Lemon Grass is a grass which has lemony flavor or aroma. It is also called "True Lemon grass" or "Citronella grass". In Sanskrit language it is called as "TakraTrani". It can be found in Asian countries and mainly in India and Shrilanka. Lemon grass grows like normal grass, about 2 -3 meter from the ground level, and in those areas which receive more rain, it grows about 3 - 4 meters also. It requires more humidity and cold weather. In India, we can find lemon grass more in Kerala and Karnata. In Karnataka it is called as "Majjige Hullu or Nimbe Hullu". It can be grown with almost all types of mud. But it requires compost with red mud. Its chemical compound is called "Citrol". There are many varieties of lemon grass in India - Kaveri, Krishna, BPL-38, odo - 10, Sima Ap-10 etc. New plants can be started from its seeds or from its stalks.
How to prepare Lemon Grass Oil?
Wash lemon grass and clean it. Let it dry for 20 minutes. Cut the lemon grass into small pieces. Add these pieces into a bowl of water and boil it. Add coconut oil or gingerly oil ( as much you required) to this solution and boil it further. You should boil it till water content completely disappears from the solution. When this solution becomes little thick and when you dont hear any kind of sound from the solution, you can stop boiling the solution. Lemon grass oil is ready and let it cool and store the oil in the container.
Medicinal Properties of lemon Grass oil :
1. In Face massage: Apply lemon grass oil on face and gently massage through fingers in a circular movement. Wash the face after 20 minutes and you will get radiant glow on your facial skin.
2. In winter season, add 3-4 drops of lemon grass oil to your bathing water and take bath. Your skin will not get dried and it eliminates body odor also.
3. Apply lemon grass water to head. It controls headache, burning sensation of eyes and also it leads to sound sleep.
4. If you have joint pain or any kind of pain in your body, then mix the lemon grass oil with coconut oil and apply it on the area where you have pain and gently massage. It reduces the pain.
5. If you have blocked nose or congested nose, inhale lemon grass oil frequently and you feel relieved from blocked nose.
6. If you have ear pain, put 2-3 drops of lemon grass oil into the ear and it reduces the ear pain.
How to prepare lemon grass Lassi?
Grind the lemon grass with one table spoon of cumin seeds (jeera) and make paste of it. Add this paste to yogurt and mix well. Add salt and pepper for taste and serve it.
Medicinal Properties of Lemon grass Lassi :
1. If you have mild fever, add 3 - 4 small pieces of ginger and garlic to the lemon grass lassi and drink it. It reduces the fever.
2. If you have stomach pain or any kind of stomach upsets, add small amount of pudina juice to the lemon grass lassi and drink it.
3. Lemon grass lassi is very useful to ladies. If you have painful periods (menstrual cycle), drink lemon grass lassi during period days and you will get relief from all stomach upsets.
How to prepare lemon grass tea?
prepare tea in a normal way and add small amount of lemon grass leaves to the tea while preparing. Lemon grass tea will be very tasty and has very good aroma. Lemon grass tea controls cold, cough and throat irritations.