The Medicinal Properties Of Lemongrass & Why You Should Grow It This Summer By Sara Tipton for Ready Nutrition
Lemongrass is a wonderful herb to complement the summer garden! It has many medicinal and aromatic properties and can be used in a variety of ways. It is often considered a must for home medicinal herb gardens, and it’s easy to see why that is!
Other than sandalwood, one of my personal favorite essential oil to diffuse is lemongrass. The aromatic properties of lemongrass are said to help those with anxiety. Maybe that’s why nothing ever bothers me! This herb smells a little like lemon, but it also smells “green.” It has a scent that I can only describe as almost like fresh plants outside after it rains mixed with a slight lemony citrus aroma. It’s truly incredible.
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Lemongrass Is Beneficial for Natural Remedies
Also often known as citronella, lemongrass provides some natural herbal medicinal properties as well. Both the leaves and the oil are useful in herbal medicines. Here are some of the uses of lemongrass:
- Digestive Tract Spasms – stomachache, high blood pressure, convulsions, pain, vomiting, cough, achy joints (rheumatism), fever, the common cold, and exhaustion.
- Anti-Microbial – It is also used to kill germs and as a mild astringent. With hand sanitizer sold out everywhere, why not give a plant the job of killing some of those germs that can make us sick?
- Food & Beverages – not only does lemongrass add flavor to food and makes a great tea, but it is used to make natural citral and vitamin A.
- Topical Remedies – Lemongrass can also be used in a variety of ways. If can be inhaled (aromatherapy) or it can be applied directly on the skin. It can also help with headaches and anxiety. It can also help with muscle pain when made into a salve.
- Aromatherapy– If you are a little sore after an intense workout, diffuse some lemongrass! It has been shown to help with muscle pain and soreness. Plus, it’s not a heavy overbearing scent and perfect for hot summer days! Try making this disinfecting spray for the home using essential oils like lemongrass.
Planting Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a great summer choice for the garden as it loves hot conditions. So you will want to plant it in the spring after the last chance of frost has passed. Plant it in full sun. You should also make sure you have well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Space your lemongrass plants 24 inches apart. Kick off the growing season by mixing several inches aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil.
