Lemongrass Cancer Cure

Lemongrass has powerful antioxidant effects and has been used as treatment for headaches, stomachaches, abdominal pain, and rheumatic pain. Aside from being used in flavoring and fragrance, lemongrass has also been used as an antispasmodic, hypotensive, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antiemetic, antitussive, antirheumatic, antiseptic and as treatment for nervous and gastrointestinal disorders and fevers.

Lemongrass essential oil is also effective at limiting proliferation of a type of breast cancer and a connective-tissue cancer.

A study in rats found that citral, the key active component in lemongrass, inhibits the formation of retonoic acid from retinol, a chemical reaction involved in the formation of skin tumors. It has also been studied for its potential to prevent the formation of several types of tumors and cancers, including cancer of the digestive track, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, and neuroblastoma (cancer of nerve cells occuring in children and infants).

Metabolism studies on lab rats show that citral is extensively broken down as soon as it enters the blood stream. Therefore it may not be possible to achieve a high enough concentration of citral in the human body to affect any cancer cells, even with drinking large amounts of lemongrass tea.

The research on lemongrass and its role in cancer prevention or treatment is young and inconclusive. The studies were mostly performed on lab animals so it is yet to be shown whether or not these benefits carry through into humans. However, lemon grass is safe for general consumption both as a seasoning and as an herbal tea, and no adverse effects have been documented from moderate use of it. On the other hand, the tea is delicious and it does have cancer-fighting properties that may give the body that tiny additional boost it needs to win its war against cancer. Not only is it cheap and easy to grow, when you are boiling the tea the whole house is filled with a sensuous aroma.

Lemongrass Precaution

Lemongrass tea is not advisable for people under a chemotherapy regimen that includes carboplatin. There is some evidence that the natural protective chemical gluthathione plays a role in reducing the toxic effects of carboplatin in the body and may reduce side effects and damage caused by the drug. Because citral can reduce gluthathione levels, drinking lemongrass tea while taking carboplatin could cause an increase in side effects from the carboplatin.

Lemongrass may produce allergic reactions in susceptible persons. Stop taking lemongrass if you experience skin hives, rash, itchy or swollen skin, breathing problems, tightness in your throat or chest or chest pain. Also, due to insufficient safety data on humans, lemongrass is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women without prior consultation of your physician.

Lemongrass Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 large stalks of fresh lemongrass, without leaves
• 4 x 250ml cups of water
• 3 tablespoon of pure natural honey (add more if you prefer sweeter)
• 2 tablespoon of lemon juice, lime, or calamansi (adjust amount to suit your taste)

1. Cut off the knob at the bottom part of the stalk.
2. Wash it in water and peel off the first layer of the stalk that may have turned brown.
3. Use a pestle or the blunt side of a heavy knife and bruise the stalks especially at the thickest and juiciest part of the stalk to split it open. This helps to release the juice when boiling.
4. Put the lemongrass stalks in the water and bring it to a boil. When the water starts to boil, turn the flame down and simmer for about 20 minutes. The water should take on a light yellowish tinge
5. Let it cool to room temperature and add 3 tablespoons of pure natural honey
6. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice (optional). You can drink it warm or chilled.