Dried Herb & Tea

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

B Limited clinical evidence

Lemongrass is traditionally used as a tea for stomach complaints; an oil mouthwash improved gum health in one small trial. Avoid it in pregnancy.

DigestionRespiratory, Throat & Mouth
Lemongrass
Pregnancy⚠ Avoid
Breastfeeding⚠ Avoid
ChildrenUnknown
Drug interactionsNo recorded interactions
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At a glance

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a lemon-scented tropical grass used in Asian cooking. Folk medicine uses it as a tea for stomach ache and digestive complaints; these uses are not clinically confirmed. Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) and lemon balm are different plants.

Parts used: leaves and stalks
Key constituents: Essential oil (citral: geranial and neral), Myrcene, Flavonoids

Updated: October 24, 2026

Sources and research limitations appear below. The existence of a source does not mean every use has been clinically verified.

What is it used for?

  • T Traditional use

    Traditional use: Documents traditional use, not clinical efficacy or safety for everyone.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    Lemongrass has traditionally been used in South American and Chinese folk medicine for stomach ache, abdominal pain and digestive complaints, and as an antispasmodic. No clinical trials support these uses. [1]

  • B Limited clinical evidence

    Limited clinical evidence: Limited human data; small samples, methodological problems or inconsistent results reduce certainty. Findings do not apply to every product.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    In a small randomized pilot trial in 45 adults with chronic severe gum disease (periodontitis), a mouthwash with 0.25% lemongrass oil used twice daily for 3 months in addition to brushing improved gum measures and blood CRP compared with brushing alone, with results similar to chlorhexidine mouthwash. This applies to that mouthwash product. [1]

How is it used?

Tea

Dried or fresh leaves are steeped as a tea. Studies used infusions of 2–4 g of leaves a day; avoid higher amounts, as 8 g a day lowered kidney values.

[1]

Food

Fresh stalks and leaves are used as a culinary spice; in the US it is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food.

[1]

Safety & interactions

  • There is no safety information for pregnancy or breastfeeding; do not use it as a tea or supplement.
  • People with kidney disease should be careful; tea made from 8 g of leaves a day lowered kidney filtration values within 30 days.
  • Inhaling lemongrass essential oil has caused serious lung inflammation (toxic alveolitis); do not take the oil by mouth or inhale it heavily.
  • Allergic skin reactions are rare; do not apply the essential oil undiluted to the skin.
  • Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) and lemon balm also smell of lemon and can be confused with it; check the Latin name on the label.
[1]

Drug interactions

No recorded interactions

Side effects

  • Rare allergic reactions and contact dermatitis
  • Lower kidney filtration values with large amounts of tea
  • Toxic alveolitis after inhaling the essential oil (two cases)

⚕ When to see a doctor

  • If high fever, shortness of breath or purulent/bloody phlegm develops
  • If symptoms do not improve within 1–2 weeks or worsen
  • If severe abdominal pain, jaundice, rash or allergic reaction occurs

Frequently asked questions

What is lemongrass tea good for?

Folk medicine uses it for stomach and abdominal pain and digestive complaints. These uses have not been confirmed in clinical trials.

Does lemongrass lower blood sugar?

In a study where people drank lemongrass tea for two weeks, blood sugar did not fall. There are no data supporting this use.

Is lemongrass the same as lemon verbena?

No. Lemongrass is a grass (Cymbopogon citratus), while lemon verbena is a shrub called Aloysia citrodora. Both smell of lemon, so check the Latin name on the label.

Can I drink lemongrass tea while pregnant?

There is no safety information for pregnancy or breastfeeding; because it affected cell division in lab studies, avoiding it in pregnancy is advised.

Is lemongrass bad for the kidneys?

Tea made from 8 g of leaves a day for 30 days lowered kidney filtration values; this was not reported with 2–4 g. Ask your doctor if you have kidney disease.

Sources

Source type is not an efficacy rating. A monograph may document traditional use or safety. Claim numbers link to the relevant source; the access date does not indicate professional approval.

  1. LemongrassDrugs.com — Natural Products (Wolters Kluwer) · 2026 · Reference bookSource accessed:

Cite This Page

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). Herbadex — Doğal Şifa Rehberi (2026). https://herbadex.com/en/herb/lemongrass/

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