Lemongrass: Is it Good or Bad to Your Health?

Lemongrass is a tall stalky plant, also known as ‘citronella’. It comes with a beautiful scent of lemon and a lemon-like flavor when consumed. Lemongrass also possesses a good number of medicinal properties, for instance, manufacturing the key components in your body like Vitamin A, the vital element for improving your vision and eye health, and also some citrus vitamins like vitamin C naturally and it has been widely used as one of the most essential components of aromatherapy since the early ages. Lemongrass leaves are quite edible and so they are used to add lemon-like flavors to a variety of dishes and beverages like tea.

An Overview of Lemongrass:

Lemongrass is a type of long, grassy herb that has a natural citral aroma and a lemony taste. Lemongrass is significantly known to possess several health benefits and is often used as a citral flavoring agent in Thai and various Middle Eastern and Asian dishes. The anti-fungal properties in lemongrass also help to repel bugs and mosquitoes. It prevents the chances of developing infections from fungus and several species of bacteria and checks fungal growths in your body. Lemongrass possesses a lot of medicinal properties that are beneficial to reduce fever and common cold and relieves pain and swelling. This herb is also beneficial to people suffering from diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol while the rich antioxidant properties in lemongrass extracts help to stimulate the uterus and help to maintain a regular and normal menstrual flow. Moreover, lemongrass has a pleasant, natural scent that is used in aromatherapy to uplift your mood and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

Nutritional Components in Lemongrass Leaves

Around one ounce of lemongrass provides the following nutrients:

• Calories: 30
• Protein: 1 gram
• Vitamin C
• Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 7 grams
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Sugar: 0 grams
• Iron
• Calcium
• Antioxidants like flavonoids, quercetin

Uses of Lemongrass

Lemongrass and its extracts from the leaves are used in the following ways:

• Lemongrass essential oil
• Lemongrass tea
• Mosquito and bug repellant
• Lemongrass scent in aromatherapy

Properties And Benefits in Lemongrass Extracts:

1. Anti-Bacterial Properties: Lemongrass derivatives, particularly lemongrass tea is filled with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that are highly beneficial for preventing the risks of developing bacterial infections and cavities in the mouth or conditions like plaque. According to a 2012 experiment and some recent lab studies, experts have found out that Lemongrass oil contains essential health extracts that can notably fight against several species of bacteria and can also check the growth and spreading of harmful Streptococcus mutans bacteria which is often known to cause tooth decay and damage of tooth enamel. Scientists are recently inferring that lemongrass extracts and silver ions are extremely helpful to fight against fungal and bacterial growths in various parts of the body and infections occurring from them. Another UK based study reports the anti-bacterial components in Lemongrass extracts are potential enough to fight toxicity and symptoms of food poisoning due to consumption of contaminated foods, E. coli, bacterial infections in the digestive tract, certain types of severe blood infection, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia.

Moreover, various types of fungi cause fungal infections in the body which often leads to serious ailments like athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch. Recent research shows that the anti-fungal properties of lemongrass extracts are effective to combat these diseases.

2. Anti- Inflammatory Properties: Lemongrass extracts, like lemongrass oil and lemongrass tea, contain health extracts that are significantly known to be effective enough to prevent diseases like chronic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties in lemongrass extracts help to check the growth and development of cancer cells and prevent the spread of carcinogenic cells to various parts and organs of the body. These anti-inflammatory properties help to prevent the risks of developing heart–related diseases like heart strokes, cardiac arrests, heart failure, and so on. Apart from cardiovascular disorders, chronic inflammation also often results in several serious health issues, like arthritis, circulatory diseases like high blood pressure, and even cancer which can be effectively treated by lemongrass extracts. A recent study suggests that using lemongrass essential oil can reduce chronic disorders with the powerful anti-inflammatory properties present in their extracts.

3. Antioxidant Properties: Lemongrass contains enough powerful antioxidants like flavonoids, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, isoorientin, swertiajaponin, and other phenolic compounds that are very much effective and beneficial for your health. Antioxidants help to prevent cell damage in your body by fighting against oxidative damage caused by diseases- causing free radicals and protect your coronary arteries by preventing dysfunction of cells and thus improve circulation. According to a recent study, extracts of lemongrass were found to contain rich and essential dietary antioxidant abilities. According to experts and many researchers, the antioxidant properties of lemongrass extracts are effective enough to conduct efficient nonsurgical dental procedures and therapies, instead of using artificial techniques.

4. Keeps Your Heart Healthy: A recent study has revealed that lemongrass consists of potential health beneficial extracts that are effective to regulate the proper balance of your systolic and diastolic heart rates. Moreover, they help to dilate your blood vessels that help to promote a smooth flow of blood, and therefore improve your circulatory system. This process is effective enough to lower down high heart rates, palpitations, and high blood pressure levels. The rich and powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties in lemongrass help to keep your heart healthy by reducing the risks of occurrences of heart diseases like strokes, high blood pressure, heart attacks, or any kind of cardiovascular disease.

Apart from these the health extracts in lemongrass helps to lower the levels of bad or LDL cholesterol and keep the levels of good or HDL cholesterol at an optimum.

5. Contains Weight- Loss Properties: Lemongrass is often considered by experts as a natural detoxifier that helps to boost up your metabolism and supports strong immunity. Moreover, lemongrass extracts are significantly low in calories and thus help to lower down your excess weight and thus help to promote weight loss.

Other Health Benefits of Lemongrass

Besides these, lemongrass can also be used to treat the following ailments:

• Dandruff . Recent dermatological studies reveal that if you apply extracts of lemongrass or lemongrass oil solution to your hair, you can notably reduce dandruff and other hair problems.
• Treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent research are suggesting that lemongrass contains nutrients that can treat joint and muscle pains particularly among older individuals and thus can also help to relieve bone related disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.
• Cramps in the stomach or intestine.
• Pain in your stomach.
• Convulsions.
• Pain and swelling.
• Achy joints (rheumatism).
• Fever, cough, headache, sneezing, and common cold.
• Nausea and vomiting
• High blood sugar levels or type 2 diabetes.
• Exhaustion.
• Use as an antiseptic and astringent.

Potential Risks of Having Lemongrass

Though lemongrass is safe to be used in its grass or stalk form, there are still some potential downsides that may be noted to avoid any serious ailment of your health.

Irritant or Allergy in Skin

Lemongrass extracts can be irritating and allergic to some people after applying. In that case, you should absolutely avoid the consumption and application of lemongrass and should ask for your doctor’s help.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Lemongrass and its extracts like lemongrass essential oil are highly concentrated compounds that may have certain downsides. So, it is always advisable to avoid the use of lemongrass by pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. In case, if they want further information, they must ask for guidance from their registered medicinal caregiver.

Apart from these, there are some other ailments that may result from the overuse of lemongrass. These are as follows:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• shocking increase in appetite
• increase in the rates of urination

One should never ingest lemongrass essential oil because such ingestion can increase toxicity in your body that can further worsen your health conditions. In such cases it is always advisable to seek professional help. Before using lemongrass extracts, consult your physician if you have the following diseases:

• have diabetes or high blood sugar levels
• have a respiratory problems like breathlessness or asthma?
• have a liver disease like liver cirrhosis
• have cancer and undergoing chemotherapy