Lemon and orange-blossom-like scent with a hint of spiciness, similar to ginger – the fragrance of lemongrass is truly one of a kind, something your senses will remember once you experience it. Coming from the Poaceae family (same as Citronella), the Lemongrass is also called Cymbopogon. If you crush the leaves of this plant in your hands, you will get the wonderful lemon-like fragrance.
Lemongrass is not just an aromatic herb used in Thai cuisine, it is utilized as a stimulant that benefits the body and mind. With a wide range of benefits, from alleviating headaches to promoting hair growth and improving skin texture, the oil has now found its significance beyond aromatherapy. Lemongrass boasts of antibacterial as well as anti-fungal properties, making it a good way to cleanse your skin.
1. Purifies skin
Lemongrass essential oil has purifying properties which make it perfect for skincare. These properties help to remove impurities, detoxify the skin and leave it feeling clean and clear. Antioxidants are good for you as they help to neutralize damaging free radicals, which can be harmful to your skin. As a natural antioxidant, organic lemongrass essential oil is another defender in the fight against free radicals! Not only this, but it also helps to combat the formation of acne-causing bacteria.
2. Reduces Anxiety
As stress and anxiety are a common factor that causes an increase in the blood pressure rate, this oil is known to reduce it and thereby eliminate stress. Even massaging this oil on the scalp is beneficial as the aroma has a calming effect. A component present in lemongrass called Eugenol has properties similar to that of the aspirin. Eugenol further promotes the release of serotonin. The serotonin hormone helps in regulating sleep, appetite, and other cognition related functions. The aroma of the Lemongrass essential oil is peace-inducing, as well as calming. When inhaled through a diffuser or vaporizer, the oil can spontaneously reduce any stress or anxiety.
3. Reduces Muscle Cramps
The Citral present in the lemongrass essential oil is known for reducing pain and cramps caused by any inflammation. This oil is often used as a home-treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and applied to the area of concern for pain relief. A study claims that after 30 days of regularly applying this oil, the pain levels can reduce drastically.
4. Eliminates Dandruff
Dandruff is a very common irritant found on the scalp. Having a flake-free scalp and well-nourished hair-follicles is the key to strong and thick hair growth. Adding 2-3 drops of Lemongrass essential oil to your hair oil and applying it on the scalp effectively eliminates dandruff-causing bacteria. A study was conducted in 2015, stating that Lemongrass oil reduces dandruff considerably in a week’s time frame
5. Insect Repellent Properties
The citronella content in the Lemongrass essential oil is known to repel insects naturally, because of which spraying this oil in areas of infestations could help one in getting rid of them naturally without anyone inhaling any toxic compounds.
Please Note: If you’re dealing with a chronic skin condition, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before applying any products to your face or you could do a patch test as well. It’s not advisable to use Lemongrass essential oil directly for topical applications. Always dilute it with a suitable carrier oil like almond, sunflower, olive oil prior to use.
