Product Spotlight: Lemongrass

Imagine This: You’re walking down the streets of Ubud, Bali, and the smell of Lemongrass wafts through the air from the delicious seafood restaurants nearby. Your day in the tropics stretches ahead of you – visiting temples for a blessing and dancing beside lily-filled ponds that night. Why not step into the patio of the nearest restaurant for some sweet herbal tea and a plate of spicy fresh fish and rice?

Ayurvedic wisdom classifies Lemongrass as a cooling herb, that flushes the body of toxins, eases headaches and relieves overall tension, as well as providing other remarkable health benefits.* Let’s see what Lemongrass can do for you!

Let’s take a look into the history of Lemongrass

For five thousand years, Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) has been a beloved herb in Indonesia, India, Asia, and Africa. A perennial plant, Lemongrass grows in clusters of tall stalks and leaves, with a woody outer layer that lightens to pale green. The young plant releases a sweet citrusy scent. When mature, the stalk is fibrous and suitable for cooking, adding a tangy, citrus-mint, ginger-like flavor to your favorite dishes. You can grow Lemongrass at home, and toss chopped up stalks into your own recipes!

In addition to its lovely culinary applications, Lemongrass’ tart, earthy and intriguing scent has made it a favorite for centuries in soaps, lotions, deodorants, hair oils and perfumes. In 17^th century Europe, it was a popular among the nobility and upper classes as a perfume. They used this exotic Asian import to mitigate the noticeable lack of hygiene available in that era.

After World War I, Lemongrass was introduced more widely to the rest of the world, including in South and Central America and the U.S. It is cultivated extensively in India — where Amrita sources the bulk of its Organic Lemongrass Essential Oil.

What is Lemongrass? And why should you be using Lemongrass Essential Oil?

Magical Lemongrass both energizes your body and relieves tension: in low concentrations, it is relaxing, but a in higher concentrations, it is a tonic.* In other words, it has both a stimulating and sedative effect.* Lemongrass can help normalize the body’s metabolism, speeding up digestion.* This aids in burning calories, making it part of a healthy weight loss program.* By reducing sugar (glucose) in the blood, it can also improve cholesterol levels.*

Ideal for Spring, Lemongrass Essential Oil alleviates respiratory problems caused by seasonal allergies.* Because it has anti-inflammatory properties as well, when applied topically, Lemongrass Essential Oil can reduce symptoms of pain and swelling from arthritis, lower fevers, combat migraines and diminish muscle spasms.*

It is also known as a tonic for the nervous system — lightening anxiety and reducing insomnia.* In this way, Lemongrass Essential Oil can give you a sense of natural balance, as well as reduce feelings of vertigo.* This venerable healing plant is a multi-purpose healing dynamo, that even encourages hair growth!*

By cooling and cleansing connective tissue, Lemongrass helps reduce bloating.* (This is good to know after you’ve enjoyed your big Indonesian lunch.) And if you’ve indulged in one too many Bintang beers at your Indonesian feast, Lemongrass Essential Oil will help detoxify your system.*

How do you add Lemongrass Essential Oil into your therapeutic routine?

Lemongrass Essential Oil inspires a host of different applications! Try it out in a variety of ways to find what suits you best. While your first impulse may be to apply it directly to your pulse points, it’s always good to remember to blend it appropriately with an organic carrier oil such as Apricot Kernel, Jojoba, or Rosehips (all of these are also available from Amrita.)

• Overall Topical Application: 3-5% dilution
  • Diluted and applied topically to problem areas – the forehead and temples for a migraine, the tummy for the aforementioned bloated feeling, to aching wrists, knees or lumbar region to relieve arthritis, or to the scalp to augment hair growth, you want to be sure to carefully prepare the blend.* 15-25 drops per tablespoon of a carrier oil, to relieve pain. Be sure to gently rub that tummy! For scalp application, try blending Lemongrass Oil with a little bit of Jojoba Carrier Oil.

• Whole Body Massage Application: up to 2% dilution
  • Always a favorite, try Lemongrass blended with a carrier oil for a long, nurturing massage. You’ll hop off the table afterwards and be ready to take on the world! It’s more pleasant to warm the carrier oil – leave it in the sun for a bit, or rub it briskly between your hands after you have added the Lemongrass Oil. For a 2% dilution, add at most 10 drops of Lemongrass per tablespoon of carrier oil (Jojoba is a good choice). The ancient healing found in even a simple massage, along with the uplifting character of Lemongrass Essential Oil, will give you a sense of renewed energy and purpose.*

• Aromatic Bath Application: up to 2% dilution
  • For a hot, but not scalding bath, a good approach is to mix at most 10 drops of Lemongrass Oil (a 2% dilution) with a cup of Epsom bath salts, or other emulsifier such as honey, bath gel or milk. Pour this mixture into a warm tub, have a nice long soak and you’ll feel tensions dissolve and worries float away. Soon you’ll be sailing down a tranquil river in a sampan, dreaming up your next adventure.

• Diffusion / Inhalation Application: add a few drops to a Nebulizer or Nasal Inhaler
  • Diffusion and Inhalation are the simple and direct way to experience Lemongrass. A diffuser in your office space is ideal, keeping you awake, stimulated, and yet calm as your day unfolds. Place 3-5 drops in a nebulizing diffuser (also available from Amrita!) and replenish frequently.
  • Or, for a more focused therapeutic experience, fill a glass, sink basin or stainless steel pot with 2-3 quarts of very hot water, then add 2-5 drops of Lemongrass Oil. Drape a towel over your head and around the pot, then position your face about 10 inches above the water. Relax and breathe in the steam for 5-10 minutes. Either way, this process will give you a detoxifying and uplifting experience — restoring you to your full super-power potential!*

Need ideas or suggestions on what to add to Lemongrass?

For an ideal pick-me-up while traveling in exotic places or any other time, try blending Lemongrass with Peppermint and Ginger Essential Oils. This will soothe your mind and energize your spirit.* For enjoying the great outdoors in Summertime with a little relief from our insect friends, blend Lemongrass with Rosemary and Tea Tree Essential Oils. Find your happy place with Lemongrass, Pink Grapefruit, and Eucalyptus Citriodora Essential Oils. Trust us, you will love these! Here are a few DIY recipes for you to try in your nebulizer:

Final thoughts from the Amrita Experts

This surprising plant is often overlooked in the aromatherapeutic cornucopia that Amrita offers. Its subtle, powerful scent is sure to wake you up and give you a sense of tranquility at the same time. It’s unique in both its culinary and health benefits, both of which promote a wholesome sense of ease in the world. We invite you to enjoy Amrita’s Lemongrass Essential Oil, and let us know about your experience!

Happy Blending!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.