Lemongrass

Lemongrass

Cymbopogan flexosus

Grown and distilled in Sri Lanka from organically grown plants.

The leaves are distilled, sometimes after partial drying.

This is flexousus, I think the more interesting of the lemongrass species, and it’s not as widely cultivated as the citratus.

Lemongrass is well known for flavor as well as perfumery and aromatherapy products like candles, soaps and similar; its distinctive and strong scent and low price mean it can easily find its way into various creations. Its largest use is probably for the isolation of its citral, and as the starting materials for the production of ionones, methylionones and vitamin A.

This is the lemongrass oil that does not contain myrcene—it shows larger percentages of geranial and neral.

Lemongrass leaves are used not only flavors, mostly in Asian cuisines, and also in traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda. The leaves are sometimes used as a source of cellulose and paper making.

Grows the Night

Grows the night when breath lays quietly

On obscure places fluid as winds,

Where clouds of rest become a hammock

Lulling frayed veins with lemongrass tea –

Grows the night allowing surrender

Its hypnotic intoxication

The exchange of matter and being-

For across the distance grows the night.

--Carly Lalion

Arctander says

Lemongrass oil is a yellow or amber colored, somewhat viscous liquid with a very strong, fresh-grassy lemon-type herbaceous or tea-like odor. It’s sweet, distinctly lemon-like, fresh and light.

Battaglia says

Lemongrass has been known to show the following activities:

Antifungal

Antimicrobial

Antiinflammatory

Antinociceptive

Cardioprotective

Cholesterol lowering

Insecticidal

Oral health

Sedative

There have been plenty of studies done on lemongrass and he explains many of them in his book The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy.