Lemongrass and Its benefits
Lemongrass is a special herb with many benefits. The herb has various specialties that make it very popular among people who want to live a healthy life through the path of natural medicines and nature. It is a plant that deserves the attention of people, not just the herb but the extracts of the plant like its oil are also used for various purposes. People are becoming more and more aware of the potential benefits of lemongrass and the change it can get into their life.
Plants
Earth is filled with life in almost all its parts. From oceans to hills, from plains to valleys, life is present except for the hardest topographies. There is no doubt that humans stand at the top of all of this life, but there is a significant number of other lives also. From the microbes that we cannot see with our naked eyes, the gigantic blue whale, which is the largest animal in the world, to the plants which are stationary on their feet and all over the world all are life and living on earth with us.
Despite the huge variety of living beings on earth, if we look at the species of plants and animals, we will find that they are very different even among each other. Some are very harmful to us while some are very helpful to us. Some can take our life easily even by smelling them while some can grant us life with their medicinal value. Many plants have helped humankind with their medicinal property for hundreds of years. In fact, in all civilizations, the first form of medicine and medication was to use plants or specific parts of plants as medicine.
Lemongrass
Among the many plants in our world, there is a specific plant called lemongrass which is known for its healing properties and amazing aroma. This amazing herb has been recently the talk of many people.
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon)
Fever grass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, cochin grass, Malabar grass are a few of many names of lemongrass. It was native to the Asian and African continents in the past. However, due to the use of lemongrass for flavors, culinary and medicinal use, the herb can be now found in various parts of the world. Also, there are various varieties of lemongrass that are available all over the world.
First yield
Lemongrass is an herb, and it does not have a woody stem so it grows quickly and also can be harvested quickly. After 7 to 8 months of plantation of the herb, it can be harvested for the first time.
Taste
The name lemongrass is because of its taste and smell. It has a citrus taste as well as a similar smell. The aftertaste has a little bit of mint-like flavor.
Climate
Lemongrass is found today in many parts of the world. The climate greatly varies in various parts of the world, so it is difficult to say what climate is best for lemongrass as there are various varieties of lemongrass across the world and various varieties have been adapted to various climatic conditions in various parts of the world. However, a generalization can be made and that says that lemongrass prefers a warm and humid climate with good moisture and sun.
Appearance of Lemongrass
Lemongrass resembles the rice plant in some ways, but they grow a lot longer than rice plants. Lemongrass is an herb. It may be tall, but it does not have a woody stem. Some varieties of lemongrass may grow as tall as 6 feet while some may be smaller while the width maybe 4 feet if let it be. The entire plant is green in color. This plant has long and thin pointy leaves. The leaves tilt below when the plant grows, and that is why it resembles the rice plant.
Benefits of lemongrass
Lemongrass is a multi-purpose herb, and it can be used for various purposes. Now, let us look at the various uses and purposes of lemongrass,
Balance cholesterol
Cholesterol is an important substance that our body needs to build healthy cells and growth. It is a waxy substance that is found in the blood. However, no matter how much the body needs cholesterol and what may be used, it is extremely harmful to the body if present in excessive amounts. When blood has a huge amount of cholesterol for a longer period, the waxy substance starts to get deposited on the various regions of the blood vessels.
The deposition of cholesterol on the side of the vessels reduces the passage for the flow of the blood which results in increased pressure. Also, sometimes the continuous accumulation of cholesterol for a longer period may even block the blood vessel which is extremely harmful to our body.
Cholesterol always needs to be balanced and there are various steps that one can take to balance the cholesterol in their blood. Among the many ingredients that aid to balance cholesterol in the blood one is lemongrass. Daily consumption of lemongrass has been found to decrease cholesterol. This herb aids to balance cholesterol and promote healthy life and living.
Lose weight
Being overweight is a problem for many people. More than over-consumption of natural food people are gaining weight due to industrial foods and similar products. This is the harsh reality, and we should be questioning tasty food which is the only pleasure of the tongue of food that is healthy.
This is one cause why people are gaining more weight but there are some other causes also like genetics and metabolism. Some people have a genetic quality that makes them huge, and it is hard for them to lose weight. Another cause is metabolism, and this part can be maintained to some level.
Metabolism is the process by which our body converts what we eat into energy. It is an involuntary action like breathing which our body does on its own after we inhale food. People who have good metabolism can convert food into energy fast. It means that if you have good and high metabolism then you are going to need more calories than the lower counterpart to maintain your body weight. People with low metabolism gain weight even after consuming low calories due to their slow metabolism.
A good metabolism is very important, and the consumption of lemongrass maintains good metabolism. If someone has low metabolism then they can consume lemongrass tea or can put it in their foods to boost the metabolism.
It has a diuretic property
A diuretic is any substance that causes diuresis. Diuresis is the process of production of more urine to flush out the toxins in the body. Diuretic substances are often prescribed to patients who have a bad liver, heart problems, and similar cases. Urination is not only the process of throwing out excess water in the body, but it also is the process of flushing out the toxins and un useful materials that are produced during the various biological functions of the body.
Toxins are collected by various actions. Some are collected in the body by biological functions, while some get into the body by harmful habits like drinking alcohol, smoking, and so on. These toxins, if let in the body for a longer period, can harm the body in many ways. When a diuretic substance is consumed due to frequent urination the excess fluids in the body, as well as the sodium present in the body, get out.
Lemongrass is also popular for its diuretic property. When consumed it promotes urination that flushes out sodium and other toxins from the body. Drink it as tea or as a seasoning in food as long as it gets the inside body it will work.
It may have anti-cancer properties
Cancer is a condition where the cells in the body grow abnormally and spread to the other parts of the body. This condition is extremely difficult to care for and even may result in death. The treatment of cancer is an extremely costly and lengthy process that does not guarantee complete success. Billions have been spent on research into cancer and a lot of time has also passed but a satisfactory cure for the condition still has not been found.
Cancer in the last stage when it has spread to various parts is difficult to cure but in the starting phase cancer was just one or couple of cells that started everything. If the body had dealt with it when it was some cells it never would have gotten the chance to develop into cancer and spread to the body parts. It is believed that lemongrass has citral which has anti-cancer properties and helps our body to fight cancer cells.
Lemongrass tea
Lemongrass tea is made by boiling the lemongrass into water. The tea provides an amazing aura of lemon and citric flavor. Many people also love lemongrass for its taste and flavor. Also, there are numerous benefits of lemongrass if drink as tea. When drinking tea, you can get all of its benefits without having to eat it. Some people do not like to eat herbs directly, but they love to drink tea. If that is the case lemon grass tea is for you.
Anti-microbial properties
Microbial life is all around us. We, with our naked eyes, cannot see it but they are everywhere. Among the microbial population, there are some which are very beneficial to us, there are some which are neutral which neither harm us and neither do us good in any other way, however, there are some which are extremely harmful to us and can harm us in many ways. From causing us minor injury to even taking the lives that is the range of harmful microbial life.
Lemongrass is not the cure for the most harmful microbes, but it does have anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. Sometimes due to bacterial infection, we can get ulcers in the mouth and lips. While these ulcers are not fatal but are very irritating and can even take weeks to heal. Lemongrass with its anti-bacterial properties can help you to heal the ulcers fast. Microbes if left unchecked can become quite irritating, if that is the case lemongrass can come for the rescue.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Inflammation can be dangerous and can aid in heart diseases and some other conditions in the body. Lemongrass can reduce the impact of inflammation in the body. Cetral and geranial are the two compounds that are said to have anti-inflammatory properties. These two are found in lemongrass according to some studies. This concludes that lemongrass is good for inflammation and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Against anxiety
The human body is a combination of mind, body, and spirit. One or two parts of this may be perfectly fine but only if one of these elements is not well then one cannot be completely healthy. There are some kinds of problems where there are no wounds or problems on the surface, but much is on inside where no one can see but only you can feel. Among the many problems, there is anxiety. Anxiety is not a problem but is a defense mechanism of the body that makes one more cautious about the dangers.
It was more useful when humans used to live in the forest where there were life-threatening dangers around our ancestors. Being anxious when we see life-threatening dangers, critical situations is ok to some level. The problem is when one starts to get anxious about everything. They start to get anxious when they must get out of the house, they even get anxious when they must talk to somebody. Now, this is a severe problem at many levels.
Anxiety cannot be dealt with overnight it needs time and the right kind of help to get over it. Many kinds of medicines and therapy help to overcome anxiety. Lemongrass also helps to battle anxiety. Lemongrass has the property to relieve stress and tension. These two add fuel to anxiety and make it more severe. Lemongrass aids to battle anxiety by taking the weight of stress and tension.