Lemon Grass also called as oil grass, fever grass or citronella grass, works well as medicine in some parts of the world. Lemon grass is not only an excellent stuffing ingredient and food flavoring in fish and poultry dishes, it is also used to flavor wines, sauces, salad and spices. This tropical fragrant grass, with an aromatic citrus flavor and tinge of ginger can be an answer to your medicinal, cooking and drinking needs.
Medicinal Uses:
1. Gaseous Distension. Boil 1 tbsp of dried or 2 tbsp of fresh chopped leaves in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Strain, drink while warm.
2. Diarrhea. Boil 10 leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. add a tablespoon of sugar and a piece of crushed ginger. Take the solution after each loose bowel movement. For adults 1 cup 3x a day, babies 1 tbsp 3x a day, 2-6 yr old 1/4 cup 3x a day, 7-12 yrs. old 1/2 cup 3x a day.
3. Diuretic. Make a 20% decoction of leaves. Drink 1/4 glass of decoction 3x a day.
4. Mosquito Repellent. topically apply the juice from pounded leaves.
5. Aromatic Bath. Boil 4 handfuls of leaves in 1 liter of water for minutes. Add enough water to make it lukewarm. good for the sick and for mothers who have just given birth to use for bathing.
6. Mouth Wash. soak 2 tablespoonfuls of chopped leaves in 1 glass of hot water for 30 minutes. Strain. Use the infusion as mouthwash.
Lemon grass has 65-85% citral that contains active ingredients like myrcene citronella, citronellol and geraniol. The study found out that citral causes cells to 'commit suicide using apoptosis a mechanism called programmed death" A drink with a little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to prompt the cancer cells to commit suicide in the test tube. Teh success of their research led them to conclude that herbs containing citral may be consumed as a preventive measure against certain cancerous cells.
Research also showed that the antibacterial and anti fungal properties of lemon grass help improve skin by reducing acne and pimples, and at the same time act as muscle and tissue toners. Citronella, known for its calming effects helps relieve insomnia or stress.
