Lemongrass Essential Oil

Young Living Lemongrass essential oil has a light, citrus aroma and is distilled from the long slender, grass like leaves. It is said that lemongrass helps rejuvenate the mind and has been found to improve mental clarity. It has also been the subject of research published in the Phytotherapy Research Journal, where it was found to have powerful properties when applied topically to the skin, namely its anti-fungal action.

The Essential Oils Desk Reference states lemongrass is antifungal, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, regenerates connective tissues and ligaments, dilates blood vessels, improves circulation and promotes lymph flow.*

Lemongrass is being used by many with connective tissue problems ranging from torn rotator cuffs, to slap tears, injury to muscles, ligaments and tendons, used as a natural blood thinner, for sinus and respiratory complaints, bladder infections, varicose veins, Salmonella, digestive problems and fluid retention.*

Recently Israel, Ben Gurion University, published a report showing lemongrass effective against cancer cells.

It all began when researchers at Ben Gurion University of the Negev discovered last year that the lemon aroma in herbs like lemongrass kills cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Citral is the key component that gives the lemony aroma and taste in several herbal plants such as lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), melissa (Melissa officinalis) and verbena (Verbena officinalis)

According to one of the research team leaders, Dr. Rivka Ofir, the study found that citral causes cancer cells to “commit suicide: using apoptosis, a mechanism called programmed cell death.” A drink with as little as one gram of lemongrass contains enough citral to prompt the cancer cells to ‘commit suicide’ in the test tube.

The findings were published in the scientific journal Planta Medica, which highlights research on alternative and herbal remedies. Shortly afterwards, the discovery was featured in the popular Israeli press.

As they learned of the BGU findings in the press, many physicians in Israel began to believe that while the research certainly needed to be explored further, in the meantime, it would be advisable for their patients, who were looking for any possible tool to fight their condition, to try to harness the cancer- destroying properties of citral. Therefore, many cancer patients were now told to drink eight glasses of hot water with fresh lemongrass steeped in it on the days that they go for their radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Why does it work? Nobody knows for certain, but the BGU scientists have a theory. 'In each cell in our body, there is a genetic program which causes programmed cell death. When something goes wrong, the cells divide with no control and become cancer cells. In normal cells, when the cell discovers that the control system is not operating correctly - for example, when it recognizes that a cell contains faulty genetic material following cell division - it triggers cell death,' explains Weinstein. 'This research may explain the medical benefit of these herbs.' 

The success of their research led them to the conclusion that herbs containing citral may be consumed as a preventative measure against certain cancerous cells. As they learned of the BGU findings in the press, many physicians in Israel began to believe that while the research certainly needed to be explored further, in the meantime it woul ! e advisable for their patients, who were looking for any possible tool to fight their condition, to try to harness the cancer-destroying properties of citral.

You may also be interested in reading another article: Fungus, Yeast, Candida are a Cancer

Note: when applied to the skin, some dilution may be necessary as lemongrass has a tendency to cause what looks like a rash – it really is only enhancing blood flow, but can be unsightly and itch. Dilute 1 part therapeutic-grade lemongrass essential oil to 4 parts Young Living’s V6 oil or an organic olive oil.

Therapeutic-grade Young Living lemongrass can be diffused to seriously purify the air of viruses, bacteria, and MRSA (Staph)*

 

 

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