Lemongrass is one of our most valuable herbs, and its benefits can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Here are 4 reasons why you should keep some at home.
Like mint, lemongrass is a member of the lime family, but it doesn’t grow wild, so you can buy it fresh in pots or dried in sachets. The former can be used to flavour food and drinks, the latter is mainly used to make tea. Whichever form is preferred, the benefits of lemongrass will be felt. Here are 4 of its positive properties that make it worth keeping in your pantry.
1. Calms and helps with insomnia
Today’s hectic, stressful lifestyles are not exactly kind to the nervous system. Many of us are nervous, stressed and even more suffer from insomnia. Lemongrass is a great nervine and calming agent, so if you’re feeling a bit on edge during the day, sip a cup of lemongrass tea. Do the same before bedtime, and have a cup half an hour before you go to bed. Lemongrass essential oil can also be effective against insomnia: vaporise it in the bedroom or put a few drops on your pillow.
2. Helps you lose weight
Although lemon balm’s primary properties include its sedative properties, it can also be relied upon for weight loss. It helps the digestive system, but it’s also a great bile and diuretic, and stimulates liver function. It is also known to have antiperspirant properties, which can also help you lose those extra pounds. To get the right effect, take a lemongrass tea course, i.e. drink a packet of it.
3. Refreshing, energising
As well as lemongrass, lavender can also be effective in calming the nerves, but while lavender calms the nerves by making you sleepy, lemongrass does the opposite, energising and refreshing the body. To enjoy the benefits of both plants, use lavender in the evening and lemongrass during the day. If the tea becomes boring, use the plant fresh and add it as a refreshment to salads, with meat and fish, or simply in a glass of water. If you get lead fatigue in the afternoon, try these methods.
4. Externally for cold sores and joint pain
Lemongrass essential oil is often used as an ingredient in various soothing creams, but we can also try this property at home by adding it to our bath water. Before use, dissolve the essential oil in a little milk or cream and pour it into the bath water, otherwise it may cause allergic reactions on the skin. Lemongrass water helps with colds and joint pains. Externally, it is also good for cold sores: rub a few leaves of fresh lemongrass between your palms to get access to its essential oil, then rub it on the cold sore. As with mint, you can use it to freshen your breath by chewing the leaves.
How is the tea made?
Steep 1 teaspoon of dried lemongrass in 1 cup of tea and strain after 3-4 minutes. Add honey to taste. The tea can also be mixed with mint leaves.