History
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) also called oil grass or citronella is a tropical herbaceous plant of the family of Poaceae. It is grown for its stalks and leaves with aromatic qualities (taste of lemon). It owes its name to its strong smell of lemon. Citronella is originally from India. The date of its introduction in the Caribbean is unknown.
Varieties
There are fifty varieties of lemongrass. Among the most common species include lemon thyme, lemon verbena, lemon balm, lemon grass or southernwood santoline.
Lemongrass is an herb that grows in dense clumps of slender leaves of gray-green color. It is a perennial plant with rhizomes.
Health benefits
Lemongrass has many therapeutic properties. Lemongrass helps to fight against digestive disorders and gastrointestinal, fever, flu symptoms, muscle and joint pain, rheumatism, tiredness, insomnia, stress and anxiety.
Uses
This plant was used only for perfume during the Renaissance. Settlers them used for their antiseptic at the time of the yellow fever epidemics.
One of the main features of lemongrass is its ability to repel mosquitoes. This is why you often find it around houses in the West Indies. It is also used for this purpose in anti-mosquito sprays.
His tea is often drunk against sore throats and flu. Lemongrass is used to scent also vegetables, meat, fish, seafood, sauces and soups. It is also used to design of cosmetics (soap, body lotion, shower gel or essential oil).
