Lemongrass is a popular aromatic ingredient used in cuisine all over the world. The same compounds that are responsible for lemongrass's unique citrusy flavor are also responsible for its myriad of health benefits.
In traditional medicine, lemongrass has been used to treat everything from digestive issues to nervousness. It’s prepared as a tea, essential oil, juice, or powder; its preparations are as versatile as its medicinal uses.
Today, researchers speculate that the compounds in lemongrass may help support cholesterol, anxiety, gut health, and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Here, we’ll explore the traditional uses, cultural importance, and emerging research behind lemongrass and its many health-supporting properties.
Key Takeaways
- Lemongrass is a tall, aromatic grass native to subtropical and tropical regions of Southeast Asia and is now cultivated worldwide in warm, humid climates
- It's widely used in traditional medicine, including Ayurveda, Traditional Asian medicine, Caribbean folk medicine, African herbalism, and South American traditions
- Traditionally used to calm anxiety and nervousness, support digestion, aid in heart health and respiratory health, treat sickness, and balance inflammation
- Research suggests lemongrass contains bioactive compounds such as citral, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds that may support balanced inflammation, gut health, cholesterol levels, and stress response. More human studies are needed to confirm these effects.
What is Lemongrass?
Lemongrass is a tall, grassy plant commonly used for cooking, teas, traditional medicine, perfumes, and cosmetics. It's even used as a natural bug repellent (similar to citronella). The thick fibrous stalks of the plant are sold in most grocery stores and used to make traditional Asian dishes, while the leaves are often used to make teas, and the whole plant can be used to make extracts and essential oils.
Lemongrass is popular in traditional medicine, and it is often sold as an essential oil, extract, powdered capsule, or tea.
While lemongrass can be grown all over the world, it thrives in hot and humid climates, mostly growing in the tropics.
The Health Benefits of Lemongrass
Citral and flavanoids are the main (but not the only) compounds that make lemongrass so beneficial. Here we’ll talk about the health benefits of lemongrass and the compounds that are behind its wellness prowess.
1. Anti-inflammatory
Lemongrass contains a compound called citral, known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Citral is found in other citrus fruits, too, its what gives citrus its lemony flavor. The anti-inflammatory properties of citral play a role in the immune system by blocking the release of certain immune cells. This can be beneficial in some situations, such as when the immune system is overactive, as it is in autoimmune diseases.
Researchers are still working out the best way to harness these anti-inflammatory effects to help prevent or treat certain health conditions. In folk medicine, the anti-inflammatory properties of lemongrass have long been recognized as it is used for diabetes, headaches, and asthma.
2. Antioxidant Properties
One of the main triggers for disease and aging is free radical damage. Free radicals are destructive molecules that occur naturally in your body. Under normal circumstances, your body fights free radical damage with antioxidants. Some antioxidants occur naturally in the body, while others come from diet. In some cases, though, there is a buildup of free radicals. Lifestyle factors such as air pollution, sun exposure, stress, and poor diet can all contribute to excessive free radicals, sometimes tipping the scales and potentially leading to disease and other signs of premature aging.
For this reason, scientists have concluded that a diet rich in antioxidants can help fend off disease and premature aging. Lemongrass is a great source of antioxidants, containing mostly flavonoids and phenolic compounds.
3. Supports Gut Microbiome
While the complex system of bacteria that makes up the gut microbiome is not completely understood, many scientists believe it can hold the key to overall health and wellness.
It's widely known that different foods can influence the microbiome, either promoting or destroying certain types of beneficial bacteria that line the gut. Phytochemicals found in plants are among the foods that are helpful to the gut. Their antibacterial properties make them especially interesting to scientists because not only does dietary lemongrass promote beneficial bacteria, but it also prevents the growth of harmful or pathogenic bacteria like Campylobacter spp and E.coli.
4. Promotes Healthy Cholesterol Levels
Lemongrass extract may contain properties that help lower cholesterol, and when it comes to heart health, lower LDL cholesterol and higher HDL cholesterol are associated with better health outcomes. In animal studies, lemongrass was found to lower LDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers attribute these benefits to lemongrass' phytochemicals, beneficial plant compounds that are important parts of a healthy diet. Lemongrass isn’t the only source of phytochemicals, but it's a good one, and scientists are still studying how to concentrate its phytochemical power.
5. Calms Nervousness
In traditional medicine, lemongrass is well-known for its calming properties. Lemongrass tea is often used for anxiety, trouble-sleeping, or general stress.
One 2025 study found that lemongrass aromatherapy was helpful for reducing anxiety and heart rate in dental patients. Another 2015 study found a similar effect in men.
Researchers speculate that the calming function of lemongrass may come from their effects on a neurotransmitter called GABA. GABA turns on the ‘rest and digest’ or parasympathetic nervous system to help counter stress and anxiety.
While researchers have a theory as to how lemongrass might work, more human studies are needed to confirm its effects on anxiety.
History and Traditional Uses
There are many different species of lemongrass, but only two are used in traditional medicine and cooking:
West Indian lemongrass
- Cymbopogon citratus
- Native to Myanmar
- Thick stems typically used for cooking
East Indian lemongrass
- Cymbopogon flexuosus
- Native to Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.
- Thin, sometimes purple stems
Lemongrass is now used and grown in subtropical regions all over the world. Because it is so widespread, it has a prominent place in folk medicine, from Cuba to India. But depending on where you travel, the medicinal uses of lemongrass will vary.
In Ayurvedic herbalism and traditional Asian medicine, lemongrass is often prepared as tea and used to treat anxiety and nervousness as well as respiratory and digestive conditions. In South America, it's used as a digestive aid, a tonic for colds, and a treatment for heart disease. In the Caribbean it's used to treat diabetes. headache, cough, and bladder issues. And in Africa it's used to treat coughs, headaches, and cuts.
While preparations and uses of lemongrass may vary slightly across continents, it’s repeatedly recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties. Even earning the nickname “fever grass” since it's often used to treat fevers and inflammation.
Lemongrass pervasiveness in folk medicine makes its history difficult to date, but the first known exportation of lemongrass oil is traced back to the 17th century Philippines.
Botanical Overview
Botanical Name: Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (also commonly Cymbopogon flexuosus for East Indian lemongrass)
Family: Poaceae (grass family)
Common Names: fever grass, serai, oil grass
Location: Native to Southeast Asia, particularly regions of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia; widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
Lemongrass in Rasāsvāda
Lemongrass is a functional ingredient in Rose Bergamot, a restorative spirit that blends ancient botanicals to support mental clarity, stress management, and vitality. In addition to lemongrass, Rose Bergamot contains other anti-inflammatory and antioxidant rich plants such as white ginger, schisandra berry, and yuzu peel.
Taste: Lemony, floral, ginger
How to use: Mix it into sparkling water, sip it neat, or blend it into your daily drink like a wellness tonic, smoothie, or cocktail.
Sourced from: Malaysia
FAQs
Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new herbal regimen, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, having existing medical conditions, or taking medication.
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Sources
Biology | Biological activities and phytochemical profile of Cymbopogon species
AppliedChem Phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of lemongrass (Cymbopogon) and impact on gut microbiota
Foods | Bioactive compounds of Cymbopogon citratus and their effects on metabolism, gut microbiota, and lipid profiles
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Effects of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) aromatherapy on anxiety and physiological stress responses
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension | Lemongrass (Cymbopogon spp.): cultivation, traditional use, and applications
DAV University | Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus): botanical description, traditional uses, and medicinal properties