Lemongrass Essential Oil
Refreshing, Revitalising and Rejuvenating...
Lemongrass essential oil.......one of my favourites (though I think I'm guilty of saying this with quite a few oils!) It's not just that it has the most amazingly refreshing, zingy aroma but also that it makes you feel good as well as being a fantastic overall tonic for your body.
I use it as a fragrance for one of natural hand made soaps that I create and it has proved to be very popular.
I also use it blended with a carrier oil for massage - great for relieving muscle pains and for toning muscle and tissue.
Lemongrass is probably best known as a flavouring in Asian cooking - I love the taste of Thai red and green curries.....
So go on......why not pick yourself up with a blast of lemongrass essential oil.
Common Name:
Lemongrass
Botanical Name:
Cymbopogon citratus
Source:
India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Central Africa
Common Method Of Extraction:
Steam distillation of the finely chopped fresh or partly dried grass.
Aroma:
A strong, fresh, lemony smell with sweet grassy undertones.
Note:
Top
Blends Well With:
Most essential oils, but especially with basil, cedarwood, geranium, lavender, lime, mandarin, palmarosa and tea tree.
Properties:
Analgesic, anti-depressant, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, digestive tonic, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicidal, insecticidal, prophylactic, nervine, nervous system sedative and tonic.
See the glossary for definitions!
Mind, Spirit and Body:
- Great for combatting all types of tiredness - mind, body and spirit.
- Helps with soothing headaches - mix with a carrier oil before gently massaging the forehead and temples.
- As a digestive tonic and prophylacticit it helps stimulate the appetite, is detoxifying and balances the system.
- Fantastic insect repellant, either used alone or in a blend with other insect repellant oils.
- It is valuable for respiratory infections such as sore throats and laryngitis.
- Good for toning both muscles and skin tissue.
- Relieves muscle aches and pains - I often use this oil when massaging sports people.
- Lemongrass is a great smelling overall tonic for the body and can aid recovery from illnesses.
- As a deodorant it is good for sweaty skin and excessive perspiration.
- Anti-fungal, so often used on athlete's foot.
Skin:
- Lemongrass has wonderful skin healing benefits.
- It is a valuable cleanser for all skin types.
- It is a natural astringent - perfect for even and glowing skin.
- Also can be used as a natural toner.
Lemongrass Essential Oil Precautions:
- Can be irritating to people with sensitive skin.
- Should be avoided in pregnancy, because of the possible skin irritating effects.
- Lemongrass essential oil should not be taken internally without the supervision of a health professional.
Ideas for Uses:
- Make your own exfoliating body scrubs using salt or sugar, sweet almond oil and lemongrass oil.
- Use as an air freshener - mix a few drops of lemongrass and geranium with some water and place in a spray bottle. Make sure you shake the bottle before each use.
- Use it in a diffuser or burner to energise and invigorate your spirit.
- If you use natural household products, add a few drops to help reduce bacteria in your home.
- Add a few drops to a natural body lotion to help with cellulite.
Additional Notes:
- There are over 50 different types of lemongrass, but only a few are suitable to be used for essential oils.
- Lemongrass is known as 'Sweet Rush' in the Caribbean, where they use it medicinally for common colds and fevers.