If you’re looking for a fresh and fabulous scent to spice up your room, look no further than lemongrass essential oil. But lemongrass essential oil offers much more than a fresh scent -- it also offers benefits to your mind and body.
Read on to learn more about the benefits and everyday uses of lemongrass essential oil.
What Is Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Lemongrass essential oil is a pure oil that is derived from the lemongrass plant. The plant is technically known as “Cymbopogon” and is a part of the Poaceae family of grasses that are native to tropical climates.
There are about 55 other species within this family, some of which are also used in essential oils, perfumes, and cooking. Lemongrass has a natural scent of lemon that is fresh, light, and stimulating.
Lemongrass essential oil is made up of seven different chemical components, including:
- Myrcene
- Citral
- Citronellal
- Geranyl acetate
- Nerol
- Geraniol
- Neral
- Limonene
What Is the History of Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Many essential oils have been used for thousands of years, but lemongrass essential oil has a vibrant history.
The plant itself is native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania and has been used for medicinal, cosmetic, and culinary purposes through the years. In India, China, and Thailand, lemongrass is often used to provide a citrusy flavor to beverages and desserts.
Specifically, lemongrass has been used in East India and Sri Lanka in a special tea called “fever tea” brewed to treat maladies such as fevers, diarrhea, and stomachaches. In the same areas, it is often added to soups and curries for flavor.
On the other side of the world, lemongrass is still frequently used in Cuba and the Caribbean. It is thought that the herb was introduced to this region in 1905, and commercial cultivation began in Haiti in 1947.
What Are the Benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Now that you know about some of the benefits of lemongrass from its rich history, it’s time to take a closer look into how lemongrass essential oil can help your body and mind:
Gastrointestinal Benefits
One of the chief benefits of lemongrass essential oil is that it may benefit the gastrointestinal system. This is because lemongrass contains aldehydes and eugenol that are known to help promote healthy digestion. As a result, lemongrass can be used to ease a wide range of gastrointestinal issues, including:
- Stomachaches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ulcers
A study from 2012 showed that lemongrass essential oil prevented the development of and eased the symptoms of stomach ulcers in mice.
Mental Benefits
Our mental health is more important than ever, and lemongrass essential oil can be used to improve your state of mind by easing stress and anxiety. This benefit has been tested in a study involving massage and diastolic blood pressure with the conclusion that lemongrass essential oil may have a “harmonizing effect” on the nervous system.
Skin and Hair Benefits
Lemongrass essential oil can benefit your body inside and out. On the outside, it can help with a variety of hair and skin issues. For instance, lemongrass essential oil can help treat dandruff and itchiness on the scalp thanks to its anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Lemongrass essential oil can be used directly on the skin to purify the pores and tone for an even glow.
Anti-inflammatory benefits
The citral in lemongrass may help ease pain and swelling as it relieves redness. It can also help improve the painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a 2017 study in which participants reported that the use of lemongrass essential oil helped reduce their pain levels from 80% to 50% in just 30 days of use.
Bug repellent benefits
While lemongrass essential oil can soothe existing bug bites, it can also repel those bugs and help prevent them from occurring in the first place. In addition, the aldehydes in lemongrass essential oil make this method a great bug-repelling alternative to the harsh chemicals present in sprays.
Things You Should Know Before Using Lemongrass Essential Oil
While essential oils are natural and safe to use, there are some rules and precautions that you should follow before using them.
Lemongrass essential oil is not designed to be ingested by humans or animals.
Undiluted lemongrass essential oil should not be applied directly to the skin. If not diluted correctly, lemongrass essential oil may burn the skin due to its high citral content.
Other rules for topical application include avoiding sensitive areas and avoiding sun exposure after application.
Lemongrass essential oil should be kept away from children and pets to avoid poisoning and illness. Additionally, pregnant women, nursing women, individuals taking prescription medications, those with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and those with kidney or liver disease should not use lemongrass essential oil without first speaking to a medical professional.
Potential side effects from the topical use of lemongrass essential oil include burning, discomfort, irritation, and rashes on the skin, so be sure to patch test the oil for adverse reactions on a small area of skin before using it.
How to Use Lemongrass Essential Oil?
There are many different ways to use lemongrass essential oil, depending on the benefits you seek to achieve. Here are some ideas that you can use to start reaping those benefits for yourself:
Aromatherapy
If you’re looking to achieve maximum benefits from lemongrass essential oil, look no further than aromatherapy. Our favorite method is to use an essential oil diffuser to diffuse lemongrass essential oil throughout your home.
Simply add a few drops of oil to water in a diffuser and turn it on.
Massage oil
To relax your mind and body, try using lemongrass essential oil as a massage oil. You will first need to dilute the pure oil with a carrier oil like jojoba oil or coconut oil. Then, you can massage it into painful areas for anti-inflammatory benefits or simply all over to relieve stress and anxiety.
Inhalation
If you’re looking for fast relief for a headache, then you can inhale lemongrass essential oil for a natural solution. Put a few drops of lemongrass essential oil onto a cotton ball and slowly breathe it in to allow it to work its magic.
Cosmetics
To boost the performance and scent of your existing cosmetic products, you can add a few drops of lemongrass essential oil. For instance, you can add it to your shampoo to naturally combat stubborn dandruff and flakes.
You can also add it to your moisturizer to purify and tone your skin.
Where to Buy the Best Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Before you can begin to benefit from lemongrass essential oil, you first need to get your hands on it.
While it may be tempting just to go out and buy the first bottle you see, this may not be the best approach. This is because the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate essential oils, so all the due diligence falls to you alone.
You’re going to want to purchase your lemongrass essential oil from a reputable source that produces pure and quality products.
Look for a product that is labeled as a “100% pure therapeutic grade essential oil.”
You should also look for a product that uses the plant name of lemongrass, “Cymbopogon.” Finally, you should look for a product that comes in a tinted bottle to protect the potency and stability of the oil.
If you’re looking for the best quality lemongrass essential oil, then you need to check out those offered by WOW Skin Science.
How to Blend Lemongrass Essential Oil?
Even though lemongrass essential oil offers a whole host of benefits on its own, sometimes it’s helpful to blend it with other essential oils. That being said, not all essential oils blend well.
So how can you blend lemongrass essential oil with other oils for a great smell and excellent benefits?
- Three drops of lemongrass with three drops of lavender and three drops of eucalyptus;
- Three drops of lemongrass with four drops of bergamot and three drops of litsea;
- Two drops of lemongrass with three drops of frankincense and three drops of chamomile;
- Three drops of lemongrass with two drops of lime and two drops of lemon;
- Three drops of lemongrass with three drops of bergamot and two drops of myrrh.
The Rundown on Lemongrass Essential Oil
Start benefiting from lemongrass essential oil today with WOW Skin Science’s 100% pure therapeutic grade product.
Also, be sure to check out our other natural and vegan beauty products that include shampoos, conditioners, body washes, face washes, moisturizers, and more.
Sources:
Lemongrass Essential Oil: Benefits, Side Effects, & Dosage | Very Well Health
Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, stapf (Lemon grass) | NIH
Lemongrass essential oil: Benefits, use, and side effects | Medical News Today
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