My adorable readers and visitors, welcome to my page. Today i wish to expose you a grass you may have been cutting off in your garden or bushes around your house. Its called LEMON GRASS. It is also known as cymbopogon citratus However, it has a counter part, a look alike which may be mistaken for lemon grass. That one is called citronella. Read on and see which you should keep growing around you and which you should avoid, if not completely anywhere else, not near your mouth or food.
Lemon grass is an Asian, African, Australian and Tropical Island plant from the grass family poaceae.. It thrives anywhere, especially near water. It has sharp blades which are bluish green. It also has thick clumpy stems which are white.
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The leaves and stems are used for cooking, tea, soup or curry, even cream.The aroma , to me is irresistible, especially when i use it for pepper soup.The leaves and oil from lemon grass are also used for medicines. see :
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So, do you have it around you? Does your gardener uproot and throw it off? See what you may be missing:
HEALTH BENEFITS OF LEMON GRASS
i) It contains so much vitamins such as Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and C.
ii) It contains lemon which gives it anti=fungal and antibacterial properties
ii)It detoxifies the body. With lemon grass, harmful wastes are flushed from the body and proper regulation of the liver and kidney are maintained. It makes one urinate more and as such, removes stored fats.
iv) Tea can be made from lemon grass. The tea induces sleep. There is a sedative effect on the body by lemon grass and thus cures insomnia
v) It cures fever. In fact this is the first thing i knew lemon grass for. It has antipyretic property and as such, if used for fever, the person after taking it sweats it out.
vi) It boosts immunity. It restores the system and helps to absorb nutrients and strengthen the immune systems against attacks
vii)It helps to burn fats , thereby preventing obesity.
viii)It relieves stress and anxiety because of some calming effect it has
ix) High blood sufferers can use it
It stimulates menstrual flow
x) solves respiratory problems even in kids
xi) Help in managing diarrhoea
A grass with so many health benefits? Shouldnt it have some side effects even if only one? Lets see
SIDE EFFECTS OF LEMON GRASS
Despite the health benefits stated above, care should be taken when using lemon grass. Information on the dosage has not been spelt out.
More so, if lemon grass products are not diluted, it can cause skin irritations
WHO SHOULD AVOID LEMON GRASS?
i) Pregnant women
ii) Lactating mothers
iii) People with Kidney and liver problem
iv) People who are on drugs for liver problem. It could interact with it.
Are all lemon grasses edible? No.
INEDIBLE LEMON GRASS LOOK ALIKE (CITRONELLA)
Citronella looks very much like lemon grass but please it is not edible.
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However, see what it can be used for
i) antiseptic/ anti-bacteria to prevent infection in the home
ii) It is a muscle relaxant. It relaxes the muscle and prevent muscle spasm
iii) it is an anti-inflammatory.. It is used to reduce or prevent an injury from swelling.
iv)it is a mosquito repellant
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The oil from it is unsafe to take in by mouth and if it occurred by mistake, it better not be in large quantity. It is also unsafe to inhale citronella oil.it can damage the lungs. Be careful with citronella, it can cause food poisoning for kids.
Dear readers, going by the health benefits of lemon grass, if you want to take a shoot out anywhere you see it to plant in your house, ensure that you are planting lemon grass, not citronella. Except you want the latter for insect repelling purpose. If for food, ensure you get the real lemon grass.
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References: For more reading: check here, here and here
