Benefits of Lemongrass Tea: What Research Shows and Why It Varies
Lemongrass has been used in traditional medicine systems across Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa for centuries. Today, it's increasingly found in herbal tea blends, wellness tonics, and aromatherapy products. But what does the actual research say about its benefits — and why do people respond to it so differently?
What Is Lemongrass?
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus and related species) is a tall, fibrous grass with a bright citrus aroma. The leaves and stalks contain a range of phytonutrients — biologically active plant compounds — including citral, geraniol, limonene, and various flavonoids and phenolic acids. These are the compounds most studied for their potential health-relevant properties.
When steeped as a tea, these compounds extract into hot water at varying concentrations. The resulting infusion contains antioxidants — molecules that can neutralize certain types of cellular damage — along with trace amounts of minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, though not in quantities large enough to meaningfully contribute to daily intake targets.
What the Research Generally Shows 🌿
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Laboratory and animal studies consistently show that lemongrass extracts demonstrate antioxidant activity — meaning they can reduce oxidative stress in controlled settings. Some in-vitro (cell-based) and animal studies have also identified anti-inflammatory effects tied to citral and related compounds.
However, it's important to note a major limitation: what works in a lab dish or in a mouse model doesn't automatically translate to the same effects in the human body. The concentration of compounds used in many studies is far higher than what you'd get from a cup of tea, and bioavailability — how well the body absorbs and uses these compounds — varies considerably.
Digestive Support
Traditional use of lemongrass for digestive discomfort has some preliminary scientific support. A handful of small human studies and broader reviews of traditional medicine suggest it may help with bloating, cramping, and nausea, possibly through mild antispasmodic activity in the gut. This is considered emerging evidence rather than well-established science — the studies are generally small, and more rigorous clinical trials are needed.
Antimicrobial Properties
Several studies have examined lemongrass essential oil and extracts for antimicrobial activity, particularly against certain bacteria and fungi. These findings are largely from lab settings. Whether drinking lemongrass tea produces meaningful antimicrobial effects inside the human body is a separate question that the current evidence doesn't clearly resolve.
Anxiety and Relaxation
Some small studies have looked at lemongrass aromatherapy and oral consumption in relation to stress and anxiety markers. Results have been modest and mixed. The calming effect many people associate with herbal teas generally — the ritual, the warmth, the absence of caffeine — is difficult to separate from the specific activity of lemongrass compounds in clinical research.
Cholesterol and Metabolic Markers
A small number of studies, including at least one human clinical trial, have explored lemongrass's effects on cholesterol levels. Results showed some change in lipid profiles in certain participants, but sample sizes were small and findings haven't been consistently replicated. This remains an area of limited and preliminary evidence.
Key Variables That Shape Individual Outcomes
The same cup of lemongrass tea can affect two people very differently. The factors that matter most include:
| Variable | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Form consumed | Fresh stalk, dried leaf tea, concentrated extract, or essential oil differ significantly in compound concentration and bioavailability |
| Preparation method | Steeping time, water temperature, and whether fresh or dried lemongrass is used affects how much of the active compounds are released |
| Frequency and amount | Occasional tea vs. daily consumption creates different exposure levels |
| Existing diet | Someone already consuming a high-antioxidant diet may show less measurable response than someone with a lower baseline |
| Age and metabolism | Older adults and those with altered gut function may absorb plant compounds differently |
| Medications | Lemongrass may interact with diuretic medications and has shown some blood pressure-lowering potential in early research — relevant for anyone on antihypertensive drugs |
| Pregnancy | Lemongrass has historically been used to stimulate menstruation in traditional medicine; its safety profile during pregnancy is not well established |
How Different People Experience It Differently 🍵
For someone with no underlying health conditions, drinking lemongrass tea is generally considered well-tolerated in normal culinary amounts. For others, the picture is more nuanced.
People on blood thinners or diuretics may face different risk considerations than those taking no medications. Those with allergies to related grasses have reported sensitivity. People with specific metabolic conditions may process the compounds differently than healthy adults in a controlled study.
The research largely reflects average responses in defined study populations — which may or may not reflect your own starting point.
What's Still Unclear
Much of the human research on lemongrass is preliminary. Most studies are small, short-term, or conducted in populations that differ from general readers. Long-term effects of regular lemongrass tea consumption in diverse populations haven't been rigorously studied.
The gap between "shows antioxidant activity in a lab" and "produces a measurable health benefit in a specific person drinking tea daily" is significant — and it's a gap the current evidence base doesn't fully bridge.
What the research describes is a plant with a genuinely interesting biochemical profile and a long history of traditional use. Whether that translates into a meaningful benefit for any particular person depends on factors the research can't account for on its own — and neither can this article. 🌱
