Lemon Grass is a common perennial plant that is found in most homes and gardens; it has a pleasant citrus taste and flavor, it is called lemongrass because its fragrance is similar to that of lemon but it is milder and sweeter than lemon.

This popular herb has lots of medicinal properties; it is used in treating many illnesses at home and relieving the symptoms of stress and other health conditions.

This herbal grass is a storehouse of many essential phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This herb is highly rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and vitamin C; it has a high content of magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, phosphorous and manganese.

Lemongrass also has powerful antioxidants, flavonoids and phenolic compounds like Quercitin, catechol, luteolin, elemicin, glycosides, kaempferol, Caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid. All these compounds and vital nutrients help in keeping the body strong and healthy.

SEE ALSO: 10 Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts (Nutritional Value)

The active ingredient in lemongrass is Citral, also called lemonal; this is what gives this grass its characteristic lemon scent and this is a powerful compound with medicinal benefits. It is an antimicrobial and antifungal compound which helps in treating all kinds of infections and diseases.

Ten Amazing Health Benefits of Lemon Grass

This herb is commonly taken as a tea and either the fresh or dried leaves can be used; the fresh or dried leaves are added to water and allowed to boil. Then it is sieved and left to cool before taking. To preserve the leaves, they can be dried and used over a long time; this is useful if you don’t have access to the fresh leaves. To dry the leaves; put them in a shade, do not dry them using sunlight. Then when dried, put them in a neat and dry container.

1. It Prevents and Fights Cancer

Researchers have proven the effectiveness of this grass in preventing and treating many types of cancer; it can differentiate between cancerous cells and healthy cells of the body and destroy only the cancerous cells and other damaged cells of the body.

It can prevent skin cancer from happening in the first place; its active compound Citral prevents and stops the growth of liver cancer during the initial stage and it prevents cancerous cells from multiplying. Citral can stop the growth of breast cancer and induce apoptosis on cancerous cells.

SEE ALSO: 10 Health Benefits of Moringa Leaves (Moringa Oleifera)

Take at least a cup of lemon grass tea daily when battling cancer; the fresh leaves should be used in this case because they still have most of the nutrients intact. To make it more effective, cut it straight from your garden and take it to the kitchen to boil it.

2. It Boosts the Immune System

This herb has rich content of vitamin C and other vital nutrients which help in fortifying the immune system; it helps the digestive system to properly absorb nutrients from foods, it strengthens immune response, fights inflammation and boosts the defense mechanism of the body.

3. It Lowers Cholesterol

High levels of cholesterol in the body have been implicated in many chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, heart attack, arthritis and high blood pressure; these diseases are the biggest killers of mankind on the planet.  Lemon grass is rich in phytochemicals that can bring down high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body; it prevents lipids from accumulating in blood vessels and aid smooth flow of blood.

4. It Fights Pains

This herb has powerful analgesic properties that make it effective in treating and relieving pains like headaches, migraines, joint and muscle pains and arthritis pain. It has rich content of phytochemicals that make it effective in improving the flow and circulation of blood all over the body; this helps in preventing and relieving muscle spasms, cramps, sprains, backaches and more, it is also used in the treatment of wounds, dislocations, bruises and internal injuries.

5. It Keeps the Cells Healthy

The cells are the building blocks of the body, faulty and damaged cells leads to a lot of health problems and complications. A group of cells forms tissues, a group of tissues forms organs, a group of organs with the same functions forms a system and a collection of many systems makes the body.

SEE ALSO: 10 Health Benefits of Neem Leaves and Medical Uses

This grass is rich in powerful antioxidants which keeps the cells healthy and protect oxidative stress and damage from the activities of free radicals. They cleansed the blood from damaged or old red blood cells and also help in the production of white blood cells which help the body in fighting diseases.

It also stimulates the regeneration of body cells and helps in DNA synthesis and cell division.

6. It Aids Weight Loss

The active ingredient Citral can prevent and reverse obesity. Lemon grass burns abdominal fat and other body fats and helps the body to make use of stored energy which is usually in the form of fats. It prevents weight gain; helps the body to carry out healthy metabolism and promotes the oxidation of fatty acids in the body.

7. It Prevents and Treats Diabetes

This is an effective natural remedy for type II diabetes; its active compound Citral helps to maintain the normal levels of insulin. The herb makes sure the adequate levels of insulin is present in the bloodstream. It also improves glucose tolerance in the body.

8. It Treats and Cures Fever

This powerful grass is an effective home remedy for fever, typhoid, malaria and other diseases that raise the temperature high above normal. Because of its ability to effectively bring down high temperature, it is called the “fever grass”; it has anti-pyretic and diaphoretic properties which can induce sweating and cure fevers.

9. It Detoxifies the Body

This herb is an effective detoxifier; it cleanses and flushes waste and toxic compounds and by-products out of the body. This prevents sicknesses and infections because too many toxins can lead to many health problems and complications. This will also boost the health and functions of the liver, kidney are skins because they help in eliminating waste and toxins out of the body.

SEE ALSO: 10 Best Herbal Treatment For Blocked Fallopian Tube

This herb also reduces the levels of uric acid in the body which can lead to gout which is a painful condition. This herb helps in cleansing the body thoroughly and making it healthy.

10. Treats Infections

Lemon grass has powerful antiseptic, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties; it can effectively treat infections like urinary tract infection, scabies, yeast infection, ringworm, sores, athlete’s foot, oral and vaginal candidiasis.

This herb can effectively stop the growth of pathogens that cause these infections.