Lemongrass
Lemongrass (Sinkai for Lao, Thakai for Thai) is a stalk plant with a lemony scent that grows in many tropical climates such as Laos and Thailand. It’s a common ingredient in Lao and Thai cooking, which mostly used with dish such as Tom Yum Kung, which contains all kind of herbs and spices, with lemongrass as the key player. Tom Yum Kung (or chicken) is believed to help you recover from a common cold, flu, and even some cancers. If you’re interested in making Tom Yum you can find ingredients and instruction here. Lemongrass is also a common ingredient for meat, or fish dishes.
My dad has had a lot of stomach problem, and he claims that by drinking 3-4 cups of lemongrass drink per day seems to help alleviate his stomachaches and digestive problems, if you’re interested in making lemongrass drink, you can find the ingredients here. It is also known to help relieve congestion, coughing, bladder disorders, headaches, fever, diarrhea, gas, bowel spasms, vomiting, flu symptoms, as a mild sedative, and to promote perspiration, and as a possible cholesterol-lowering agent.
The extracted oil from lemongrass can be used externally to apply to athlete’s foot, cuts, scrapes, lower back pain, sciatica, sprains, tendonitis, neuralgia, circulatory problems, and rheumatism. The fresh leaves can be crushed and rubbed on the skin as an on-the-spot outdoor insect repellent.
You can also use lemongrass in the bath for a soothing aromatherapy by placing a mesh bag with a handful of leaves under the running bath water, then letting the bag soak in the water with you as you bathe. I’ve also seen lemongrass bath gel in a bath and body shop that has the same aroma as using the fresh leaves.
Lemongrass is safe for use in moderation, but should be avoided by young children, pregnant women, and people with kidney or liver problem.
I remember massages with Lemongrass Oils when I was in Thailand, and the kind staff also explained its many uses, as have you. Great information!People in Spain are unfamiliar with the aroma and flavour it imparts to marinades, but they always love the end result.We (the staff) have loads of Lemongrass growing in our gardens, all you need to do is find a stalk with some small roots pertruding, stick it in water for a day or so then plant it in your garden.We love Lemongrass so much, that it was the original name for the restaurant, before it was changed to ASIA. One of my favourite dishes is Grilled Fish, Skewered with Lemongrass and stuffed with chillies and garlic….hmmmm, all this talk is making me hungry…. ;)