Lemongrass oil can be extracted, and it’s been used by healthcare providers to treat digestive problems and high blood pressure. It has many other potential health benefits, too.
In fact, lemongrass essential oil is a popular tool in aromatherapy to help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. Keep reading to learn more about how you can use lemongrass essential oil to improve your well-being.
- It has antibacterial properties
Lemongrass is used as a natural remedy to heal wounds and help prevent infection. Research from 2010 found that lemongrass essential oil was effective against a variety of drug-resistant bacteria, including those that cause:
skin infections
pneumonia
blood infections
serious intestinal infections
- It has antifungal properties
Fungi are organisms like yeast and mold. According to a study from 1996Trusted Source, lemongrass oil was an effective deterrent against four types of fungi. One type causes athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch.
Researchers found that at least 2.5 percent of the solution must be lemongrass oil to be effective.
- It has anti-inflammatory properties
Chronic inflammation is thought to cause many health problems, including arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. Lemongrass contains citral, an anti-inflammatory compound.
According to a 2014 study oral lemongrass essential oil showed powerful anti-inflammatory abilities on mice with carrageenan-induced paw edema. The oil also demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects when applied topically on mice with ear edema.
- It has antioxidant properties
Antioxidants help your body fight off free radicals that damage cells. Research has shown that lemongrass essential oil helps hunt free radicals.
According to a 2015 study, lemongrass oil mouthwash showed strong antioxidant abilities. Researchers suggest it’s a potential complementary therapy for nonsurgical dental procedures and gingivitis.
- It may help prevent gastric ulcers or relieve nausea
Lemongrass is used as a folk remedy for a number of digestive problems, ranging from stomachaches to gastric ulcers. According to a 2012 study on mice, lemongrass essential oil helped prevent gastric ulcers, a common cause of stomach pain.
Lemongrass is also a common ingredient in herbal teas and supplements for nausea. Although most herbal products use dried lemongrass leaves, using the essential oil for aromatherapy may provide similar benefits.
- It may help ease diarrhea
Diarrhea is often just a bother, but it can also cause dehydration. Over-the-counter diarrhea remedies can come with unpleasant side effects like constipation, leading some people to turn to natural remedies.
According to a 2006 study, lemongrass may help slow diarrhea. The study showed that the oil reduced fecal output in mice with castor oil-induced diarrhea, possibly by slowing intestinal motility.
- It may help reduce cholesterol
High cholesterol may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. It’s important to keep your cholesterol levels stable.
Lemongrass is traditionally used to treat high cholesterol and manage heart disease.
A 2007 study helps support its use for those conditions. The study found lemongrass oil significantly reduced cholesterol in rats who had been fed a high cholesterol diet for 14 days.
The positive reaction was dose dependent, which means that its effects changed when the dose was changed.
- It may help regulate blood sugar and lipids
Lemongrass oil may help reduce blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a 2007 study on rats. For the study, the rats were treated with a daily oral dose of 125 to 500 milligrams of lemongrass oil for 42 days.
Results showed lemongrass oil lowered blood sugar levels. It also changed lipid parameters while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
- It may act as a pain reliever
The citral in lemongrass essential oil may help ease pain as it relieves inflammation. According to a 2017 study on people with rheumatoid arthritis, topical lemongrass oil decreased their arthritis pain. On average, pain levels were gradually reduced from 80 to 50 percent within 30 days.
- It may help relieve stress and anxiety
High blood pressure is a common side effect of stress. Many studies have shown that aromatherapy eases stress and anxiety. Combining aromatherapy with massage may bring greater benefits.
A 2015 study evaluated the effects of lemongrass and sweet almond massage oil during massage.
Study participants who received a massage using the oil once a week for 3 weeks had lower diastolic blood pressure than those in the control group. Systolic blood pressure and pulse rate weren’t affected.
- It may help relieve headaches and migraine
According to researchers in Australia, native Australian lemongrass may relieve pain caused by headaches and migraine. The researchers believe that a compound in lemongrass called eugenol has similar abilities to aspirin.
Eugenol is thought to prevent blood platelets from clumping together. It also releases serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and cognitive functions.
How to use
Most scientific research on lemongrass essential oil has been done on animals or in vitro — not on humans. As a result, there’s no standardized dose to treat any condition. It’s unclear if animal doses would have the same effects on humans.
To use lemongrass in aromatherapy, add up to 12 drops of essential oil to 1 teaspoon carrier oil, such as coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil. Mix into a warm bath or massage into your skin.
It’s a good idea to do a patch test before using a diluted essential oil more widely on your skin. This will help you see how your skin reacts to the substance. Here’s how to perform one:
Wash your forearm with mild, unscented soap, then pat the area dry.
Apply a few drops of the diluted essential oil to a small patch of skin on your forearm.
Cover the area with a bandage, then wait 24 hours.
If you notice any signs of discomfort within the 24 hours, such as redness, blistering, or irritation, remove the bandage and wash your skin with mild soap and water. But if you don’t experience any discomfort after 24 hours, the diluted essential oil is likely safe for use.
Never apply essential oils directly to your skin.
You can also inhale lemongrass essential oil directly. Add a few drops to a cotton ball or handkerchief and breathe in the aroma. Some people massage the diluted essential oil into their temples to help relieve headaches.
Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By The Healthline Editorial Team — Updated on April 13, 2020 (Healthline)
