Dried Lemon Grass

If you love the taste of tangy lemonade on a hot summer’s day, then you will love having lemongrass on hand for hot or iced herbal tea all year long!  It’s an essential addition to just about any summer iced herbal tea blend since it adds a cooling effect to the body and sweetness to the tea itself. During warm months, it can be a soothing addition to mood enhancing and sedative teas, and “it can deliver a much-needed dose of sunshine and vitamin C when the skies are dark”.

Lemongrass releases resentment, regret from the “should of” statements and pessimism by transforming these negative energies into positive energies”.” It allows the left brain to see options, so once the negative energies are released, optimism, courage and hope to prevail”. The Lemongrass smells like lemon and therefore the grass was given the name Lemongrass!

C. citratus has been traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal discomforts. Lemongrass has been used in medicine in India for more than 2000 years. It has been used for its carminative and anti-spasmodic activity.

It's a thick, woody grass with a slightly sour lemon flavour. Crushed or pulverised dry leaves during meal preparation. It adds a unique citrus flavour to culinary concoctions. Lemongrass is used in soups and curries. It is also suitable for poultry and seafood.

KEY APPLICATION: Relax muscle pains, sprains, spasm and inflammation, alleviate abdominal disorders and boost digestive system, reduce high fever, menstrual problems, flu and cold, fat, acne and pimple, detoxifier, stress reducer, sleep aid, skin health and overall health tonic, reduce high blood pressure, improve blood circulation, lower cholesterol level, cleanse organs like kidney, pancreas, liver, bladder etc.

PLANT FAMILY: Poaceae

BOTANICAL NAME: Cymbopogan Citratus

VERNACULAR NAMES: Ginger grass, Oil grass, Gandhatrina, Haona, Olecha, Karppurappul, Vasana Pullu, Nimmagaddi, Majjigehullu, Gandhabena, Oli-cha, Lilicha, Bhustrina, Gavati Chaha 

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GRASS

Flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids and essential oils. Phyto constituents of essential oil are citral (about 70%), Citronellal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Geranyl-Acetate, and Myrcene.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

The understanding of medicinal properties will help us utilize the herb better. Below are medicinal properties along with its meaning indicating multiple health benefits:

· Antioxidant- Neutralize the oxidation effect of free radicals.

· Abortifacient- Cause abortion

· Anti-depressant- Used to alleviate depression. 

· Analgesic- Relieve pain

· Antimicrobial- Destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms & especially pathogenic microorganisms.

· Antipyretic- Reduce fever

· Antibacterial- Destroy bacteria or suppress their growth.  

· Antiseptic- Destroy microorganisms that produce septic diseases.

· Anti-Catarrh- Reduce inflammation of mucus membrane esp. of nose & throat.

· Carminative- Cause expulsion of gas from the stomach or bowel.

· Diaphoretic- Promote sweating

· Diuretic- Cause expulsion of gas from the stomach or bowel.

· Expectorant-Promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs.

· Fungicidal- Have a killing action on fungi or destroys fungi.

· Nervine- Act on or relieve disorders of the nerves; soothe the nerves.

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter), Amla (Sour)

Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light), Tikshna (Sharp), Ruksha (Dry)

Virya (Potency) – Sheeta (Cooling)

Vipaka (Post digestive effect) – Katu (Pungent)

Effect on tridosha (Humors)- Reduces Vata, Pitta & Kapha; but increases Vata when taken in excess.

LEMONGRASS TEA

Pour hot water over 1 teaspoon (add more for stronger flavour) of dried lemongrass and steep it for 5-10 minutes. Then stain and serve. You can add few leaves in your green or black tea while brewing to get invigorating citrus indulgence. You can also flavour your cup of tea with honey or Stevia.

Lemongrass herbal tea goes great with hibiscus, citrus peel, fresh fruit, berries, floral herbs, and spicy herbs.

IMPORTANT NOTE

The information provided is for educational purposes only. This data is not to be considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.