Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus): Uses, Evidence and Safety
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) in cooking, tea and aromatherapy: what small trials show, one trial of tea and kidney function, and cautions for pregnancy, kidney disease and allergy.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
What is Lemongrass good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Aroma and short-lived anxiety
Preliminary or mixedTwo small trials of inhaling lemongrass essential oil reported lower anxiety scores. They tested the aroma, not tea, and the evidence is limited.
Supplements: Small trials of the essential oil aroma only; results do not transfer to tea or cooking.
Oral thrush
Not enough evidenceA 90-person trial of lemongrass infusion, lemon juice or gentian violet in people with HIV found no significant differences in the intention-to-treat analysis.
Supplements: Insufficient evidence that lemongrass treats oral thrush.
Gum disease, oral malodour and skin fungal conditions (essential oil)
Preliminary or mixedA scoping review of 8 studies said the essential oil, used in the mouth or on skin, might help gum disease, bad breath and pityriasis versicolor, and called for more research.
Supplements: Preliminary; essential oil products, not tea.
Antibacterial and antifungal activity in the lab
Lab or animal research onlyReviews describe antibacterial and antifungal effects in laboratory studies.
Supplements: Laboratory evidence only.
Anti-inflammatory activity in the lab
Lab or animal research onlyReviews list anti-inflammatory effects from laboratory and animal studies.
Supplements: Laboratory and animal evidence only.
Blood sugar and blood pressure effects reported in pharmacological studies
Not enough evidenceReviews list hypoglycemic and hypotensive effects from pharmacological studies. We found no human trial of the tea for blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol.
Supplements: Insufficient evidence in people.
Traditional use as a food and medicine plant
Not enough evidenceLemongrass is widely used in tropical countries, especially Southeast Asia, as a kitchen herb and tea, and its oil in aromatherapy. Tradition is not proof that a use works.
Supplements: Traditional use only; not evidence of benefit.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (1)
- Anxiety SupportPreliminary or mixed
Two small trials of inhaling the essential oil reported lower anxiety; the evidence is limited and is not for tea.
Body systems (3)
- Kidney & UrinaryDocumented risk
One trial of 30 days of daily infusions found lower kidney-filtering measures. People with kidney disease should ask a clinician first.
- Urinary SystemDocumented risk
One trial of 30 days of daily infusions found lower kidney-filtering measures and increased urine output early on.
- Stress & MoodPreliminary or mixed
Two small trials of inhaling the essential oil reported lower anxiety; the evidence is limited and is not for tea.
Body parts (1)
- KidneysDocumented risk
Daily lemongrass infusions for 30 days were linked to lower creatinine clearance and eGFR in one trial.
Functional actions (2)
- Anti-InflammatoryLab or animal research only
Reviews report anti-inflammatory effects in lab and animal studies only.
- CalmingPreliminary or mixed
Two small trials of inhaling the essential oil reported lower anxiety; the evidence is limited and is not for tea.
Biomarkers (1)
- CreatinineDocumented risk
In one trial, serum and urine creatinine rose and creatinine clearance fell after 30 days of daily infusions.
Conditions & symptoms (1)
- Chronic Kidney InsufficiencyDocumented risk
A trial in healthy adults found lower kidney-filtering measures after 30 days of daily infusions; whether this matters in people with kidney disease was not tested, so caution is advised.
Documented risks and interactions (2)
- Kidney function with daily tea (documented risk). In a 105-person trial, 30 days of daily lemongrass infusions was linked to lower creatinine clearance and eGFR, measures of kidney filtering.
- Medicine interactions (research gap). The scoping review called for more research on interactions with medicines. No specific interactions are described in the sources we read.
Lemongrass tea is a drink many people enjoy, but one human trial found lower kidney-function measures after 30 days of daily lemongrass infusions. In 105 adults aged 18 to 35 given infusions made from 2, 4 or 8 g of leaf powder once a day, the authors reported dose- and time-dependent adverse effects on creatinine clearance and eGFR. [1] It is a single trial and earlier findings on kidneys were described as conflicting, but anyone with kidney disease should ask a clinician before drinking it regularly as a remedy.
Overview
Lemongrass is a grass used as a kitchen herb and in teas. A 2011 review describes it as widely used in tropical countries, especially Southeast Asia, with an essential oil used in aromatherapy. [2] This page is about the plant as food and tea. The essential oil is a different product: see essential oils A to Z and essential oil safety.Names and plant parts
Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, family Poaceae (the grasses), is the accepted name. [3] Leaves and stalks are used. Common-name traps: other Cymbopogon species are also sold as lemongrass or related products, and a 2024 systematic review used the label "lemon verbena" for Cymbopogon citratus, though lemon verbena is normally a different plant (Aloysia citrodora, see lemon verbena). [4] Check the Latin name on a label. See botanical names and plant parts on labels.Traditional use (not proof of benefit)
A 2024 review calls lemongrass a "drug and food homologous medicine" with widely recorded medicinal value and food uses. [5] In one South African hospice, a lemongrass infusion and lemon juice were routinely used for oral thrush, which prompted a trial. [6] Tradition describes what people have done; it does not show that a use works.What research shows
Reviews say lemongrass has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and other effects in lab studies and that more study is needed. [5][2] Human studies are few and small.| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dental anxiety (inhaled essential oil) | In a 38-patient randomized trial, lemongrass aroma during gum treatment was linked to lower anxiety scores, blood pressure and heart rate than no aroma. Pain and satisfaction did not differ. [7] | Promising but limited (small trial; comparison group had no aroma) |
| Short-lived anxiety in healthy men | 40 volunteers inhaled lemongrass oil, tea tree oil or water. Lemongrass groups reported less state anxiety and recovered sooner. [8] | Promising but limited (one small trial) |
| Oral thrush in people with HIV | A 90-person randomized trial of lemon grass infusion, lemon juice or gentian violet found no significant differences in the intention-to-treat analysis. [6] | Insufficient evidence |
| Oral candidiasis (systematic review) | Authors found limited clinical evidence, though lab studies showed antifungal effects. [4] | Insufficient evidence; mostly preclinical |
| Gum disease, pityriasis versicolor, dandruff (essential oil, topical or mouthwash) | A scoping review of 8 articles said the oil might help and called for more research on safety, interactions and long-term tolerability. [9] | Promising but limited |
| Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar from drinking the tea | Proper evidence not found. We searched Europe PMC for lemongrass randomized trials and found no tea trial for these outcomes that we could read. | No usable evidence |
The aromatherapy and mouthwash results are for essential oil products, not for tea or cooking. A result for one form does not transfer to another.
Safety
- Kidneys. Beyond the trial above, the authors noted that earlier findings on tea and kidney indices were conflicting. [1] See herbs and kidney disease.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The sources we read do not give pregnancy or lactation guidance for lemongrass tea or oil. Ask your midwife or doctor, and see pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Medicines. The scoping review calls for more research on interactions with medicines. [9] No specific interactions are described in the sources we read. See how interactions work and ask a pharmacist, especially if you take kidney-cleared medicines or diuretics.
- Children, older adults, liver, surgery, allergy. Not described in the sources we read. Lack of evidence is not proof of safety.
- Essential oil. Do not swallow essential oil. Oils can irritate skin and need separate care; see essential oil safety.
- Tea quality. Tea blends vary in content. See herbal tea safety.
Culinary amounts versus remedy amounts
Cooking with lemongrass uses small amounts mixed into food. The kidney trial used infusions from powdered leaf daily for a month, which is not the same as an occasional cup. See culinary versus supplement amounts and herbs for anxiety and stress.Frequently asked questions
Is lemongrass tea safe to drink?
Occasional use as a drink has no specific warning in the sources we read, but one 30-day trial of daily infusions found lower kidney-function measures. [1] Ask a clinician if you have kidney disease.
Does lemongrass help anxiety?
Two small trials of inhaling lemongrass essential oil reported lower anxiety scores. [7][8] They tested the aroma, not tea, and the evidence is limited.
Is lemongrass the same as lemon verbena or lemon balm?
No. Lemongrass is Cymbopogon citratus. [3] Lemon verbena and lemon balm are different plants, but one review used the name lemon verbena for lemongrass. [4]
Can I drink lemongrass tea while pregnant?
The sources we read do not say. Ask your midwife or doctor.
Does lemongrass lower blood sugar or cholesterol?
Proper evidence not found in the human trials we could read. A review lists a hypoglycemic effect from pharmacological studies, which is not a human outcome. [5]
References
- Effect of lemongrass tea consumption on estimated glomerular filtration rate and creatinine clearance rate. J Ren Nutr 2015 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25440110. Read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23.
- Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf (lemon grass). J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2011 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22171285. Read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, accepted, family Poaceae. Read through the GBIF species-match service 2026-10-23.
- Effectiveness of lemon verbena (Cymbopogon citratus) in oral candidiasis: a systematic review. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent 2024 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39286661. Read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23.
- Ethnopharmacology, chemical composition and functions of Cymbopogon citratus. Chin Herb Med 2024 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39072200. Read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23.
- Treatment of oral thrush in HIV/AIDS patients with lemon juice and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and gentian violet. Phytomedicine 2009 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19109001. Read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23.
- Effect of aromatherapy with lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) on the anxiety of patients undergoing scaling and root planning: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Complement Med Ther 2025 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40069670. Read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23.
- Effect of lemongrass aroma on experimental anxiety in humans. J Altern Complement Med 2015 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26366471. Read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23.
- Exploring the clinical applications of lemongrass essential oil: a scoping review. 2024 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38399374. Read via Europe PMC 2026-10-23.