From Cellulite Reduction
to Powerful Antioxidant Protection:
The Many Benefits of Lemon Grass & Lemongrass Oil
Herbs are one of nature's greatest gifts. Especially lemongrass, with
it's immune system and digestive system benefits - it even reduces cellulite!
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Want a delicious way to boost your immune system, aid your muscles and connective
tissue and reduce cellulite? Then the herb lemon grass is for you.
Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrates) is a perennial plant with culinary
and medicinal uses that is native to India and Nepal. Popularly used in Thai,
Vietnamese and Caribbean cooking. Lemon grass is finally becoming popular
in the US as well, and with good reason as you'll see.
Lemon Grass in Cuisine
Lemon grass can be used to make soups, stews, tea and curries. It has a light,
lemony smell and flavor, with a hint of ginger.
If you cook with lemon grass, consider blending it with cilantro, garlic
and chilies.
Lemon Grass for Your Health
Indigenous people in Nepal and in traditional Indian medicine used antioxidant-rich
lemon grass for infectious diseases, fever and as a sedative for the central
nervous system.
Animal studies have also shown that lemongrass oil may be effective at
preventing colon cancer and other cancers.
Researchers are uncertain as to the exact properties in lemongrass oil that
inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells, but it maybe because it contains
the highest amount of citral versus any other known
plant. Citral, a substance also found in lemon peels, is known to relieve
cramps, spasms, headaches and rheumatism. Researchers note that
lemongrass oil's antioxidant qualities and ability to inhibit the enzyme that
promotes the growth of cancer cells are promising.1,2
Other animal studies have shown that lemongrass oil inhibits the growth
of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the opportunistic pathogen that is behind
ulcers and other gastroduodenal diseases.3
Sources of Lemon Grass
Lemon grass can be purchased in Asian markets and health food stores and
comes fresh, dried and powered. You can also grow lemon grass yourself, either
indoors or outdoors in a warm climate.
Want to get 70 times the benefits of lemon grass, naturally? Try Forever
Young 100% pure lemongrass
essential oil!Herbs are one of nature's greatest gifts. Especially
lemongrass, with it's immune system and digestive system benefits -
it even reduces cellulite!
|
Fresh lemon grass is better than powdered or dried and the most potent
form is lemongrass
essential oil. Essential oils are 70 times more concentrated than
their plant counterparts and have been used throughout history for health
and wellness.
At Body Ecology, we have long recommended the use of essential oils for health
and relaxation.
We love Forever
Young Essential Oils for their commitment to the highest standards and
quality. While you may not know it, essential oil companies (even those sold
in health food stores) can label their products 100% pure, while still extending
them up to 50% with other chemicals (some of them cancer-causing).
Forever Young Essential Oils are unique because they are third-party E.O.B.B.D.
(Essential Oils Botanically and Biochemically
Defined) tested for 100% purity. You can immediately tell their
quality by smelling the deep, rich scent.
Below are some of the most common uses for lemongrass essential oil:
Systems affected:
- Cartilage
- Tendons
- Connective tissue
- Ligaments
- Immune system
- Muscles
- Bones
Common Uses for Lemongrass Essential Oil:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Arthritis
- Tightens muscles
- Cartilage
- Tendons
- Cellulite
- Immune stimulant
- Vasodilator
- Hydro lipid retention
- Digestive tonic
- Stimulates liver
- Sedative action calms stress related disorders
- Antiseptic
- Toning astringent - Cleansing to oily skin, blackheads, tightens pores
- Bladder infection (cystitis)
- Regenerates connective tissue
- Edema, fluid retention
- Kidney disorders
- Lymphatic drainage
- Strengthens vascular walls
Some Options for Application:
- Apply 2 drops lemongrass per ounce of organic unrefined almond oil, olive
oil or your favorite unrefined oil that does not have a strong scent. This
creates a "carrier" oil, which allows you to dilute the oil and
carries it into your skin.
- Use this mixture of lemongrass and your favorite organic unrefined
oil for a massage oil or replacement for lotion.
- This mixture can be smoothed over your skin to soothe tired muscles
and ligaments, as an anti-cellulite oil or a de-stressing massage oil.
- Add 1 - 2 drops in a cloth and inhale to relax your senses.
Experience Earth's Natural Gifs
Whether you want to add a new taste to your cooking, heal your body or quiet
your mind, lemon grass is a great addition to your natural health lifestyle.
Try lemon grass today, whether you experiment with the herb itself or try
one of the many uses of lemongrass
essential oil. It's a great way to connect with the earth's natural
gifts for healing.
Sources:
1 Jones, Cindy L.A., Lemon Grass: May Help Prevent Cancer. November 2001.
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=3081
,2 Frishberg, Manny. Wandering in the desert in search of medicine
http://www.jtnews.net/index.php?/news/item/1060/
3 Ohno, Tomoyuki, et. al., Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils against
Helicobacter pylori.
June 2003. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1523-5378.2003.00146.x
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