Lemongrass, Everything Lemongrass! 

We grow Lemongrass at Salisbury Garden Gift Shop, and have grown Lemongrass as a summer crop for many years.

 " As you read the benefits of Lemongrass in this post, a complete little side note from me to you, of all the little things from growing it to using it, Everything ( I Know About ) Lemongrass; I hope you gain insight into a Holistic or Whole aspect of growing beneficial plants. ", Ginger 

Lemongrass or Cymbogon is in the tropical island grass family and is also known as Citronella grass or Fever grass. 

Lemongrass is grown here in Salisbury, NC, growing zone 7 as an easy growing summer annual, or tender perennial, brought indoors over winter in a greenhouse.  It is hardy in growing zones 9 and higher, in no frost climates. 

Lemongrass is culinary, very aromatic and can be used fresh or dried. Often in Asian and Thai Cuisine for stir-fry, salads, soups, stews, both sweet and savory foods and beverages. 

"Stir Fry are simple and can benefit our overall well being, because we believe food is medicine, it is a building block, a basic human need of nutrition. ", Ginger Hill 

Let your creativity flow with ideas like Lemongrass Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli and and Jasmine Rice...OR Ginger Lemongrass Vegan Veggie Stir Fry. YUM!

At Salisbury Garden Gift Shop, we offer Fresh Lemongrass seasonally in two ways. Just the fresh stalks of the Lemongrass and a Fresh Bundle of 6 whole grass stems.

Lemongrass taste like a spicy lemon, earthy green tones, fresh grass smell flavor....lol! A  strong ctirus herb with a hint of Ginger , sweet spice, is the best I can do, to describe.  Acutually Lemongrass has the same oils as the lemon ruit and is what it's named for, it's lemony aroma and flavor. And Often used as a substitute for lemon flavoring. Fresh Lemongrass also offer notes of bright fresh floral and cooling mint, making a great flavor choice for tea, and tea blends.

Use Fresh lemongrass stalks finely chopped or pounded to break down, and soften tough stalks, and of course to release the natural oils. Onced chopped it can be added to marinades, grilled meats, curry paste, simple sauces and rubs, or fresh Lemongrass infusion or Tea. 

Try this recipe,

Simple Lemongrass Infusion

• 8 ounce boiled hot water
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped lemongrass
• tea ball

Place lemongrass in tea ball, place tea ball into  cup, pour just boiled hot water into cup and let set to steep, until cool enouh to drink warm lemongrass tea or pour over ice for freshing cool lemongrass "aide".

Over ice try a garnish of lime slice and a thin stalk of lemongrass

Warm tea try with slice of fresh Ginger root, and garnish with fresh mint stem.

With both ways use sweetner of your chioce, sugar, honey or sweet leaf, etc.

A simple Lemongrass Syrup could be made  for bevarges also.

Lemongrass is however toxic to dogs, it is rare for poisoning, because large quantities must be ingested to trigger severve symptoms of poisoning. 

Just a side note or information.

LEMONGRASS BENEFITS - information given is for iformational purposes only , notes from research according to various health studies , for medicinal  uses  as tea, to skin and home products.

Lemongrass may be used for treating digestive tract spasms, stomache ache, high blood pressure, convulsions, pain, vominting, cough, rheumatism or achy joints, fever, common cold, exhaustion... the list goes on and on, and mositquto repellent more on that later, and here's why.

Lemongrass is used in all sorts of products, from all sorts of companies , to kill germs, as well as a mild astringent. It  also might even help prevent the growth of  certain bacterias, and yeast.

Lemongrass contains substances that are thought to  relieve pain and sweeling, reduce fever, improve levels of sugar and cholesterol in the blood, stimulate the uterus and menstral flow, and have antioxidant properties.

* Another Side Note -With that , anyone who is taking medication for any of the dis-ease or symptoms related to this information should not take lemongrass.

Do Not take Lemongrass while pregnant.

A substance found in Lemongrass, quercetin, a flovonoid having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. Quercetin reduces inflammation , which may inhibit cancer cell growth and prevent heart disease. 

"Lemongrass is used in Africa as a treatment for coronary heart disease", published by WebMD in Octobe 2020.

The results of a 2015 study , published by Medical News Today, suggest that drinking lemongrass tea daily for 30 days can increase hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count in the body.

It is okay to drink lemongrass tea daily, if your not pregnant, or taking medication related to any of the information. 

Lemongrass tea may also increase metabolism and aid in weight loss.

The best time to drink Lemongrass tea is in the morning.

The citric acid content in lemongrass is remarkably high aiding in the purifying.

Lemongrass is Good For Your Skin

Above mentioned, the natural oils, and substances, including the powerful citric acid, makes a great plant for purifying propertities, killing germs and bacterica, used as an astrigent in bath and body products. Salisbury GGarden Gift Shop has available Shower Bundles, using Lemongrass in Herbal Shower Bundle picture above, or aromatherapy and cleaning skin benfits to hair and skin.

However, the natural oils for some with senstive skin, it may cause skin irratation. Stop using Lemongrass for hair and skin if you have an adverse reaction.

These purifying properties in Lemongrass may help health of hair, and supports hair growth, provide relief rom itchiness and scalp irrations, detoxify the skin, removing impurities, and Antioxiandants are good to neutralize damaging ree radicals, impoving over all skin health.

Now as you continue to read, take a moment and notice that the same qualities that make lemongrass good for your health internally, or by mouth, also are the same qualities that make it good for external, or topical, or your skin health. And in this case also because of the potent aromatic, or strong smell assiocated with these oils studies support lemongrass can be a bug repellent.

Keep reading, almost done.

Lemongrass Effective Against Bugs

Lemongrass is used to create products that repel mosquitoes. Most effective like most lotions, re-apply loiton or spray every 60 to 90 minutes.

The compunds Citral and Geranyl acetate are found in Lemongrass and BOTH of theses compunds are effective agaisnt many types of insects.

Studies Show

PROVEN EFFECTIVE AGAINST

• mosquitoes
• house flies
• stable flies
• fleas
• ticks
• lice
• cockroach

Which leads me to, "Did you know that the strong citrus smell is repellent to snakes?" Yes, and one of the many reasons why we plant lemongrass every year here at Salisbury Garden Gift Shop. AND is why I first planted lemongrass as a border around my herb garden many years ago. LOL! I've learned ALOT since then. And want to tell you through my experience and knowlege of how all things are connected, Also why I use lemongrass in the ART OF SMUDGING, or cleansing with the smoke of herbs. Lemongrass makes a great smudge. We offer many variations of Lemongrass Smudge. Learn more on our blog.

Everthing Lemongrass, by Ginger Hill