COMMON NAME: Indian Lemongrass, East Indian Lemongrass

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cymbopogon flexuosus

FAMILY NAME: Poaceae (grass)

INDIGENOUS COUNTRY: Southern India, New Guinea

COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: India

HISTORY INFORMATION: Primarily used in oriental cooking as in coconut milk based soups. Vietnamnese use the tea for treating cholera and rheumatism.

GENERAL INFORMATION: In the West this lemongrass is relatively rare and often confused with Cymbopogon citratus. The constiutients are very similar, but there is a difference. Indian Lemongrass is much smoothier and gentle.

DESCRIPTION OF PLANT: Tropical perennil grass growing to three feet high producing lemon scented blades that clump.

PARTS PROCESSED: Finely chopped fresh and dried grass.

PROCESSING METHODS: Steamed Distilled

COLOR RANGE: Yellow

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Class: Aldehyde. Citral greater than 85%, myrcene, limonene, dipentene, linalool, geraniol, nerol.

PHYSICAL ACTIONS AND USES: Analgesic, antibacterial, antidepressant, antifungal, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, calmative, carminative, deodorant, deodorizer, depurative, digestive, disinfectant, diuretic, galactagogue, insect repellent, insecticide, nervine, parasiticide, regulator (parasympathetic system), reviving, sedative, stimulant (circulatory system), stomachic, tonic, tonifying (skin). Used to improve digestion, to balance the nervous system, calm, reduce stress, promote sleep, to open breathing and sinus passages, uplift moods, revive, improve alertness, to reduce inflammation and swollen tissues, to tone the skin, increase lactation and repel insects.

MENTAL USES: If a situation is causing extreme painful feelings, it means you are holding negative thoughts that need to be countered. These thoughts are different with each of us and you may need help with this

EMOTIONAL USES: Sorrow, grief, suffering, hopeless, negative, victimized TO emotional flow, ease in dealing with emotions, emotional experiences no longer scare you, happier, more depth of feeling.

SPIRITUAL USES: Can indicate that your thoughts have created a negative environment allowing the formation of emotional blocks. These need to be cleared so that the system can be lightened. Lemongrass purges the solar plexus of blocked emotional energy which can have an effect (sometimes painful) on the digestive system releasing intestinal blockages. This can lead to more positive thoughts and feelings. This can bring deeper meaning to what you feel and think as you move beyond your narrow or limiting belief system.

APPLICATIONS: Aroma lamp, bath (with proper fixed oil), compress, diffusor, food and drink, hair products, inhaler, light bulb ring, lotion, massage, mist spray.

WARNINGS\CONTRAINDICATIONS: Nontoxic, skin irritant, avoid in pregnancy, powerful releaser of blocked emotion - use with caution.