Lemongrass Uses and Plant Profile

“Wait…..citronelle is lemongrass in English?” said 20-year-old me to my mother, mystified that a plant from her native country of Haiti had an English name that I actually recognized. It’s common for Caribbean folks to go in the backyard and grab unnamed leaves for teas or infusions, but I rarely paid attention to the type of plant until that moment. That’s when I learned that this lemony-scented plant has been used in the Caribbean, Africa, Central/South America, and South-East Asia in herbal remedies and culinary recipes for hundreds of years. 

The first record of cultivating West Indian lemongrass, or Cymbopogon citratus, can be found in 17th century texts from the Philippines. This species was introduced to Haiti by 1917 and commercial cultivation began there and in Florida by 1947.¹ Large-scale cultivation of East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) had already begun in its native region of India decades prior.² Presently, both species are widely cultivated in tropical regions of the Americas and Asia, with China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Guatemala operating as major lemongrass exporters.

Lemongrass is widely known and used as a culinary herb and insect repellant, but this flavorful plant has many other uses for the nervous system, digestive system, the skin, and more.

Immune Support

Lemongrass can help the immune system fight off infections, mostly through its diaphoretic effect that supports the body when experiencing fevers, giving it the alternate name “fever grass” in the Caribbean.³ Lemongrass’ uplifting citrus flavor makes a delightful tea that can help mask the taste of less pleasant tasting herbs.

In some African countries, lemongrass is used to make a tea with lime and guava leaves to enhance its fever-reducing properties especially in cases of malaria.⁴ Lemongrass has also been used this way in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. 

Clinical studies have shown effectiveness of C. citratus oil against multiple bacteria, many of which show resistance to antibiotics. Previous studies have also concluded that the two main antibacterial constituents in lemongrass are geranial and neral.⁵ According to Pereira’s Materia Medica (1854), in the East and West Indies, infusions of lemongrass increase perspiration during common colds. Drink 2–4 cups a day to support the fever process.

Skin Health

Lemongrass-infused oil and lemongrass essential oils are used in hygiene products like soap and deodorant for lemongrass’ pleasant scent and for its antifungal and antibacterial properties that can help with issues like sweaty armpits and feet.⁶ Also, the herbal infusion and essential oil are commonly used in commercial skin care products, such as creams, lotions, and skin cleansers for normal and oily skin.⁷ Its astringency and antibacterial properties lend well to use as a gentle toner, either in tea form or as an herbal vinegar. Consider infusing it into witch hazel as a facial toner for a bit more bang for your buck.

Nervous System Support 

Lemongrass has a tonic effect on the nervous system. Through its analgesic and antidepressant properties, it can provide support for many issues like headaches, lethargy, symptoms of stress, and muscular pain.⁸ The essential oil is thought to strengthen the adrenals when weakened by chronic stress. In Brazilian herbal medicines, lemongrass tea, called abafado, is a popular remedy given to help reduce anxiety.⁹ One study of 38 people found that lemongrass aromatherapy with the essential oil during periodontal treatment reduced the heart rates and feelings of anxiety in patients with dental anxiety.¹⁰

Digestive Concerns 

Lemongrass’ carminative action, combined with its pain-relieving and stress-reducing properties, can support stress-induced digestive issues. Consumption of the tea or inhalation of the essential oil can be used for this purpose.¹¹ African herbal medicine and Ayurvedic medicine both employ lemongrass to support indigestion and stomach aches. While this plant is commonly used as a tea or infusion, a strong decoction of the stalks can act as an antidiarrheal.

As Food

Lemongrass is an important ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking. It’s well known in the region for its use in soups, stir-fries, stews, and curries, such as tom yum soup or tom kha gai. Variations of lemongrass infusions are popular in African and Caribbean cultures either as a refreshing drink on its own or mixed with tropical fruits like pineapple.^12,13 In the African diaspora, culinary lemongrass is primarily used in drinks, curries, or as part of marinades for meat, seafood, and tofu. 

When used as a culinary herb, the inner part of the stem is sliced, bruised, or pounded before added to a dish. The stem can be used as a skewer, especially with seafood like shrimp or fish. Lemongrass’ flavor goes particularly well with chicken, spicy peppers, cilantro, coconut, carrots, ginger, lemons, tamarind, tomatoes, turmeric, yogurt, limes, mushrooms, rice, tofu, garlic, and onions, in addition to seafood as mentioned previously.¹⁴ To reinforce or substitute lemongrass flavor, use lemon zest and ginger, lemon balm, lemon leaves, or lemon verbena leaves.¹⁵

For an unexpected flavor combination, I like lemongrass with cream and vanilla or mint. Lemongrass also serves as a great flavor base for sauteed greens when cooked in oil with ginger and crushed red pepper. As an added benefit, lemongrass can provide a lot of flavor for folks on a low FODMAP diet in lieu of other aromatics like garlic and onion.¹⁶

Insect Repellant

Lemongrass oil can be used as an insecticide against mosquitoes and.¹⁷ It’s considered a satisfactory alternative to DEET-based insecticides, but it should be noted that the plant must be crushed to have this effect.¹⁸ The essential oils in the plant act as a natural insect repellant and therefore need to be exposed to air to be effective. Lemongrass has also been used historically as a flea, lice, and tick repellant.¹⁹

Respiratory Infections

According to herbalist Emily Ruff, lemongrass can be used to support coughs, bronchitis and chest colds.²⁰ In addition to supporting acute respiratory issues, it can also be used over a period of time for general respiratory health. In African herbal medicine, lemongrass is employed as a steam to soothe the respiratory system in conjunction with other herbs. It has also been shown to soothe nasal congestion; it pairs well with echinacea and eucalyptus for this use.^21,22

Antifungal Action

Lemongrass is effective against multiple types of fungal infections, including ringworm, oral thrush, and dandruff. Many studies have shown the effectiveness of lemongrass essential oil against Candida albicans, specifically the geranial compound found in the plant. Other constituents like citral, myrcene, limonene, and linalool also have significant antifungal activity. Use directly on the affected area and drink a strong lemongrass infusion 3–4 times a day for this purpose.

Botanically Speaking


Lemongrass is a tall, frost-sensitive perennial grass that requires constant watering and a warm, tropical climate for successful growth. It grows in dense clumps with strap-shaped linear leaves that can grow up to 6 feet tall. While the two aforementioned species can be used somewhat interchangeably, there are slight visual differences. C. flexuosus has large, branched pyramid-shaped flower clusters with paired spikes that have both sessile awned florets (small flowers with bristle-like growths that are attached to the base of the plant) and pedicellate awnless staminate florets (small, male flowers without bristles in which small stems attach each floret to the flower head). C. citratus is stemless glaucous (pale blue-ish green, powdery coating) grass that consists of many tillers (shoots from the bottom of a grassy plant) rising from rhizomes (a plant stem that grows underground). The flowers, if present, occur in panicles from the tip of the leaves and become red as seeds develop.²³ To harvest lemongrass, cut or snap thicker stalks as close to the roots as possible. 


Plant Preparations and Dosage Suggestions

Lemongrass can be prepared in many ways, but it’s most commonly used in food, as tea, as an infusion, and as an essential oil. A lemongrass-infused honey is another lovely preparation that can be used daily to support general health. 

To prepare an infusion, chop 1–2 tsp of fresh lemongrass and pour 6 ounces of boiling water over it. Let it infuse for 10–15 minutes and strain. For a lemongrass tincture, take 5–15mL per dose. For topical use, use either 10 drops of essential oil diluted in a carrier oil directly on the affected area or use fresh lemongrass as a poultice. 

Another great way to use lemongrass is as an infused vinegar. For culinary uses, it pairs well with champagne vinegar and red wine vinegar. For an herbal bath, try infusing apple cider vinegar with lemongrass, chamomile flowers, and rose petals for a relaxing, therapeutic soak.

Special Considerations

Safety during pregnancy or lactation has not been conclusively established. However, it is safe for kids to consume in culinary amounts. There have been some reports of lemongrass essential oil causing skin sensitivity.²⁴ The Botanical Safety Handbook notes that lemongrass may modify glucose regulation and advises people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar closely and discuss using lemongrass with a qualified practitioner prior to use.²⁵

Written by Rebecca Fils-Aime

Rebecca Fils-Aime is a community herbalist, socio-behavioral scientist, and a certified health and wellness coach. Her mission is to educate about plants that originate in or are commonly used across the African diaspora. She has a passion for using herbs in food as medicine, seasonal living, and accessible, bioregional herbalism.