Lemongrass is a perennial plant with slender, long leaves, which grows in the Asian countries. Its smell is almost completely the same as the one of the lemon fruit, which explains its name.
Yet, its taste is a bit different, as is sweeter and milder.
This plant is also known as fever grass, and it is commonly used in the Asian culture. Moreover, it is highly nutritious, as it is rich in vitamin C and A, zinc, folic acid, magnesium, manganese, calcium, potassium, copper, phosphorus, vitamin B, and iron.
However, this plant offers numerous medicinal properties, such as:
Treats arthritis
This plant has potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which are of great help in the case of debilitating conditions like gout, arthritis, rheumatism, joint problems, and osteoarthritis.
Namely, the lemongrass slows down the activity and actions of the enzymes which cause the swelling and pain in the joints.
Fights flu and colds
The strong antifungal and antibacterial characteristics of this plant help the body to prevent and combat common colds, flu, fever, and cough. Moreover, the high amounts of vitamin C strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of infection.
Also, lemongrass effectively breaks down the accumulated mucus and phlegm. Moreover, the tea of lemongrass has extremely beneficial effects in the case of asthma and bronchitis.
Helps digestion
Lemongrass provides great help for the digestive system, and due to its potent antiseptic properties, it efficiently destroys bacteria and parasites which invade the digestive system.
It therefore treats numerous digestion issues, including vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain, heartburn, constipation, indigestion, bloating, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
Its strong antimicrobial characteristics relieve pain from issues like gastroenteritis. For best effects, you should drink lemongrass tea on a daily basis.
Regulates cholesterol effects
The potent anti-cholesterol properties of this plant reduce the cholesterol levels and reduce the bad cholesterol levels into the bloodstream. This also prevents the buildup of plaque on the walls of the blood vessels.
The findings of a study found a reduction of the cholesterol levels in individuals with high cholesterol levels after the regular use of 140 mg of capsules of lemongrass supplement. Furthermore, the high potassium levels regulate the blood pressure.
Fights cancer
This beneficial plant is rich in antioxidants which reduce the risk of cancer and prevent free radical damage. Lemongrass also effectively destroys cancer cells.
Citral, which is a part of lemongrass, stimulates apoptosis- which is the death of cancer cells, without causing any damage to the healthy ones. Moreover, a 2008 study has shown that citral effectively slows down the growth of breast cancer cells.
How to grow lemongrass
When you go to the grocery store, find the freshest lemongrass plants you can buy. When you get home, trim a couple of inches off the top of the lemongrass plants and peel away anything that looks somewhat dead. Take the stalks and put them into a glass of shallow water and place it near a sunny window.
After a few weeks, you should start seeing tiny roots at the bottom of the lemongrass herb stalk. It’s not much different than starting any other plant in a glass of water. Wait for the roots to mature a little more and then you can transfer the lemongrass herb to a pot of soil.
Growing lemongrass is as simple as taking your started plant out of the water and putting the rooted stalks into a pot containing all-purpose soil, with the crown just below the surface. Put this pot of lemongrass plants in a warm, sunny spot on a window ledge or out on your patio. Water it regularly.
If you live in a warm climate, you can plant your lemongrass plants out in the backyard in a bog or pond. Of course, growing the plant indoors is nice for having easy access to the fresh plant whenever you need it.
Propagating Lemongrass
Propagating lemongrass is just as easy as starting new plants from store-bought lemongrass herb. Again, take a couple of inches off the top of the grown plant and place them in water in a glass on a window sill. Wait a few weeks and you will once again have a lemongrass herb ready for planting.