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Lemongrass And Cancer
By Ty Bollinger
Studies
show that a particular essential oil may provide a solid defense against
various cancers.
Lemongrass essential
oil, which contains high levels of an aromatic terpene known as linalool, has
been used traditionally in tropical countries in the treatment of various
health conditions.
What’s
even more exciting is that some of the latest in vitro and in
vivo animal studies suggest that it could be at least as effective as
chemotherapy in targeting cancer cells – without the harmful toxic effects of
chemotherapy.
Long
prized for its aroma-therapeutic qualities, Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass
or lemon grass) is loaded with key nutrient compounds that present
powerful antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer
potential.
A 2011
study published in the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology
& Research outlines the dozens of unique phytoconstituents present
in lemongrass, including a diverse array of terpenes, ketones, esters,
flavonoids, and phenolic compounds.
The Long List of Health Benefits of Lemongrass Essential
Oil
The
paper also highlights the many scientifically-confirmed benefits of lemongrass
which are that it:
·
Destroys harmful pathogens
·
Promotes healthy stools
·
Inhibits damaging fungi
·
Reduces inflammation
·
Protects against DNA damage
·
Guards against malaria
·
Neutralizes damaging free radicals
·
Helps to balance cholesterol levels
·
Modulates healthy sleep patterns
·
And so much more
According
to the report authors…
“Studies indicate
that Cymbopogon citratus (a variety of lemongrass) possesses various
pharmacological activities such as anti-amoebic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal,
antifilarial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
“Various other
effects such as antimalarial, antimutagenicity, antimycobacterial,
antioxidants, hypoglycemic, and neurobehavioral have also been studied.”
Could Lemongrass Really Fight More Than a Dozen Different Types
of Cancer?
Where
lemongrass really seems to shine, particularly in light of the growing cancer
epidemic, is in its ability to destroy cancer cells.
A 2009
study published in the journal Chemico-Biological Interactions revealed
that lemongrass essential oil is effective in targeting at least 12 different
human cancer cell lines.
Animal
trials showed that direct injection of lemongrass essential oil inhibited
cancer tumors in a dose-dependent way, meaning the higher the dose of the oil,
the better the outcome.
When
administered at a dosage of 200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) concentration,
lemongrass essential oil was shown to inhibit both ascitic (in the fluid of the
abdominal cavity) and solid tumors of Ehrlich Ascites (a type of tumor cell
line) by 97.34 percent and 57.83 percent, respectively.
For
Sarcoma-180 tumor cells, the same dosage resulted in ascitic and solid tumor
inhibition of 94.07 percent and 36.97 percent, respectively. As stated by the
researchers:
“Our results
indicate that the oil has a promising anticancer activity and causes loss in
tumor cell viability by activating the apoptotic process as identified by
electron microscopy.”
Can Lemongrass Essential Oil Stop the Spread
of Cervical Cancer?
A more
recent in vitro study published in the journal Pharmacognosy
Communications in 2013 reveals that lemongrass was also effective
against cervical cancer.
Researchers
found that lemongrass not only stopped cervical cancer cells (as well as
several other types of cancer cells) from spreading, but it also initiated
cancer cell apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death.
“All the results
suggest lemongrass oil and citral emulsion could be considered as potent
candidates for anticancer agents,” the authors concluded.
Uses of Lemongrass Essential Oil
As
we’ve seen, lemongrass oil shows great promise in laboratory studies for its
potential anticancer benefits.
However,
there are also several additional benefits of lemongrass essential oil.
Let’s
take a look now at some incredible lemongrass essential oil uses that
can enhance your health and your overall lifestyle.
Here
are some popular ways to incorporate the various lemongrass oil uses into
your diet and daily life to reap all of the many potential health benefits:
· Use lemongrass oil as a fresh citrus seasoning. You may choose
to incorporate it in a Malaysian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, or Thai dish
· Make lemongrass tea
· Make a natural air freshener by mixing it with other oils
like lavender essential oil and peppermint for a
fresh scent
· Add it to shampoos, conditioners, and soaps and harness its
antiseptic and astringent qualities
· Use it as mosquito repellant
· Put in a diffuser to improve your sleep and reduce your anxiety
· Dilute it and apply it to sore muscles and massage to relax them
· Use it to detox your digestive tract and liver
· Women can use it to relieve menstrual cramps
· Use it to soothe a headache
Where to Buy Lemongrass Oil
You can
easily find lemongrass oil in many different places.
When
using essential oils for health purposes, always look for the highest quality
oil available that has does not contain fillers.
In
cases where it’s difficult to find lemongrass oil, lemon zest or lemon essential oil can serve as an
effective lemongrass substitute. Or you may choose to make your own lemongrass
oil.
How to Make Lemongrass Essential Oil
If you
have access to organic lemongrass, some people prefer to make their own
lemongrass essential oil. This can ensure it is as fresh and potent as possible
by taking it directly from the stalks of the lemongrass plant.
Here
are some basic instructions on how to make lemongrass oil:
1.
Crush two lemongrass stalks
2.
Place them in a jar and cover them with a quality carrier oil, seal the lid, and put the jar in a
sunny place
3.
Strain the oil with cheesecloth
4.
Repeat the process with additional stalks until you reach your
desired potency
5.
Store oil in a dark glass jar
Article Summary
Lemongrass is
loaded with key nutrient compounds that present powerful antibacterial,
anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer potential.
Benefits include:
·
Destroys harmful pathogens
·
Promotes healthy stools
·
Inhibits damaging fungi
·
Reduces inflammation
·
Protects against DNA damage
·
Guards against malaria
·
Neutralizes damaging free radicals
·
Helps to balance cholesterol levels
·
Modulates healthy sleep patterns
A 2009 study found
that lemongrass essential oil is effective in targeting at least 12 different
human cancer cell lines.
2013 research
showed that lemongrass was also effective against cervical
cancer.
Ways to use
lemongrass:
·
Lemongrass oil as a fresh citrus seasoning
·
Lemongrass tea
·
Natural air freshener
·
Add it to shampoos, conditioners, and soaps
·
Mosquito repellant
·
Diffuse to improve sleep and reduce anxiety
·
Apply to sore muscles
·
Detox your digestive tract and liver
·
Menstrual cramps
·
Headaches
Ty
Bollinger is a happily married husband, the father of four wonderful children,
devoted Christian, best-selling author, medical researcher, talk radio host,
health freedom advocate, former competitive bodybuilder and also a certified
public accountant. After losing several family members to cancer (including his
mother and father), Ty refused to accept the notion that chemotherapy,
radiation, and surgery were the most effective treatments available for cancer patients.
He began a quest to learn all he possibly could about alternative cancer
treatments and the medical industry. Ty has now made it his life mission to
share the most remarkable discovery he made on his quest: the vast majority of
all diseases (including cancer) can be easily prevented and even cured without
drugs or surgery. Ty speaks frequently to health groups, at seminars, expos,
conferences, churches, and is a regular guest on multiple radio shows and
writes for numerous magazines and websites. Speaking from personal experience
and extensive research, Ty has touched the hearts and changed the lives of
thousands of people around the world.
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