Native Lemon Grass Fights Headaches Like Aspirin

[Chiral]

SOURCE

Griffith University researchers have found native lemon grass, used by Indigenous Australians as traditional medicine, has the potential to relieve headaches and migraines. The findings of the five-year study were reported in the most recent edition of the academic journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Research by Professor Lyn Griffiths, Dr Darren Grice and Dr Kelly Rogers has scientifically proven the lemon grass plant Cymbopogon ambiguus may be as good as aspirin when it comes to treating headaches.

Dr Darren Grice from the Institute for Glycomics said this research validated the plant’s therapeutic values.

“Headaches and migraines cause abnormal activities in our bodies, such as altering our serotonin levels and interfering with the normal function of our blood platelets,” Dr Grice said.

Platelets clump together for wound repair, but they can also form life-threatening internal clots starving the brain of oxygen and causing strokes.

“We tested extracts of the plant on human blood platelets and one fraction showed strong biological activity.

“It was caused by the compound eugenol in the native lemon grass plant, which is a significant find as the compound showed similar activity to aspirin.

“The compound inhibits platelets clumping together and the release of serotonin.”

Serotonin regulates mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction, and some cognitive functions including memory, learning and has alterations in migraine.

Dr Grice said traditional medicines had not been studied in-depth and many plants had unknown therapeutic values.

“Nature’s medicines hold enormous potential to cure health problems and traditional medicines are a source of good leads for new scientific discovery,” he said.

The research project collected a range of Australian traditional medicinal plants for investigation, including Cymbopogon ambiguous from the Northern Territory.

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[tripsis]

Fascinating, thanks for the article.

[Yawning Man]

Great news. I'll have to chase down a some Lemon Grass. Thanks Chia tea!

cheers

[PhoenixSon]

eugenol is also in lemon basil and sweet basil...i think

serotonin

[Micromegas]

Cool, thanks for that.

[GingaNinja]

so who's got cuttings for trade?

[bℓσωηG]

ive got lots of lemongrass if anyone wants a cutting , open to trades , im not sure if its the native one tho apparently there are 55 species!

[mac]

blowng i am curious do you ever find many incests, other pests or mites around other plants that grow nearby the lemon-grass?

[nabraxas]

http://www.shaman-australis.com.au/Website/Shamanmainpageframeset.htm

grows very fast.

[bℓσωηG]

blowng i am curious do you ever find many incests, other pests or mites around other plants that grow nearby the lemon-grass?

 

im not sure mac, but i know nothing eats it and i have to divide it up every so often to keep it under control...it doesnt give off much of an odour until a leaf is crushed...where did you hear about these pest repelling qualities? The leaves have a fine serration so soft plants rubbing against it in the wind may suffer a few cuts.....great for cooking fresh ,chopped stems and as a tea with sugar served ice cold yum

[occidentalis]

Cymbopogon ambiguus is smaller and softer than the asian lemongrass that is usually found in gardens. It also has a much more fruity and strong smell when fresh but very little smell when dried, so I guess the fragrance compounds are more volatile.

Eugenol is the main essential that gives cloves their fragrance and is known to be a local anaesthetic.

[mac]

where did you hear about these pest repelling qualities

Someone mentioned most pests wont eat it, as some Cymbopogon species are used for the production of citronella oil.

So i was curious if lemon grass works as a pest repelling companion plant

Edited March 4, 2010 by mac

[t st tantra]

roots or flowers of related species smoked by shamen in africa..........

t s t .

[atomar]

Got plenty of Lemongrass in the garden. It does grow like weed and never had any issues with pests at all. Not sure if it is native tho.

Also got some Lemon Basil - I quite like a bit of that in salads.