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:
- Crush two lemongrass stalks
- Place them in a jar and cover them with a quality carrier oil, seal the lid, and put the jar in a sunny place
- Strain the oil with cheesecloth
- Repeat the process with additional stalks until you reach your desired potency
- Store oil in a dark glass jar
Editor’s Note: This article originally published Sept 2015 and was updated and republished June 2017
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
Hello,
Love all the information.
Can you ingest lemongrass oil to help fight cancer? How much would you have for stage 4 colorectal cancer ?
Abundant blessings
Kerry
Same question…. Can it be ingested? If so how much and how often daily?
where do you get this oil and how do you take it and how much do you take
Melaluca membership requires a referral from an existing member. …thoughts?
The site said I have to go through you to become a member, they are referred by members?
Hello have you become a member of essential oils yet?
Also DoTerra essential oils. Excellent quality.
Can I buy already made lemongrass oil in a health store and what kind is best?
What to look for to buy the right one?
Does it have to be oral use? Can I smell it instead? I do not like to take oral stuff!
Please can you tell me were to buy lemon grass oil & how to use it .
I buy Lemongrass Oil here in Southern CA in a market called Sprouts.
Check out eden botanical out of petaluma ca…they have amazing oils. Some people like mountain rose herbs out of Oregon too.
Lemongrass oil is available in multiple places on the internet. As the article state, be sure to buy organic. Plant Therapy is very affordable because it doesn’t have a muti-level marketing scheme like DoTerra and Young Living.
How much does the lemongrass oil from Doterra cost?. It sounds fantastic. I know so many people with cancer.
13.00
Before you buy DoTerra please look at https://healthytraditions.com/
They are quite economical & offer free shipping about 1/month
I only use Doterra essential oils. Aromatically, topically and ingested. 100% pure and amazing.
Can lemongrass oil be ingested for mouth cancer and what dosage would one use?
for any mouth cancer I would add this to my daily routine..chew Apricot pits. The longer you chew them and on one side of the mouth, then switch to the other and swish around the mouth, it absorbs sub-lingual and has vitamin B-17. There is a pretty good youtube video where this lady explains all the basics. The soaking of the pits to remove the enzyme, etc
I buy my 100% oil from doterra… I buy the vegetable capsule and fill it up with the lemongrass oil
it says to take only 1 drop. if you filled up the capsule that would be many many drops. do you really fill up the capsule. how big are the capsules
We have develop the Pneumatic boiler technology to extract atleast 69.6% CITRAL compounds from Lemongrass in Mindanao, Phils. CITRAL-that Kills cancer cells agent.
For more info kindly visit my facebook…ty
Hello I really really appreciate the livesaving information that is coming thru from Ty and his team.We would just like more specifics for eg. The article on lemongrass many of us wonder how to use it. Can it be ingested or used topically?
Lemongrass can be eaten. It is an ingredient in in many Asian recipes.
Come on people, all any essential oil is is concentrated liquid that is removed from the plant through cold pressing or distilling. If you regularly cook with lemongrass, like they do in asia, you will get the same benefits. You can also grow lemongrass (must be taken inside in winter), and cold press your own oil. It’s not difficult, and you KNOW it is not contaminated if you do it yourself.
Can someone refer me please
Modern Essentials is a great book on essential oils including history, quality and how each individual oil can be used.
Doterra oils can be taken internationally too, it helps arthritis too
“internationally”??????? Do you mean intentionally or internally?
both! Lol!! But yes, Doterra can be taken internally
What other cancers does lemongrass eo heal? What about pancreatic, and what about mets from pancreatic cancer? I am undergoing chemo for the second time, to treat new spot on my liver and 2 positive lymph nodes. My CA-19-9 # is 16 now which is supposed to be below the normal level for someone who doesn’t have cancer. How trustworthy are these numbers??
A friend of mine put frankensence on her liver daily twice a day and hers is gone totally all cancer in the liver.
How do you put it on your liver?
How did she get access to her liver?
What do you mean “on her liver”? do you mean like a compress with frankincense oil placed on the area of the liver on the outside of her body?
How does she put it on her liver?
I can’t speak for Renee, but I think she may have meant that she rubs it on the area of her body where the liver is located. That would be on the front of the body; the right side near the bottom of the rib cage going upward towards the breastbone.
Where you can get this lemon oil plz.i would love to dry this ..my daughter is 18 years old she undergoing for chemo she have glioblastoma multi form I would love to try this for her might it help..thanks again for the info. $
You can buy lemon grass essential oil on Amazon , the formula 200mg per kg dosage would mean about .48oz is one dose – you can try this for yourself by Google dose calculator.
Try doterra.com too… I buy my lemongrass oil there… they have vegetable capsules too… I fill it up and ingest it…
Isaac – can we inject lemongrass ourselves with hypodermic needle into dense breast tissue to keep it from becoming cancerous in future?
Hi Collete – the best advice would be to consult with one of the reputed doctors and health experts we interviewed in our Global Quest series.
We are not able to select an expert for you, but we’ve created a page with the expert’s contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage: http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
I hope this is helpful! If you have any further questions/concerns, please let us know as we are happy to help.
Hello and thank you for sharing. I have cancer but it’s a rare, aggressive carcinosarcoma. I’ve been doing pretty well for 2 years but it has now shown up on my liver. You never know that I have cancer if you would have passed me on the street because of all of the natural remedies I’ve been using and the doctor I’ve been seeing for IV drips. I would love to find out which type of cancer this may help but I can’t seem to find a list. Is there somewhere that I could find this? Again thank you.
Yes I agree about Young Living oils and supplements, from seed to seal the very best and worth every drop.
Any suggestions for soft tissue sarcoma stage 3/
4?
I would look into doterra.com and look at frankincense oil and this lemongrass grass… also if you know a place in your area who does hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, that is great as well… very effective.. and stay away from sugars… any cancer feeds off from sugar…
I had cantaloupe size high grade soft tissue sarcoma stage 2B. 5 weeks radiation, 2 surgeries, 7 weeks hospital/rehab, 2.5 months at home wound nurse, I use organic black seed oil, lemongrass oil, yeast cleansers, Pau d’Arco tea, green blender drinks, alkaline water/lemon, Zero refined sugar, no junk food. Today I am over 15 months NED aka no evidence of recurring disease.
Hi Joe,
Thanks for sharing this with us. We are glad to hear that you are doing much better now!
Hi I have non Hodgkin’s B cell lymphoma. I do have doTERRA lemongrass oil. How would I take this everyday, and can it be taken internally?
doTERRA oils can be taken internally if there is a supplemental facts listed on the bottle. You can ingest in a veggie caps or is water. They suggest no more than 24 drops in a day because the oils are so potent, but if you take more it will not harm you. If you use tooically, it’s helpful to do a skin test by putting a drop on your wrist and waiting 20 mins to see if there is a reaction. If so, try 3 drops of doTERRA’s fractionated coconut oil to 1 drop of essential oils. If you want to enhances the lemongrass oil, you can use frankincense with it. And further, try using DoTERRA’s DDR Prime. I have survived stage 3c colored talk cancer this past year and this is what I use to keep cancer at bat along with an anticancer diet. God bless you and yours.
How much of the Frankencense and DDR prime to you use daily for the cancer? I have a friend that I am trying to get started on these oil who is fighting a bone cancer.
Hi Brenda,
We can’t recommend specific doses because we cannot give medical advice. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Best wishes!
Thank you Kristen!
Amazing. So happy for you! Can you share a list of superfoods you eat as your anti cancer diet please?
I would like to know that also Bonnie
I take my doTerra lemongrass internally in a glass of water. If you do not like the taste you can put it in a capsule. It is listed as an oil that is safe internally when it is therapeutic grade.
What other benefits are there from Lemongrass?
Also agree about Y l oils the very best to put inyoui. Your body, diffuse, clean with?
Hello is lemongrass essential oil good for chronic lymphocytic leukemia stage a please
Hi Nicola,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Wow, that is a lot of people to go through to find the information needed. It would be helpful if for each doctor or expert, a statement of the area of expertise were listed under his/her name.
Melaleuca lemongrass clearly states on the label that it is not safe for ingestion. DO NOT INGEST THIS BRAND!!!!
THANKS Laurie!! For precising, otherwise people would take anything!
Hi Dr,
I keep learning everyday from you & your workmate. You have been helped me & my society. Thank You.
My wife makes Vietnamese soup (Pho) in which she uses 2 or 3 stalks of Lemon Grass in the soup. Is this an acceptable way to get the benefits that Lemon Grass has to offer?
It is not likely potent enough since the essential oil is up to 75% more potent than the herb. But the herb is good for you so keep that up in foods, if only everyone used herbs routinely we would be healthier. Try doTerra oils. Lemongrass is inexpensive and 75% more potent each drop is powerful! They have a high standards. You can totally trust doTERRA they have set the standard. They have help me fight many ailments successfully but the most successful treatment is the one you will do.
I have read all your blogs and find them facsinating !! However you give no information about the lung disease of Mesothelioma ??? Please help I would love some advice as my husband is very ill !! please do not publish my name !!
Hi there,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Best wishes!
Can you do some topics about brain tumors causing seizures? So many meds and even supplements and EO’s can trigger seizures. Thanks for your time.
I agree, I need this kind of information for myself urgently for exactly the same reason, a video/video series on how to cure brain tumours and seizures would be absolutely AMAZING!!!
Hi Terri and Andy,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Curious if Lemongrass would be helpful with Prostate cancer that has spread to a couple lymph nodes. And if drinking drops in water would be what you would suggest?
Hi Jennifer – thanks for sharing your question with us!
Unfortunately, we are unable to give any kind of medical advice. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in our Global Quest series.
We are not able to select an expert for you, but we’ve created a page with the expert’s contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage: http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
I hope this is helpful! If you have any further questions/concerns, please let us know as we are happy to help.
What about soft tissue sarcoma (injection site)in our darling cat? Can I add lemongrass to coconut oil and use topically? Also , Ty and Charlene – please replay Truth About Pet Cancer. Pet Cancer series played prior to our finding out about our cat. And thank you for all you do!! I purchased the Truth about Cancer series.
Does anyone know if lemongrass is better or equal to fighting cancer as Frankincense oil? I only use DoTerra.
I’ve heard about lemongrass tea. Would that help if someone had cancer?
Just wondering?
Hi. My name is Gloria Poindexter
My daughter has stage 2 lung canter
Would lemongrass help her?
And where can I get good lemongrass?
Hi Gloria,
We cannot give medical advice, so the best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Best wishes!
Mayuri here. I make whole lemon pickle crushed with jaggery. Cook for 5/7 minutes on gas. Is this same effective as lemon grass oil?
Very easy to make and tasty. All of us n family eats.
Should the lemongrass essential oil be from Young Living or De Terra?
Personally I only use Young Living – have for over 15 years… they have been around the longest at over 25 years. They are the only company that owns their farms and has a presence on their partner farms. Look at Jen O Sullivans Youtube about Purity and also Brand Comparison.
As far as I’m concerned, Doterra oils are best in the market. I’m treating a patient since last six months and it’s showing wonderful results. Anybody wants to become a member of Doterra can contact me