LEMONGRASS - HIGH MYRCENE

Cymbopogen citratus  Steam Distilled, India, Organic grass

Historically, the herbal form of Lemongrass has been used in traditional Indian medicine for infectious illnesses and fever. Recent research indicates that it has a sedating effect on the central nervous system

The essential oil is stimulating and invigorating. It is helpful for treating symptoms of jet lag, clearing the head and relieving fatigue.

Lemongrass essential oil is considered an excellent physical tonic. It is said to boost the parasympathetic nervous system which hastens recovery from illness. Battaglia states that Lemongrass stimulates glandular secretions and muscles to aid in digestion. Thus it could be useful for colitis, indigestion, and gastroenteritis.

Lemongrass is an effective skin toner, said to be effective for tightening open pores. There are those who recommend it for treating acne and oily skin I do not recommend using it on troubled skin since it can be a skin irritant.

For years I have been seeking a Lemongrass essential oil that is high in Myrcene, with proportionally lower Citral.  Why?  Because I've been taught that the higher Myrcene lemongrass is more effective as an antibacterial, that it enhances the antibacterial effects of geranial and neral on both gram-  and gram+ pathogens.

In addition,  the high Myrcene lemongrass is an effective pain reliever.  It was Dr. Jane Buckle who started my search for this elusive lemongrass.  She writes of having had:

"extraordinary results with topically applied (12%) lemongrass on intractable back pain. The patient ended up having a spinal fusion, but lemongrass was the ONLY thing that helped her. That started me looking at lemongrass in a whole different way."

The citral in lemongrass is what makes it a skin irritant. The higher Myrcene level, of course, gives this lemongrass a proportionally lower citral content, and should make it less irritating.

In addition, it smells delightful!  Softer and somehow "clearer" than most lemongrass.  We fell in love with it. (I am normally not a lemongrass lover, but I love this this new specimen!)