oil 

1. Lemongrass oil revitalizes the body and relieves the symptoms of jet-lag, clears headaches and helps to combat nervous exhaustion and stress-related conditions
 

2. It is a great overall tonic for the body, and it boosts the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a boon when recovering from illness, as it also stimulates glandular secretion
3. It is useful with respiratory infections, such as sore throats, laryngitis and fever, and helps prevent the spreading of infectious diseases. 

4. Lemongrass oil may help tone the muscles and tissue, relieves muscle pains by making the muscle more supple.

5. It helps to keep pets clean of fleas, ticks and lice.

6. When diffused, lemongrass oil can be used for nervousness and as an insect repellant.  It is also great to revive the mind, when feeling lethargic, and to energize, as well as relieving fatigue. 

7. Lemongrass is a great oil to add to a bath, to assist with cellulite, digestive problems, as a diuretic, for infections, nervousness, for over-exerted ligaments and as a general tonic.

8. Mix lemongrass with dōTERRA's fractionated coconut oil and use in massage for clearing cellulite, as well as toning the skin, opening blocked pores and helping with acne.  The antiseptic and anti-fungal properties are useful in treating athlete's foot and other fungal infections.

Some people also found that lemongrass to be very helpful for sprains, or any other injury or stress to tendons and ligaments.  Mixed with marjoram and ginger, it's also very effective for treating cartilage injuries.