Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is primarily used in traditional medicine for a variety of purposes, including supporting relaxation and calming the nervous system. In herbal practice, especially in regions such as South and Southeast Asia, lemongrass tea or essential oil is often used as a mild sedative, believed to help reduce stress and promote sleep—functions associated with the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for "rest and digest" activities in the body. Historical texts and ethnobotanical surveys record its use for nervous excitement, anxiety, and insomnia, suggesting a role in supporting nervous system balance.

However, scientific evidence specifically validating lemongrass’s effects on the parasympathetic nervous system is limited. Some laboratory and animal studies suggest that lemongrass extracts and its main component, citral, may have anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and mild sedative effects, potentially through GABAergic pathways, but direct clinical studies in humans are scarce. The evidence base is thus mainly anecdotal and traditional, rather than rigorously established through modern research. As such, while there is a long tradition of lemongrass being used to support relaxation and nervous system calm, the scientific validation for its direct action on the parasympathetic nervous system remains preliminary.

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