Lemongrass Essential Oil

Cymbopogon citratus

Properties:
Lemongrass essential oil has a lemony, sweet smell. Its colour ranges from dark yellow to amber and reddish. It has a watery consistency.

Origin:
It originated in India.

Extraction Method:
Lemongrass essential oil is extracted from the fresh or partly dried leaves by steam distillation.

Chemical composition:
myrcene, citronellal, geranyl acetate, nerol, geraniol, neral and traces of limonene and citral.

Therapeutic properties:
Analgesic, anti-depressant, antimicrobial. antipyretic, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicidal, galactagogue, insecticidal, nervine, nervous system sedative and tonic.

Uses:

1. Lemongrass essential oil revitalizes the body.
2. It relieves the symptoms of jetlag, clears headaches.
3. It helps to combat nervous exhaustion and stress-related conditions.
4. It is a great overall tonic for the body and it boosts the parasympathetic nervous system, which is a boon when recovering from illness, as it also stimulates glandular secretions.
5. It is useful with respiratory infections such as sore throats, laryngitis and fever and helps prevent spreading of infectious diseases.
6. It is helpful with colitis, indigestion and gastro-enteritis.
7. Lemongrass oil helps tone the muscles and tissue, relieves muscle pains by making the muscle more supple.
8. It helps with correcting poor circulation and as an insect repellant.
9. It helps to keep pets clean of fleas, ticks and lice.
10. It also is used for clearing up oily skin and acne, as well as athlete's foot.
11. It alleviates excessive perspiration.

Precautions:

• Avoid in glaucoma and with children.
• Use caution in prostatic hyperplasia and with skin hypersensitivity or damaged skin.
• Avoid during pregnancy.

Blends well with:

basil, cedarwood, coriander, geranium, jasmine, lavender, tea tree.