Know the herbs

Scientific name

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.

Family

Poaceae

Local name

Serai, serai makan

Description

The macroscopic physical characteristics of this organism show that it is a tall perennial aromatic grass (up to 1 m) with dense clusters of leaves. The leaves are green, simple, sessile, linear, evenly arranged, up to 40 cm long and 1 cm wide, glabrous with parallel venation, and an acuminate apex. The stem and rhizome parts feature tube-shaped leaf sheaths that form a pseudostem, while the rhizome grows erect, vertically, and is creamy yellow in color. The herbal properties of this dried material are light brown, featuring a lemon-like odor and a slightly spicy taste.

Usage

For digestive and stomach health, lemongrass aids the digestion process, relieves flatulence, intestinal diseases, irritated gastritis, and prevents vomiting. In medicine and health, it is used as an emmenagogue (stimulating menstrual flow), a weak diuretic agent, and is made into a tonic and herbal tea to promote sweating, help with kidney problems, and treat joint pain and sprains. For other uses, lemongrass acts as a cooking flavor, in herbal baths and hot compresses, and its extract is useful for repelling mosquitoes.