Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a plant. The leaves and the oil are used to make medicine.
It is used for treating digestive tract spasms, stomachache, high blood pressure, convulsions, pain, vomiting, cough, achy joints (rheumatism), fever, the common cold, and exhaustion. It is also used to kill germs and as a mild astringent.
It is anti-microbial, anti-oxidant,anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer properties.
Lemongrass is named such but has no connection with lemons except that it has a strong lemon-like aroma and taste.
It is a tropical herb that grows as a long, thin-bladed, green grass
in a bush with scallion-like base, and used widely in Asian cooking.
As with all grasses, lemongrass is very fibrous and cannot be eaten as it is. You can juice it using a masticating juicer,
or make tea of it. It has tremendous health benefits that are
especially helpful when consumed during a juice fast/feast or when on a
detox program as it helps rebalance the intestinal flora.Nutritional Benefits
Do not let this humble grass deceive you. It is packed with so much
goodness that it can help improve so many chronic conditions.
Nutrition-wise, it is a good source of vitamins A and C, folate,
magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and
manganese; with minute traces of the B vitamins
From the leaves and stems, citronella oil is obtained for making insect repellent, soap, perfumery and flavorings.
Health Benefits
Lemongrass has long been widely used in Asian countries for its medicinal properties and also in culinary.What makes it so effective in many medical condition is that it has certain anti-septic compounds that effectively kill the harmful micro-organisms (bacteria, yeast, fungal, parasites, etc.) in the digestive tract, YET preserving the beneficial bacteria.
For a healthy digestive tract, lemongrass is made into therapeutic tea that is drunk regularly to see its efficacy:
Anemia: Thanks to its high content in iron, which is essential for the synthesis of hemoglobin (the protein in red cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body) lemongrass is helpful for various types of anemia, especially those resulting from iron deficiency.
Anti-cancer: A study was done to show that lemongrass contains citral, an anti-cancer property that could cause cancer cells to die, yet preserves the healthy tissues. However, this does not mean that drinking lemongrass juice/tea alone will heal your cancer; it helps.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-septic: Due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties, lemongrass juice can be used as a valuable aid for treating arthritis, gout and inflammation of the urinary tract.
Bacterial or fungal infection: Thanks to its anti-septic properties, drinking lemongrass tea for a season helps to eliminate the bad micro-organism, detoxify and purify the blood, keeping bacterial, fungal or yeast infections in check.
Balsamic action: Due to its content in volatile oils, lemongrass has a beneficial, balsamic action on the respiratory tract. So it can be used to relieve the symptoms associated with flu, cold and hay fever.
Detoxifying: The anti-oxidant, anti-septic and diuretic effect of lemongrass make it an important ingredient to be included in the diet when detoxifying. It helps to cleanse and purify the liver, kidneys, bladder, pancreas and increases blood circulation. The diuretic effect helps carry out the toxins from the process to be eliminated effectively.
Diabetes: The purifying and cleansing effect of lemongrass tea help to cleanse/detoxify the pancreas and improve its functions, thus lowering blood sugar level in diabetics.
Digestive health: Lemongrass helps regulate intestinal function and motility due to its anti-microbial properties. It helps to kill bad bacteria and parasites, repopulate the good bacteria in the colon, thus assisting to improve digestive-related problems like: indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, intestinal bloating, flatulence, stomach spasms, vomiting and cramps.
Gastritis or Heartburn: A warm mug of lemongrass tea can be very soothing when having gastritis or acid indigestion. Drinking the tea therapeutically will gradually reduce the recurrence of both gastritis and heartburn.
High blood pressure: The high potassium content promotes diuresis, thereby helping to lower and regulate blood pressure. Regularly drinking lemongrass tea is encouraged.
High cholesterol: Lemongrass has an anti-cholesterol and anti-atherosclerosis action. It helps reduce both the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine, as well as the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol in the blood, thus preventing one of the first steps in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
Insomnia: Insomnia happens due to internal chemical imbalance or nervous disorders. The purifying activities and calming effect of lemongrass help improve sleep.
Nervous system: Magnesium, phosphorous and folate are important nutrients needed for healthy functioning of the nervous system. They help improve concentration, memory and the brain’s ability to process information.
Purifying action: Perhaps the most characteristic action of lemongrass is its purifying effect on the whole body, since it helps eliminate toxins from the body by enhancing the cleansing of the colon.
Skin health: When blood is purified, circulation is improved, skin health will follow suit. Regularly drinking lemongrass tea helps to improve acne problem, eczema and psoriasis.
Weight loss: Drinking lemongrass tea helps to melt fats in a detoxifying manner. The diuretic effect helps carry out the wastes in high volume, effectively and quickly, resulting in weight loss.
Consumption Tips
Lemongrass is used widely in Asian cooking. It is usually crushed or pound to release its nice lemony aroma that adds fragrant to foods. It can be used to prepare soups, broths, curries, sauces, tea, as well as cut into thin slices and added to a variety of salads.
It is also best for guyabano leaves.
The leaves, stem and bulb of lemongrass can be used for their various health benefits. To benefit most from it, make and drink lemongrass tea, as the essential oils and phytonutrients are leaked into the boiling water that is the tea.
Phytonutrients do not get destroyed by heat.
Learn how to make lemongrass-ginger tea here.
Some people apply lemongrass and its essential oil directly to the skin for headache, stomachache, abdominal pain, and muscle pain.
By inhalation, the essential oil of lemongrass is used as aromatherapy for muscle pain.
In food and beverages, lemongrass is used as a flavoring. For example,
lemongrass leaves are commonly used as “lemon” flavoring in herbal teas.
In manufacturing, lemongrass is used as a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics. Lemongrass is also used in making vitamin A and natural citral.
How does it work?
Lemongrass might help prevent the growth of some bacteria and yeast. Lemongrass also contains substances that are thought to relieve pain, reduce fever, stimulate the uterus and menstrual flow, and have antioxidant properties.
How to propagate lemon grassTake a lemon grass cut a small thin slice off bottom. Then put in bottle of water. Change water every couple of days. In but two weeks u will c roots appear. Those r not the main roots. Wait till u c brown like roots then plant in pot with soil. Water good. And u will hv fresh lemon grass when u need it. Plants get big and bushy. So I recommend to grow it in large pot or good soil in ground. Keeps mosquitoes away as well.
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