Have you ever eaten asian foods? Thai or Filipino Cuisines? If you did, you probably tasted lemongrass. It has a citrus flavor with ginger like characteristics. Tanglad, as it is commonly known in the Philippines is widely used in asian cuisines and most traditionally as herbal medicine.
Lemongrass or Cymbopogan Citratus (Scientific Name), is a medicinal herb usually seen in warm regions such as South East Asia and India. It is a common ingredient in Thai, Vietnamese and Filipino foods. It is also now being used in wester countries and Caribbean for its aromatic citrus flavor.
Lemongrass is very easy to grow. They are usually propagated by dividing the root clumps and planting them separately. It usually grows up to one meter high with its leaves of about 1 to 1.5 centimeters in width from a stalk of about thirty to eighty centimeters long. Its end is also bulbous like onions.
Lemongrass also produces oil that has a lemony smell with dark yellow color. It is extracted by using the process of distillation. This oil has some common names such as Tanglad oil, 'choomana poolu', and Indian Verbena or Indian M'elissa oil. This oil is an essential ingredient in cosmetics, perfumes and as fragrances for insect repellants and soaps.
Lemongrass is considered to have a wide variety of therapeutic applications and health benefits. It also is used in traditional medicine for some of these conditions:
Lemongrass as Herbal Tea (1 Cup every 8 Hours)
- Gastrointestinal problems or stomach aches;
- Diarrhea, Bowel spasms;
- Fever, Flu, and Headaches.
Lemongrass as Oil Liniment (Tanglad Oil mixed with Coconut Oil)
- Back Pains;
- Rheumatism;
- Sprains;
- Neuralgia, and Other Body Pains
Lemongrass Mixed with Other oils Such as Lavender and Jasmine for use as Vapor Scents
- Revitalize body;
- Relieves stress and anxiety;
- Headache and jetlag
- used in Indian Ayurvedic Medicine to treat fevers and infectious diseases;
- used in Chinese Medicine to treat colds and rheumatism;
- used to treat circulatory disorders as it is believed to improve blood flow;
- used in skin infections, ringwoms and infected sores by rubbing a few drops of this oil on the surface of the affected skin
- used as insect repellants, also gets rid of fleas, ticks and lice on your pets.
We have prepared a procedure on how to use lemongrass below.
Lemongrass Tea
1. Pound ten leaves of Lemongrass
2. Boil two cups of clean water
3. Add the lemongrass and let it boil for 10 to 15 minutes
4. Strain and put some sugar if desired.
Lemongrass Liniment
1. Get two drops of lemongrass oil
2. Get an ounce of coconut oil or olive oil
3. Mix the two oils well and putting in a clean container.
Lemongrass Vapor Scents
1. Cup of Lemongrass leaves
2. 1 Liter of clean water
3. Boil the Lemongrass in the water
4. Strain the solution and add to your bath water
In some cases, some side effects occur. If this happens, stop the treatment immediately and consult your doctor.
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