In the olden days, before the emergence and eventual domination of orthodox medicine, people lived healthier and simpler with common herbs that turn life on. It has been a long way to where we are now, but still, a journey punctuated by obvious life-threatening health conditions. Common cold, cough or sore throat could be treated with modern drugs like nasal decongestants, cough suppressants, expectorants or pain relievers, which in some cases may have adverse reactions.
We have accepted these remedies, because we have to live. But then, if we have to live, we must live well. However, there are simpler, easier and perhaps healthier ways to sustain life by either preventing or completely stopping common health conditions.
For many years now, life has had some of its secrets hid in the grass. But it isn’t just any grass, it is the lemongrass. The scientific name for lemongrass is cymbopogon. It is known to grow wild in Southeast Asia and Africa. The native people of these countries have used it predominantly for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Today, due to the health benefits, this plant has gained enormous popularity in the western hemisphere.
The green and white grass with razor-like blade is popularly grown in the warm tropical climates. Lemongrass has an interesting, mild, flavored lemon smell, with astonishing healing properties that contain many compounds, oil, minerals and vitamins that are known to possess anti-oxidant and disease preventing properties.
Citral, which is a primary chemical component in lemongrass, has strong microbial and anti-fungal properties. This helps to inhibit microbial and fungal growth and activities, within and outside the body. An essential result is the prevention and cure of bacterial infections in the colon, stomach, urinary tract and respiratory system.
The use of lemongrass in the treatment of several ailments is a proven, highly beneficial home remedy. Researches indicate that lemongrass is beneficial in the treatment o f cough, cold, fever and other health conditions. Some people know it as fever grass because of its potency against fever.
While some people like having their backs against a hospital bed and have the doctor examine and administer series of drugs to them, other don’t like going to the hospital, and so prefer home remedies; having experienced the magic. If you like to use lemongrass as a home remedy for health disorders, it is wise to grow it in your garden or anywhere within your compound. It will help a lot in emergency situations.
Apart from using lemongrass in the treatment of common health disorders as cold, cough, sore throat and fever, it also helps people cope with stress, high blood pressure, menstrual problems, acne and pimples as well as lowering cholesterol level amongst others.
With the leaves rich in folic acid and essential vitamins, pathogenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and thiamin (vitamin B1), lemongrass has become an amazing and healing agent. Other anti-oxidant minerals and vitamins include vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, zinc, calcium, manganese, copper and magnesium.
Lemongrass oil, when used in aromatherapy revitalizes the whole body and helps to relieve the symptoms of headache, body-ache and other stress related conditions. Lemongrass can equally be prepared as tea. This way, it acts as a diuretic and helps in flushing toxins and waste from the body and improves the liver, spleen and kidney functioning ability.
It can also help you lose weight by shedding unnecessary water along with impurities. This enables you to have more energy to process fats effectively. Lemongrass may also have curative effect on cancer cells. This has been proven in various medical researches, illustrating how lemongrass kills cancer cells while maintaining normal cells.