25 Amazing Lemongrass Oil Uses

Lemongrass oil is a common ingredient in Asian cooking since the perennial plant thrives in tropical and subtropical regions such as Cambodia, India, Malaysia, China, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Many are familiar with the oils uses for flavoring foods like fish, poultry, or seafood, but lemongrass oil has also become popular in cosmetics and aromatherapy.

1. Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Lemongrass oil works great for topical pain relief. The oil offers immediate pain relief while reducing inflammation, which can occur with chronic diseases such as asthma, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Parkinson’s disease.

The anti-inflammatory properties of lemongrass oil come from the limonene present in the oil. To use the oil topically, you want to dilute two drops of lemongrass oil to one teaspoon of a carrier oil such as almond oil or apricot kernel oil.

2. Skin Health

This essential oil works wonders for your skin! Lemongrass oil has antiseptic and astringent properties that effectively cleanse all skin types, leaving refreshed, glowing skin. We can add lemongrass oil to shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, and deodorants to help our skin.

In addition to evening your skin tone, the oil also sterilizes your pores, serves as a natural toner, and strengthens skin tissues. Plus, the oil alleviates muscle pain and headaches if you massage it on your head, scalp, and body.

3. Deodorizer

As mentioned, lemongrass oil can be used in deodorants because it is a natural air freshener. You can add it to water and use it as a mist or you can add it to a diffuser or vaporizer. If you want to customize your fragrance, you can add other oils like lavender or peppermint to get the scent you desire.

Synthetic deodorants are a big expense and can have a heavy impact on the environment. Also, synthetic deodorants can irritate the skin and exacerbate certain allergies. Lemongrass oil is far healthier, and it does not have the same side effects as synthetic deodorants. If you are interested in mixing your own deodorant, One Green Planet offers instructions on how to make it, which I highly recommend!

4. Bug Repellant

Insects hate lemongrass! Due to its high citral and geraniol content, lemongrass oil repels bugs such as ants and mosquitoes. You can spray the oil directly onto any exposed skin to repel flying bugs and apply it on the edges of your clothes to keep away climbing insects like ticks.

Before applying the oil onto your skin, dilute it in a carrier oil or salve first. In addition to repelling insects, this essential oil fights fleas. To kill fleas, add five drops of lemongrass oil to water and create a spray for your pet’s coat. (DIY Bug Spray)

5. Headache Relief

I get headaches frequently, whether it’s from hormones, tension, or allergies. Lemongrass oil soothes all types. Although peppermint oil is also a fantastic headache reliever, lemongrass oil is great if you are sensitive to peppermint.

Simply apply several drops to your temples at the first signs of a headache. The lemony aroma will help you feel relaxed and begin to soothe pain. If you want extra relief, you can apply diffused lemongrass oil to your temples and massage a few drops of peppermint oil behind your ears and along your hairline.

6. Hair Health

If you’re suffering from conditions such as hair loss, oily hair, or other scalp conditions, lemongrass oil could be highly beneficial for you. The oil strengthens hair follicles and soothes dry and itchy scalps. Simply massage several drops into your scalp and rinse it out. The bacteria-killing properties of the lemongrass oil will leave your hair shiny, fresh, and odor-free.

7. Stress Reducer and Sleep Aid

The calming aroma of lemongrass oil has the power to relieve anxiety, irritability, insomnia. The oil’s sedative and hypnotic properties can help you sleep throughout the night and also improves the overall quality of your sleep.

Applying lemongrass oil to the bottoms of your feet before going to bed is calming and induces a deep sleep. Also, you can drink a cup of lemongrass tea to relax your body. For relieving stress, you can create your own massage oil or add it to your body lotion.

8. Muscle Relaxer

This oil is great for muscle pain and tension. If your muscles are tight and sore, you can use lemongrass oil to concoct a massage oil that will reduce inflammation in your muscles. Massaging the oil into your skin helps circulate blood flow, which relieves muscle spasms, backaches, sprains, and cramps. After a long day at work, your feet can feel tired and sore, so try adding ten drops of lemongrass oil to warm water and soak your feet.

9. Menstrual Cramps

Cramps and other side effects caused by menstruation can leave you feeling awful. This essential oil can relieve pain from menstrual cramps, and even helps with nausea and irritability. To help relieve these symptoms, try drinking two cups of lemongrass tea a day.

10. Detoxifier

Because lemongrass oil has diuretic properties, it can help flush toxins out of the body and reduce fluid buildup. It helps detox the digestive tract, bladder, kidneys, liver, and pancreas, keeping your system clean and healthy. To use this oil as a detoxifier, you can drink lemongrass tea, or add it to your soup. Try this Secret Cucumber Detox Soup recipe.

11. Lowers Cholesterol

You can lower your cholesterol just by taking two drops of lemongrass oil per day. Animals that had high cholesterol were given lemongrass oil in a study, and their numbers improved drastically. Consuming this essential oil sustains healthy levels of triglycerides and reduces the LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body. This protects you against many cardiac disorders and promotes unobstructed blood flow in the arteries.

12. Fatigue

Lemongrass oil can fight fatigue aromatically, much like stress relief. Instead of using harmful energy drinks or other similar treatments, give yourself a natural energy boost. You can diffuse this essential oil or use it topically by massaging it on your temples or applying it to your skin with a carrier oil.

13. Enhances Mood

Lemongrass has a fresh and earthy scent, leaving a fresh aroma to diffuse. It makes you feel clean, renewed, relaxed, refreshed, so it’s a great oil to diffuse at the start of your day. Plus, this essential oil, can boost confidence, mental health, and works as an antidepressant. To fight depression, you can drink some lemongrass tea to help you relax, or diffuse the aroma at night while you’re asleep.

14. Lowers Fever

Lemongrass oil helps reduce fevers before they get to a dangerous level. This is due to its antipyretic properties. You can drink lemongrass tea to reduce fevers, however the best method is to use a massage oil infused with lemongrass and apply it to the back of your neck, chest, and the bottoms of your feet.

15. Facial Uses

If you’re feeling a little congested, try a facial sauna with lemongrass oil. Just fill a shallow bowl or your sink with hot water and add a few drops of the essential oil. Hover of the bowl with a towel draped over your head to prevent the steam from leaking out. After, rinse with warm water and apply coconut oil for a moisturizer. Another great facial use for this oil is by making a mask. You can make a clay mask with almond oil and lemongrass oil to keep your face debris-free and fresh.

16. Fights Cancer

Lemongrass oil has the ability to fight off free radicals. Citral, one of the main components of the oil, inhibits the growth of cancer cells, especially early on. These anti-cancer activities are mostly prevalent in skin cancer; however, researchers are working toward a cure for more types of cancer.

In 2009, a study was published that evaluated the use of lemongrass oil, and the results were quite promising; researchers discovered various mechanisms of how the oil killed cancer lines.

17. Supports Immune System

This essential oil can improve the quality of your organs and restores your system to ensure those organs are working properly. By absorbing nutrients into our bodies, lemongrass oil can boost your immune system. It is loaded with necessary nutrients that help our bodies function regularly, such as Vitamin C, proteins, Calcium, Potassium, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6, and Zinc.

18. Treats Digestive Disorders

If you get gas irritation in the stomach and bowels, this oil could be beneficial for you. It removes toxins from the body by increasing urination, which helps alleviate pain. Urination removes fats from the body, promotes digestion, and inhibits the formation of excess gas. To help with indigestion, massage a drop or two of lemongrass oil onto your abdomen.

19. Increases Milk Production

Lemongrass oil is a galactogogue, which is in agent that increases the formation of milk in the breasts and improves the quality of breast milk. This property is beneficial for lactating mothers and babies who need it as a vital food source. Also, since lemongrass oil is antimicrobial and antibacterial, it also helps babies fight infections.

20. Reduces Flatulence

This essential oil is carminative, which means it can efficiently assist anyone troubled with excess gas. Not only does lemongrass oil remove gas that has formed in the intestines, but also stops further flatulence from forming. In addition, it provides a safe downward passage by relaxing the muscles in the abdominal region.

21. Fights Infections

Lemongrass oil helps kill both internal and external infections, including ringworm and athlete’s foot. In fact, in a study conducted by Weber State University in Utah in 2008, the powerful oil ranked highest in inhibitory activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection out of 91 essential oils tested.

To help with athlete’s foot, use a drop of oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil and rub the oils on your feet several times a day. You can also put the oil on before bed and wear socks until morning.

22. Treats Shock

As a sedative, this oil effectively treats those in shock until medical assistance arrives. It calms the mind and reduces anxiety, leaving you in a sedated state. If someone is in shock, add one to two drops to a cotton ball and place it under the nostrils immediately.

23. Kills Germs

Lemongrass oil fights germs, which makes it a great addition to your cleaning supplies. The citral and limonene components can kill or stifle the growth of bacteria and fungi. In addition to adding the essential oil to your cleaning products, you can also diffuse it to eliminate airborne toxins and bacteria. (DIY Cleaning Products)

24. Helps Stomachaches

Since lemongrass oil stimulates bowel movements and improves digestion, it has beneficial uses for stomach pain. It can prevent gastrointestinal disorders such as gastric ulcers and gastritis, and also cures stomach distress. The best way to help with stomachaches is by consuming soup or tea that is infused with lemongrass oil.

25. Joint Pain

In addition to alleviating muscle soreness, lemongrass oil can also relieve joint pain. Much like with muscle tension, the oil reduces pain and inflammation. The oil works especially well when combined with birch and geranium essential oils. However, since birch oil is not recommended if you are on blood thinners, lemongrass is an effective substitute.

Cautions on Lemongrass Oil

Although lemongrass oil is a safe and effective for most people, you may experience a rash or burning when used topically if you have sensitive skin, so use it with caution. You should always use the oil with a carrier oil and test it on a small patch of skin first before applying it in large quantity.

There is also a slight chance that it can cause miscarriages, so if you are pregnant you should not use this oil. It is also strongly cautioned not to use while nursing unless it has been approved by a medical professional, and it should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

I hope you enjoyed learning about all the amazing uses of lemongrass oil besides using it in food preparation, and I believe you will love its benefits just as much as I do! Please feel free to share this article or leave a comment below.