Lemongrass ~ Cymbopogon flexuosus

Lemongrass

Latin name: Cymbopogon flexuosus (East Indian, native to India) and C. citrates (West Indian, native to southern India and Ceylon)

Family: Poaceae

Part used: leaves, fresh or partly dried

Habitat: sandy soil of tropics and subtropics

Main constituents: aldehyde (citral), terpineol, myrcene, citronellol, methyl heptenone, dipentene, geraniol, limonene, nerol, and farnesol

Energetics: warming

Main herbal actions: carminative; antimicrobial, oil acts as a central nervous system depressant (C. citrates); antifungal (C. flexuosus)

Minor herbal actions: insect repellent

Main medicinal uses: sinus tissue support (Khalsa), volatile oils may have pesticide and mutagenic activities

Minor medicinal uses: colitis, indigestion, fever, headaches

Preparations: plant extract, steam distilled essential oil

Contraindications: unknown

Toxicity: safe

Sources: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/factsheets/LEMONGRASS.html