Rootwork

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

PoaceaeSouth Asia (India, Sri Lanka); widely naturalized throughout tropical and subtropical regions globally

Description

overall appearance

A densely tufted perennial grass forming clumps 0.9–1.8 m tall and 0.6–0.9 m wide. Produces long, arching, blue-green leaves with a sharp lemon scent when crushed. Rarely flowers in cultivation; propagated by division. Creates a bold, fountain-like landscape presence.

roots

Dense fibrous root system; shallow but widespread; forms tight clumps from a compressed central culm base; rhizomes are short

stem

Culms (pseudostems) are composed of tightly sheathing leaf bases forming a solid, cylindrical stalk 0.5–1 cm diameter; pale green to white at base; used as the culinary 'stalk'

leaves

Long, linear, grass-like, 70–100 cm long by 1–1.5 cm wide; flat to slightly channeled; margins sharp and rough-textured; blue-green above, lighter below; strong lemon-citrus fragrance when crushed or bruised

flowers

Loose, branching panicle 30–60 cm long with paired spikelets; rarely produced in cultivation; flowers in warm climates during dry season; not commercially significant

fruits/seeds

Small caryopsis (grain); rarely produced in cultivation; plants are commercially propagated vegetatively

Active Compounds

Citral (a and b forms, geranial and neral; 65–85% of essential oil)Geraniol (4–8% of essential oil)Linalool (1–5%)Beta-myrcene (12–20%)LimoneneFlavonoids (luteolin, quercetin, apigenin)Phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid)Triterpenes (cycloartenol, beta-sitosterol)

Traditional Uses

  • Ayurvedic tradition uses lemongrass (bhustrina) for fever, respiratory infections, and digestive disorders; one of the classical fever herbs
  • Thai and Southeast Asian folk medicine uses lemongrass tea for colds, flu, stomach problems, and headaches
  • Brazilian traditional medicine uses capim-limão (lemongrass) tea for anxiety, insomnia, and hypertension
  • West African folk medicine uses lemongrass for malaria fever, bacterial infections, and as an antifungal
  • Traditional use in India as an insect repellent and to treat skin infections and ringworm
  • Caribbean folk medicine uses lemongrass for menstrual disorders, uterine contractions, and post-partum recovery
  • Chinese traditional medicine uses related species for rheumatic pain and as a warming digestive herb
  • Vietnamese traditional medicine uses lemongrass root for headaches, fever, and to promote urination

Modern Applications

  • Antimicrobial: citral shows potent activity against E. coli, Staphylococcus, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus in numerous in vitro studies
  • Anti-inflammatory: citral and linalool inhibit COX-2 and reduce cytokine production; reduces carrageenan-induced edema in animal models
  • Anxiolytic: linalool modulates GABA-A receptors; lemongrass aromatherapy reduces cortisol and anxiety scores in human trials
  • Antifungal: essential oil shows efficacy against dermatophytes and Candida species; comparable to clotrimazole in some assays
  • Cholesterol reduction: preliminary human study found daily lemongrass tea (1 g/day) mildly reduced serum cholesterol over 3 months
  • Antioxidant: flavonoid fraction shows significant DPPH and FRAP activity
  • Insect repellent: citral and geraniol effective against mosquitoes, ticks, and flies; basis for commercial repellent products
  • Analgesic: topical essential oil reduces musculoskeletal pain in arthritis patients in small clinical trials

⚠️ Safety Information

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy: emmenagogue properties at high doses; topical use likely safe but avoid therapeutic internal doses
  • Skin sensitivity: undiluted essential oil causes significant dermatitis and burns; always dilute
  • Children under 2 years: avoid topical essential oil products; risk of respiratory and skin reactions
  • Allergy to Poaceae (grass) family: potential cross-reactivity
  • Iron deficiency anemia: tannins and phenolic acids reduce iron absorption

Side Effects

  • Skin irritation and contact dermatitis with undiluted essential oil application
  • Gastrointestinal discomfort and mild diarrhea with large amounts of tea
  • Increased urination due to mild diuretic effect
  • Rare allergic reactions (urticaria, respiratory symptoms) in grass-sensitive individuals
  • Photosensitization: citral is mildly phototoxic; avoid sun exposure after topical application

Drug Interactions

  • Antihypertensive medications: mild additive blood pressure lowering may occur
  • Diuretics: additive fluid and electrolyte loss
  • Anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin): flavonoids may have mild antiplatelet effects; monitor bleeding parameters
  • Hypoglycemic agents (insulin, metformin): preliminary data suggests mild blood sugar lowering; risk of hypoglycemia

Parts Used

  • Fresh or dried stalks and leaves (culinary and tea)
  • Essential oil (steam-distilled from leaves and stems)
  • Dried leaf powder

Preparation Methods

Lemongrass tea: 2–5 g fresh or 1–2 g dried leaves/stalks in 250 ml boiling water, steep 5–10 minutes; 2–4 cups/day

Essential oil (topical): diluted 1–2% in carrier oil (1–2 drops per teaspoon); apply to temples, joints, or skin for pain and infection

Essential oil (aromatherapy): 3–5 drops in diffuser for anxiety and air purification

Standardized extract capsules: 200–400 mg/day

Tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol): 2–4 ml three times daily

Topical antifungal wash: 2–5% essential oil in 100 ml water with emulsifier; apply to affected skin twice daily

Related Plants

Oat Straw

Avena sativa

Poaceae
European folk medicine: oat preparations for nervous exhaustion, depression, and 'neurasthenia'British herbal tradition (Gerard, Culpeper): oat preparations for melancholy, wasting diseases, and convalescenceTraditional Scottish use: oatmeal and oat water as nourishing foods for the sick and convalescent

Wheatgrass

Triticum aestivum

Poaceae
Ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian records suggest consumption of young grain shoots for vitalityModern tradition largely initiated by Ann Wigmore in the 1970s as part of 'Living Foods' diet at the Hippocrates Health InstituteNaturopathic tradition: wheatgrass juice promoted as a 'complete food' and blood-building tonic due to chlorophyll's structural similarity to hemoglobin

Bitter Melon

Momordica charantia

Cucurbitaceae
Ayurvedic medicine: 'Karela' used for thousands of years for prameha (diabetes), fever, skin diseases, and intestinal wormsTraditional Chinese medicine: 'Ku Gua' used for heat conditions, digestive complaints, fever, and as a bitter tonic for liverWest African traditional medicine: used for malaria, fever, skin infections, and intestinal parasites

Green Tea

Camellia sinensis

Theaceae
Chinese medicine (TCM) used green tea for over 4,000 years to sharpen mental clarity, reduce fatigue, and aid digestionShen Nong's Bencao Jing (c. 2700 BCE legend) records tea as antidote to poisoning from 72 toxic herbsJapanese Zen Buddhist tradition uses matcha in chado (tea ceremony) for meditative focus and spiritual clarity

Hibiscus

Hibiscus sabdariffa

Malvaceae
West African tradition (Senegal, Mali, Nigeria): hibiscus flower tea (bissap, zobo, sobolo) consumed daily as a cooling tonic and heart tonicAyurvedic medicine uses hibiscus to treat high blood pressure, liver disorders, and as a diureticEgyptian and Sudanese traditional medicine uses karkadeh tea for fever reduction and sore throat

Spilanthes / Toothache Plant

Acmella oleracea (syn. Spilanthes acmella, S. oleracea)

Asteraceae
Brazilian indigenous use: fresh flower heads applied directly to teeth and gums for toothache — the most universal traditional useIndian Ayurvedic and folk medicine: treatment of toothache, gingivitis, and oral infections; used in traditional dentistryNepalese traditional medicine: treatment of malaria, fever, and stomach parasites
Disclaimer: For educational purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.