Have you been detected with cancer in the initial stages? Is anyone you know undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer? Whether it is to prevent the onset of cancer, or to help in its treatment, there is one ingredient that can be of great help.

It is lemongrass we are talking about here. Would you like to know more about it and how it helps one deal with cancer? Then go ahead and read this post.

Lemongrass – An Overview:

Lemongrass, the tropical grass variety, is native to India and Sri Lanka and is used extensively for extracting lemongrass essential oil. Lemongrass tea is quite popular among the Asians and is administered for improving digestion and relieving pain. Due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties, it is used for treating minor injuries and conditions such as athlete’s foot.

Alarming Cancer Deaths:

According to The National Cancer Institute report, more than 172,000 people in America are diagnosed with some form of cancer, and the disease alone is responsible for more than 153,000 deaths in one year (1). Although the symptoms and the types of cancer did vary, the primary mode of treatment was chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Among the few natural foods that have been found to be exclusively beneficial in killing cancer cells, lemongrass essential oil was considered the most effective. Research has shown that the presence of citral in lemongrass attributes to its ability to fight against cancerous cells.

Properties Of Lemongrass:

Lemongrass, also botanically known as Cymbopogon citrates, is a type of perennial, tall and aromatic grass. The fresh as well as dried leaves are loaded with volatile oils constituting compounds like myrcene and citral that have medicinal values.

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center report says that myrcene and citral have been found to be extremely beneficial in treating various health conditions such as fungal infections, high blood pressure, insomnia and inflammation. The infusion of lemongrass leaves can help in treating several common health ailments such as cough and cold, fever, and body pain.

The dosage of lemongrass essential oil varies according to the age and health condition of an individual. For a better idea, you should consult your caregiver who can decide the right dosage for you. Lemongrass essential oil also contains a good amount of antioxidants that protect the body cells from the harmful effect of unstable free radicals. These radicals interact with the protein and DNA cells and damage them, thereby causing dangerous health problems such as cancer.

Role Of Lemongrass In Preventing Cancer:

A study published in the Journal Cancer Letters of the September 2002 edition has reported that lemongrass extract was found to be effective in inhibiting the early liver cancer phases in laboratory animals. The report says that during the study, it was observed that the use of lemongrass extract in the treatment slowed down the progression of liver cancer disease.

Another study published in the Journal of Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology in October 2009 says that the citral compound present in lemongrass essential oil restricts the growth of cells causing breast cancer. Moreover, the study also reported that the oils induce apoptosis, or the programmed death of the cancer cells.

New developments suggest that a compound called isointermedeol, isolated from the lemongrass herb, causes apoptosis of cancer cells.

So, there is quite a positive connection between cancer treatment and lemongrass. However, most of these experiments have been carried out on laboratory animals, and for guaranteed results, more clinical trials and research are needed.

How You Should Take Lemongrass:

Chemotherapy is the widely used treatment for cancer. However, it causes harsh side effects. Studies have found that drinking lemongrass tea twice or thrice a day helps to inhibit the side effects of chemotherapy and provides relief within a few days.

Researchers at the Ben Gurion University [BGU] of the Negev in Israel have found that the lemongrass tea prepared in hot water killed only the cancer cells without damaging the healthier ones. According to the Israeli doctors, drinking 8 glasses of lemongrass tea on the day of radiation and chemotherapy treatment helps to restrict the negative impact of the treatment.

You can take the lemongrass extract in a capsule form or use it for topical application by diluting it with sesame oil.

Injecting lemongrass essential oil is also helpful, but this step should be carried out only after consulting your caregiver.

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by Renold Rajan via STYLECRAZE