Health benefits of Lemon Grass ( Tanglad)

My boss is a regular user of natural remedies so I got plenty of articles regarding herbal plants. I wanted to share this one first since this plant is common in Asia. :)

Lemon Grass | Tanglad
Andropogon citratus 

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Common Names:

English: Ginger grass, lemon grass, sweet-rush

Ilocano: Baraniw

Spanish: Paja de Meca, Zacate lemon

Tagalog: Tanglad, salaid, salay

Visaya: Balioko

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Folkloric uses: 

·         Diarrhea: Boil 10 leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes; add a tablespoon of sugar and one small piece of crushed ginger.

·         For adults: 1 cup, 3 times daily and after each loose bowel movement.

·         Children: (Babies) 1 tablespoon 3 times daily and after each loose bowel movement; 2-6 years, 1/4 cup 3 times daily and after each loose bowel movement; 7-12 years, 1/2 cup three times daily and after each loose bowel movement.

·         Suob: One of the 10 herbal ingredients in the decoction/bath in the post-partum ritual of suob.

·         Culinary: Commonly used as a stuffing ingredient in pig spit-roasting to improve the flavor and decrease the grease-taste.

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Grasses and weeds have long been regarded as pests by farmers worldwide. Unknown to many, some of these lowly grasses have remarkable chemical properties which could be used as medicine to treat various diseases. One of them is the lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) or locally known as tanglad.

The Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (ITDI-DOST), through its Chemicals & Minerals Division has tapped the lemongrass oil as a potential anti-fungal topical eye medication.

In a study conducted by experts, lemongrass oil is found to have strong anti-fungal properties when tested to cure keratomycosis in rabbits. Keratomycosis is the inflammation of cornea often characterized by burning or blurring of vision.

Also, earlier studies have shown that lemongrass oil possesses strong antibacterial properties against both gram- positive (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (e.g. Escherichia coli). Moreover, it has also been found to have strong chemical properties that have potentials to cure various fungal diseases.

Aside from its medical uses, lemongrass is also valued for economic and environmental reasons such as: a cost-effective alternative to commercial topical ophthalmic anti-fungal; could help decrease dependence on imported drugs; could help boost the essential oil industry; has safe active ingredients; and an efficient source of livelihood and employment.

This technology had been entered during the 2002 National Inventor’s Week Competition and won 2nd prize under the LIKHA Award for Outstanding Creative Research in the area of Health, Education, and Entertainment.

For inquiries, please contact Chemicals & Minerals Division, ITDI-DOST, Gen Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig at telephone nos. 8372071-82, loc.2226 or 2216 or email itdi@dost.gov.ph. This technology had been entered during the 2002 National Inventor’s Week Competition and won 2nd prize under the LIKHA Award for Outstanding Creative Research in the area of Health, Education, and Entertainment. For inquiries, please contact Chemicals & Minerals Division, ITDI-DOST, Gen Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig at telephone nos. 8372071-82, loc.2226 or 2216 or email itdi@dost.gov.ph. (Mary Charlotte Fresco, S&T Media Service)