Lemongrass

About Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus is a tall, aromatic grass native to tropical Asia that has been cultivated for culinary and medicinal use across South and Southeast Asia for millennia. Unlike most medicinal herbs that have a single primary bioactive compound, lemongrass's therapeutic character comes from a complex synergy of citral (a mixture of geranial and neral, comprising 60-80% of the essential oil), geraniol, myrcene, and limonene — an aromatic profile that is simultaneously warming, digestive, and distinctly citrus-medicinal.

In Ayurvedic pharmacology, lemongrass is classified under the Sanskrit name Bhustrna (earth-grass) or Gandhatrina (fragrant grass) and described as deepana-pachana (digestive-stimulating and digestive), diuretic, and useful in fever. Its aromatic, slightly pungent quality places it in the same functional category as coriander and fennel for digestive support, with an additional diaphoretic action that makes it specifically useful in early-stage fevers and cold-damp conditions.

The essential oil of lemongrass is distinct from the culinary herb's action in both concentration and pharmacological emphasis. The whole plant used in cooking and herbal teas delivers gentler, broader effects; the essential oil (used topically or in diffusion) concentrates the citral and is primarily antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory in its clinical applications.

What are the traditional uses of Lemongrass?

In classical Ayurveda, lemongrass is mentioned in the Charaka Samhita among herbs useful for trna (fever-reducing) and as a component of aromatic decoctions for digestive weakness, flatulence, and urinary complaints. The fresh stalk was traditionally used in India to make digestive teas and as a fever-reducing herb taken as a warm infusion, mimicking a mild diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) action.

In traditional Sri Lankan and South Indian Siddha medicine, lemongrass tea is one of the most common household remedies for fever, colds, and digestive complaints. In Sri Lanka, sera (lemongrass) is often the first herb prepared when household members develop fevers — the traditional Sinhala and Tamil practice of hot lemongrass tea as a diaphoretic is documented in ethnobotanical surveys across the island.

In traditional Thai and Indonesian medicine, lemongrass appears in a range of preparations from digestive decoctions to topical preparations for skin infections, headache (applied as a paste to the forehead), and as an insect repellent. The Tom Kha (galangal soup) preparation combines lemongrass with galangal, kaffir lime, and other aromatics as a warming, antimicrobial preparation for colds, fatigue, and digestive weakness — one of the most cross-culturally validated Southeast Asian medicinal food preparations.

In traditional African herbal medicine, particularly in West Africa where C. citratus has been naturalized for centuries, lemongrass tea is a primary household remedy for malaria fever and headache. Ethnobotanical surveys from Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon consistently document this application.

What does modern research say about Lemongrass?

Lemongrass research has been substantial in the areas of antimicrobial activity and anxiolytic effects. Citral — the primary volatile constituent — has documented broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria (including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella) and against fungal pathogens including Candida albicans and Aspergillus species in multiple in vitro studies. A 2013 review in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology by Shah, Tariq, and Chaudhary summarized the antimicrobial evidence base.

For anxiolytic effects, a 2011 double-blind study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (Costa et al.) evaluated inhaled lemongrass essential oil in 40 volunteers exposed to anxiety-inducing stimuli. The lemongrass group showed significantly lower anxiety scores and increased subjective calmness relative to placebo inhalation, though the effect was measured only at the acute single-dose level. Myrcene and linalool, present in lemongrass essential oil, have individually documented sedative and anxiolytic effects in rodent models.

For fever, the traditional diaphoretic use has some preclinical support: a 1989 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Lorenzetti, Souza, Sarti, Santos Filho, Ferreira) demonstrated antipyretic activity of lemongrass essential oil in yeast-induced pyrexia in rats, consistent with the traditional fever-management application.

Anti-inflammatory effects via COX inhibition have been documented for citral and other lemongrass terpenoids in preclinical models. The mechanism parallels that of other aromatic herbs with citrus-terpene profiles.

How does Lemongrass affect the doshas?

Lemongrass is most compatible with vata and kapha constitutions, with a gentler profile than stronger pungent herbs like galangal or black pepper. Its mild warmth and diuretic quality make it appropriate across a wider range of conditions than the more intensely heating Zingiberaceae rhizomes.

For vata types, lemongrass tea as a warm digestive and nervine is well-suited. Its mild aromatic warmth stimulates agni without the intensity that can occasionally over-stimulate vata's sensitive nervous system. The anxiolytic component is particularly relevant for vata's tendency toward anxiety and mental restlessness.

For kapha types, lemongrass's diuretic and diaphoretic qualities help shift kapha stagnation — particularly the water retention and sluggish circulation that characterize kapha imbalance. Its antimicrobial action is useful for kapha-type respiratory congestion with susceptibility to secondary infection.

Pitta types can use lemongrass freely in cooking and as a mild tea. Its heating virya is gentle enough that pitta individuals do not need to restrict it except in concentrated essential oil applications during strong pitta-aggravating conditions.

Which tissues and channels does Lemongrass affect?

What is the recommended dosage for Lemongrass?

Fresh stalk: 2-3 stalks per preparation (decoction or cooking). Dried herb: 1-2 teaspoons per cup, two to three times daily. There is no Commission E monograph; dosing follows traditional practice and ethnobotanical references. The essential oil is for topical use only, diluted in a carrier.

What herbs combine well with Lemongrass?

With galangal, lemongrass forms the foundational aromatic pair of Thai and Southeast Asian culinary medicine. Together they address cold-damp digestive patterns, provide broad antimicrobial coverage, and create the characteristic medicinal-aromatic profile that Southeast Asian traditional medicine uses for fevers, digestive complaints, and colds.

With ginger, lemongrass creates a warming digestive and diaphoretic tea that is both pleasant and effective for early-stage colds and digestive weakness. Ginger provides deeper warming (gingerols, shogaols) while lemongrass adds citral-driven antimicrobial and mild anxiolytic coverage.

With peppermint, lemongrass forms a cooling-warming complementary pair: peppermint's menthol provides cooling relief for headache and nausea while lemongrass adds warming aromatic antimicrobial action. This combination is traditional in several African and Southeast Asian fever-management preparations.

When is the best season to use Lemongrass?

Lemongrass is most medicinally relevant during the monsoon season (Varsha Ritu) and winter, when cold-damp conditions invite the fevers, respiratory infections, and digestive weakness that lemongrass traditionally addresses. In Southeast Asia, lemongrass use peaks during the rainy season for exactly this reason.

In summer, lemongrass tea served at room temperature or cold is a traditional refreshing beverage in Southeast Asia and India — the antimicrobial and digestive properties remain relevant, and the mild warmth of citral is well-buffered in a cool preparation. The herb's use in cooking is appropriate year-round.

How do I choose quality Lemongrass?

Fresh lemongrass is available in Asian grocery stores year-round. The stalks should be firm, not dried out, with a pale green-white color at the base and a strong lemon-grass aroma when the outer layer is peeled back. The lower 5-6 inches of the stalk are the usable portion; the tough upper leaves are discarded or used for tea rather than cooking. Dried lemongrass (sliced or powdered) is an acceptable substitute for tea preparations; whole dried stalks are preferred over powder for tea to preserve volatile oil content. Lemongrass essential oil for topical use should be labeled as Cymbopogon citratus (not the similar but slightly different C. flexuosus, East Indian lemongrass, which has higher geraniol content) when the Western lemongrass profile is desired. Either is acceptable therapeutically; they are simply slightly different in aromatic character.

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