SIAM NATURAL™ brand

Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus

With its lemony scent and hint of rose aroma, lemon grass is an essential ingredient in, Thai, and Indonesian cooking. Lemon grass grows wild in Indonesia, Indochina, and tropical Australia, and it is widely cultivated in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka as a culinary herb and in India as a holistic medicinal herb.

Because of the Myrcene with its strongly green and vegetative note, Myrcene, or ?-myrcene, is the olefinic natural organic compound. A favorite citrus odor, Lemongrass is used in teas, soups, externally in skin care, and in foot soaps for athletes foot. It is considered to help minimize perspiration and sweat. Beta-myrcene is a monoterpene found in the essential oils of various plants, including lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), and is widely used in herbal folk medicine. In pharmacological screening, it was observed that lemongrass tea has potent analgesic activity in rodents, and beta-myrcene was subsequently identified as the active ingredient responsible for this effect.

Constituents

The essential oil of lemon grass, 0.2 to 0.5%, lemon grass oil consists mainly of 75-85% citral and up to 25% Myrcene. The herb also contains Myrcene, nerol, limonene, linalool and beta-caryophyllene; the compounds make the essential oil subject to "curdling" when exposed to the air.

Parts Used

The lower portion of the stalk.

Typical Preparations

Universally used within tea blends for its flavor and aroma. Lemongrass is rarely seen in encapsulations or extracts, but equally as effective. Sliced fresh lemon grass, or ground powder (1 teaspoon of lemon grass powder equals one stalk of fresh lemongrass)

Summary

As a medicinal herb, lemon grass is mildly diuretic and a stimulant tonic. The herb promotes digestion of fats, and in eastern traditional herbal healing a preparation of lemon grass with pepper has been used for relief of menstrual troubles and nausea. The herb stimulates perspiration, cooling the body in summer and lowering fevers any time of year. Lemongrass is well known a mild insect repellent (citronella) and the essential oil is used in perfumery.

Precautions

Take care to store lemon grass away from other foods and spices, as they make pick up its aroma. Soak dried whole lemon grass for two hours in warm water before using in cooking. It's medicinal application in excessive doses should be avoided while pregnant.

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