Parts Used: leaves and whole plant. Grass blades sliced fine for infusion purposes only, the bulb can be bruised or minced and consumed.
Key Constituent
Citronellal is an active agent as antifungal, anthelmintic and antibiotic.
Uses
Lemongrass is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat numerous ailments including digestive problems, fever, menstrual cramps, nausea and as an anti-depressant. It is a delicious addition to tea. It adds a pleasant and uplifting lemon-like and citrusy flavor to herbal tea blends.
Lemongrass acts like a natural antibiotic and anti fungal. In Ayurveda, the essential oil is used as a stimulant for the circulatory system to reduce joints inflammation and arthritic pain. It relieves painful menses. Similarly, it is used as a natural insecticide commonly against mosquitoes and against aphids when crushed leaves are mixed with water. It is an alternative to DEET based insect repellants.
The insect repelling property of lemongrass is activated only when the plant is crushed.
My sample recipe at home.
Make a dried lemongrass leaves infusion and use it for fevers and in soaps for antibacterial action.