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Many people indulge in a spa treatment for some pampering and some ‘me’ time. It’s a great way to recharge after a tiring work week or if you just want to treat yourself a little. When it comes to massage, most spas use different kinds of plants, such as herbs and flowers. In Thailand, one of the most popularly used is lemongrass.
What is lemongrass?
Lemongrass is an herb that can be found in many parts of the world. It was originally native to the areas in South India and Sri Lanka. Lemongrass stalks are often used in Asian cuisine while the leaves can also be brewed to make tea.
Lemongrass smells mildly of lemons. It is used as a flavoring agent in tea, desserts, and other dishes when fresh lemon is either unavailable or too flavourful. Chinese and Thai dishes often call for lemongrass. Much like any other grass, it grows and spreads quickly. Because it’s easy to grow and it’s constantly in demand, lemongrass is often sold at a decent price in organic and mainstream markets
It has a similar appearance to many seagrasses due to its long leaves. About 55 species of lemongrass are known today but only the East and West Indian varieties are used in food and drinks.
Benefits as an ingredient for body scrubs
Lemongrass works well for people with oily and acne-prone skin. It can cleanse and detoxify the skin like a natural, lemon-scented deodorant. Excess oil on skin often causes acne. Using lemongrass as an ingredient for a body scrub can help eliminate excess oils that cause acne. Lemongrass can also tighten pores and smoothen out or reduce wrinkles, making it an ideal skin toner.
Exfoliating with lemongrass regularly can help the circulation in the skin and maintain an even skin tone. This also helps the skin remain resilient and supple by promoting the collagen production process. Because of aging, the cell regeneration process starts to slow down. When the body can’t generate new skin cells and shed dead skin cells fast enough, the skin starts to look dull and feel dry and rough. A build-up of dead skin cells causes clogged pores and excess oils which can cause acne and skin blemishes.
By exfoliating regularly, the layer of dead skin cells that clogs the pores can be removed, revealing a fresh layer of new skin cells. As a result, other moisturizing products can be used to penetrate deeper from the skin surface. In summary, regularly exfoliating with lemongrass makes your skin look better and healthier.
Benefits as an ingredient for massage oil
Lemongrass is found in tropical regions. Its essential oil can be extracted from the plant’s leaves and stalks. Its distinct aroma of citrus makes it a common ingredient in soaps and other hygiene products.
Lemongrass essential oil is made through steam distilling dried lemongrass. Its essential oil contains citral, citronellal, geraniol, geranyl acetate, limonene, myrcene, neral, and nerol.
Lemongrass essential oil are often used for relaxation and aromatherapy massage. Its soothing scent can be recognised in many spas around the world. Research has shown that massage using lemongrass essential oil can reduce a person’s diastolic blood pressure without affecting their systolic blood pressure or pulse, providing a harmonizing effect on the nervous system.
Lemongrass essential oil has also been used as a natural first aid for wounds. It can aid in speeding up recovery and reduce the risks of infection. It was also found to be effective against many drug-resistant bacteria, including strains that can cause blood infections, intestinal infections, skin infections and pneumonia.
Lemongrass oil can also boost confidence, self-esteem and mental strength. It can help fight depression and uplift the spirit, making it a great choice for overall wellbeing in many spas. Getting a massage with lemongrass oil helps with depression and anxiety. For people who have acute depression and are in rehabilitation after an acute shock, lemongrass can be systematically administered to help in recovery.
Benefits of its aroma
The fresh, citrus scent of lemongrass oil is commonly used in aromatherapy for beauty and health. It is used to relieve headaches, ease indigestion, and reduce inflammation. Typically, it’s mixed with other carrier oils, body oil, or hair and skin products or just used as an inhalant.
Citral is one of the main components found in the essential oil. It is a compound that functions as an antimicrobial, meaning that it can destroy bacteria and fungi as well as delay the spreading of such microorganisms. Another main component is limonene, which can help reduce inflammation and fight off bacterial infections.
By absorbing the essential oil through the skin or inhaling its scent, messages are sent to the brain’s limbic system which are involved in motivation, emotion, learning, and memory. Aromatherapy proponents say that essential oils can affect many things in a person, including breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, immune function, and stress levels.
Lemongrass essential oil is commonly used for acne, excessive sweating, athlete’s foot, muscle aches, headaches, indigestion, and anxiety. Its aroma also functions as a natural air freshener and an insect repellant, along with its regular functions of relieving pain and reducing stress. It can be beneficial to almost every part of the human body. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and many other nutrients. Applied on the head, it can help treat scalp problems. On the skin, it reduces wrinkles, removes dead skin, clears up excess oils, and protects the skin from https://www.glowdentaldallas.com/dental-services/isotretinoin/ damage. It can also help regulate the many internal systems of the body.
For people with muscle pain or other similar aches, lemongrass oil can help ease the pain. For those stressed and tired, its scent is enough for a small mental boost. Its scent can also fight off depression and anxiety.