Fever Grass: 5 Amazing Benefits of the Lemongrass Species
What Is Fever Grass? Fever grass is one of the 140 species of Lemongrass that grows worldwide.
This species of Lemongrass is plentiful across the Caribbean. The botanical name of this variety of grass is Cymbopogon citratus.
Island natives call the grass Fevergrass. That’s because used as herbal medicine for reduicing fevers. But the plant is sometimes referred to as West Indian Lemongrass.
Fever Grass is traditionally used to make fevergrass tea. Cymbopogon citratus has a strong citrus like aroma. This gives the tea it makes has a nice, crisp, citrus-like taste.
But, aside from reducing fevers, there are a lot more benefits that Fever grass has to offer. So we will take a few minutes to explore a few benefits of Fever grass.
Fever Grass Benefits
Fever grass has been widely studied. Reports confirm that there are several useful bioactive elements that make up the grass.
These compounds contribute to Fever grass benefits. These are some potential benefits of Fevergrass:
1. May Treat Anemia
In 2015 a total of One Hundred and Five people took part in a study to determine the effect Fever grass has on anemia.
The volunteers were given 2, 4 or 8 g of the tea made form Fever grass for 30 days. Results were collected on days 10 and 30.
Final results showed that there was a significant boost in red blood cell production in the test subjects.
The study concluded that Fevergrass may be useful for treating anemia.
2. May Help Prevent Kidney Damage
Kidney damage can lead to Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney damage is often one side effect of a class of broad spectrum antibiotics known as aminoglycosides.
One animal study was done using male rabbits as test subjects. The aim was to determine whether Fever grass offered protection from kidney damage.
The animals were treated with a combination of an antibiotic and Cymbopogon citratus extracts for a period of 3 weeks.
At the end of 3 weeks, evaluation of the animals confirmed that Cymbopogon citratus together with the antibiotic prevented kidney damage in the test subjects.
3. May Lower Blood Pressure
According to a World Health Org. report approximately 1.28 billion adults between 30 and 79 worldwide have high blood pressure. There is on going research to find economical treatment options.
One study investigated the effect of nine edible tropical plants on blood pressure.
The goal was to prove whether these plants could help lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels.
Fever Grass, along with Papaya, Sweet potato and Mint leaves extracts were among the plants used in the study.
The findings varied depending on different plants. But the conclusion was that these plants showed blood pressure lowering activity. However, more human trials need to be done.
4. May Inhibit Bacterial Growth
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria cause severe and chronic infections. In one research, essential oils from 10 plants were examined to see what effect they had on Staphylococcus aureus.
Lemongrass essential oils was one of the oils examined.
The examination revealed that Fever grass essential oils had a higher level of action against the bacteria than one of the leading antibiotics.
Fever grass oils was among the oils that were active against both the stationary and growing bacteria.
5. May Fight Some Viruses
Ninety HIV/AIDS patients took part in one clinical trial. The aim of this trial was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of lemon juice and Lemongrass as treatment of HIV patients with oral thrush.
Only a small group and only 83 of the 90 participants completed the trial. However, the findings suggest that lemon juice and Lemongrass can be an effective antifungal treatment for oral candidiasis.
Fever Grass Tea
Fever grass tea is a caffeine free tea with a brisk, clean, citrusy taste. But what does Fever Grass tea do for you? It provides many of those important nutrients your body needs.
Your cup of Fever grass tea contain a number of essential Vitamins and Minerals. There is Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and C.
And then there is Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Folate and Iron along with other trace elements in a cup of Fever grass tea.
Fever Grass Tea Nutrition
| Vitamin A | Necessary for good vision, hair and skin health. |
| Vitamin B | Promotes good digestion and improves brain function. |
| Vitamin C | Repairs body tissues. Helps with formation of collagen. |
| Potassium | Lowers Blood pressure. Reduces fluid retention. |
| Magnesium | Prevents migraines. Reduces insulin resistance. |
| Manganese | Aids with protein digestion. Metabolize cholesterol. |
How to Make Fever Grass Tea
Making tea with the grass is pretty simple. Here is how to prepare Fever grass tea.
Basic Tea Recipe
- 2 or 3 stalks of Fever grass
- 3 cups of water
Directions
- Bring water to a boil
- Wash and cut Grass 2 inch strips
- Slightly pound to release the flavor
- Add to water and boil for 6 to 7 minutes
- Remove from flame
- Sweeten with honey
Fever Grass and Ginger Tea
You may also want to try this refreshing lemongrass tea with a twist.
- 6 stalks of Fever grass
- 6 cups of water
- 2 teaspoon of lemon juice
Directions
- Prepare and clean stalks
- Cut lengthwise and pound slightly
- Bring water to a boil
- Add lemongrass and ginger
- Boil for 7 minutes
- Strain and let sit till cool
- Sweeten and serve over ice
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Fever Grass Uses
Question is how to use Fever grass? The citrusy aroma of the grass makes it a popular ingredient in Asian cooking.
The grass is also used as an insect repellant in a number of places. The leaves are crushed to release the scent. Then they are hang in an area to drive away mosquitoes and other insects.
Lomongrass essetial oils is a natural deoderizer. It is also great for cleansing and toning the skin. In addition the oil soothes itchy, flakey scalp, and strentghtens hair folicles to promote hair growth.
Buy Fever Grass
Where can you buy Fever Grass Products?
Fever grass products can be purchased from health food stores and online marketplaces such as Amazon website and #Ad.Etsy.
These products come in the form of teabags, supplements and Lemongrass powder.
Shop Fever Grass Products
Fever Grass Side Effects
There have been some reported side effects associated with the use of the grass. Some common ones include: Lethargy, Dizziness, Dry Mouth, Increased Urination and Constant Hunger.
Some people have also reported allergic type reactions such as itching, difficulty breathing or increased heart rate when they came into contact with the grass.
Fever Grass And Pregnancy
Citral and Myrcene are two compounds in Lemongrass. Research suggest that they caused birth defects in rats used in laboratory studies.
And because there is little human data available, maybe you should avoid drinking grass tea if you are pregnant.
In any case herbal products are not approved for medicinal uses by the FDA. Therefore it is always wise to check with your medical provider before you start to use them.
Conclusion
Primarily Fever grass is used to make tea for treating common ailments. Those ailments include headaches, digestive issues, and sleep disorders.
The tea is also used to lower blood pressure, reduce fevers, and relieve menstrual cramps, among other things.
It is important to note that more human studies need to be conducted to determine whether lemongrass can be used to treat medical conditions.
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Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. Nothing on this site should be viewed as medical advice. Please consult with a professional healthcare provider about matters concerning medical treatment.