There are numerous possible health benefits of lemongrass essential oil. These include fighting bacteria, reducing inflammation, providing antioxidants, and more.
Lemongrass essential oil comes from the lemongrass plant, which grows in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The oil can be bright or pale yellow with a thin consistency and a lemony scent.
People have used lemongrass in traditional medicine for pain relief, stomach problems, and fevers. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties may also provide other benefits.
Learn about the possible benefits of lemongrass essential oil, how to use it, and whether it has any side effects.
Benefits of lemongrass oil may include:
Fighting bacteria and fungi
Research finds that the bioactive compound citral in lemongrass oil has strong antimicrobial effects against bacteria and fungi. A
The study showed that lemongrass oil interfered with the matrix structure of the biofilm, which can be harmful or helpful to the human body, depending on what bacteria grow within it.
Candida is a common fungal infection, and Staphylococcus aureus can cause boils and blisters on the skin. This research may prove lemongrass oil is an effective treatment.
Other research from 2022 also finds that lemongrass oil is effective against various microbes that cause diseases, inhibiting their growth and causing bactericidal or death of the bacteria.
Reducing inflammation
Chronic inflammation can cause many health problems, including arthritis, diabetes, and some cancers.
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This could be due to lemongrass oil reducing the amount of proinflammatory cytokines released and producing various molecules that stop the release of substances that cause inflammation.
Providing antioxidants
Antioxidants help fight harmful free radicals and oxidative stress in the body, which may help reduce signs of aging and the risk of many diseases.
Lemongrass oil is high in antioxidants that
Easing rheumatoid arthritis
Lemongrass essential oil may help reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, most likely due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
An older 2017 study examined the effects of lemongrass essential oil on 30 people with rheumatoid arthritis between ages 35 and 70 years.
The researchers gave each person 3 milligrams of lemongrass essential oil to apply for 30 days. Over time, the participants reported less pain.
People can buy lemongrass essential oil online or from a health food store. People should never apply undiluted essential oils on their skin or into their eyes, mouth, or ears.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lemongrass essential oil as safe when people use it correctly. Misusing essential oils is dangerous and can result in poisoning, skin burns, nausea, and illness in pets.
People can add lemongrass essential oil to a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, and massage it into the skin.
Another way to use it is to add several drops of the essential oil to boiling water and inhale the steam through the nose, keeping the eyes closed and covering the head with a towel.
People can also add lemongrass essential oil to an oil diffuser, which is available in stores and online.
The concentration levels of essential oils when people vaporize them are unlikely to be dangerous for adults. However, people should be cautious about using diffusers around infants, children, pregnant people, or pets.
Essential oils are flammable, so people should keep them away from an open flame.
Do not take lemongrass essential oil orally unless following the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Lemongrass essential oil may irritate the skin and cause a rash. To help minimize the risk of skin irritation, a person should avoid applying lemongrass essential oil to the skin if they have:
- allergies or skin conditions, such as eczema
- not diluted the oil first
- broken or damaged skin
It is also important for people to perform a skin patch test on a small area and wait 24 hours to check whether a reaction appears before applying the diluted oil more liberally.
Lemongrass essential oil can also cause dryness and stinging around the eyes, ears, mouth, and other mucous membranes, such as the genital area. For this reason, it is best not to use it on the face or put the oil into bathwater.
Research suggests lemongrass has many health benefits, often due to its antifungal, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.
Many studies on lemongrass essential oil use test tubes or animal models, so further research is necessary to learn more about its benefits for humans.
Using diluted lemongrass essential oil for massage, steam inhalation, or diffusing may help people relax and benefit from this traditional remedy.
People should never apply undiluted essential oil directly to the skin or take the oil orally unless under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
