LEMON GRASS

Ancient medicine, flowing with the wind
Cleanse the home, Cleanse the spirit
Determined discipline of heart,mind, and vision
A new beginning tea to lift your spirit

Lemon grass is two tropical species of fragrant grasses that originated in India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Vietnam, and Indonesia.  West India lemon grass and East India lemon grass are used interchangeably  for cooking and medicine.  West India lemon grass is better for cooking.  East India lemon grass is better for the production of essential oil.  Another species that is closely related is the citronella grass used to make citronella oil and candles.

Lemon grass is a favorite staple herb in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia.  Here it is used in a number of ways to flavor a wide range of dishes.  It is also used to make wonderful teas.  Most of the time, if you have brewed a "lemon" tea bag, you have brewed lemon grass tea.  It has a nice citrus flavor without the bitter tones of lemon peel.

This easy to grow herb has been used as a medicinal tea for thousands of years to support the body and remedy a host of issues.  It is supportive of digestive tract, soothing the stomach, indigestion, bloating, and other intestinal issues.  It is used to support the cardio-vascular system and heart health.  It has been used to calm the nerves and cleanse the body of toxins.  It is one of the herbs that is used for women's health issues.  While it is generally considered safe in small amounts, it can be strong medicine, so consult your medical professional before using lemon grass in large amounts.

The fragrant oils and antimicrobial properties of lemon grass make it useful in the home as well.  Growing it in and around your spaces where people gather, can act as a mosquito repellent.  Or, you can burn lemon grass on the fire to chase the moose-quitos away.  It is one ingredient that is used in a home made insect repellent tea that works as long as the pressures aren't too high.  Lemon grass tea is a good sanitizing cleanser for the surfaces of your home.  Or you can make a linseed oil and lemongrass furniture polish to give your woodwork a fresh shine.

Lemon grass has a long history of use as an energetic and spiritual plant as well.  It is a plant of clarity, purpose, and self mastery.  It can aid you in developing the discipline and determination to reach your highest potential.  When your path gets challenging, this herb can help you stick to your commitments and purpose with a calm resolve and resilience.

Lemon grass is an herb of building community and positive connections.  It likes to facilitate honest communication, openness, and fairness in dealings.  It is an herb of forgiveness and positive interactions.  Burning a lemon grass incense might just be the aid you need to come to the fair resolution of a conflict.

Lemon grass is believed to promote the development of psychic abilities.  It acts as a connection to ancient wisdom and inner knowing.  A bit of lemon grass tea or lemon grass incense might help you draw on your intuition and creative genius of inspiration.

One of the ancient uses for lemon grass is to purify or cleanse people and spaces.  You can create a lemon grass wash for a bath or house cleaning to clear negative and undesirable energies, influences, and spirits.  A lemon grass incense chases out those stagnant and negative energies and invites in positive energy.

I love lemon grass and I have grown it several times.  It is a beautiful herb to work with and grow.  If you don't want to grow your own, you can usually find it at your nearest Asian grocery store.

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Lemon Grass Plant Profile