Lemongrass oil is used for aromatherapy, natural insect repellent, topical pain relief, and skin care. It’s a versatile essential oil extracted from the leaves of the lemongrass plant, and its benefits come primarily from citral, a compound that makes up over 75% of the oil by weight. Citral is responsible for the oil’s sharp, citrusy scent and most of its biological activity.
Reducing Anxiety and Stress
One of the most popular uses for lemongrass oil is calming anxiety through inhalation. In a randomized clinical trial, patients who inhaled lemongrass oil experienced significant drops in anxiety scores, heart rate, and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to a control group. The anxiety reduction was measurable using a standardized psychological scale, not just self-reported relaxation. Blood pressure and pulse rate both dropped meaningfully in the aromatherapy group while actually rising in the control group.
You can use lemongrass oil in a diffuser, add a few drops to a bowl of hot water for steam inhalation, or simply inhale from the bottle. The calming effect appears tied to inhalation specifically, so topical application isn’t necessary to get this benefit.
Pain and Inflammation Relief
Lemongrass oil has a well-documented anti-inflammatory mechanism. Citral suppresses a key enzyme involved in inflammation (the same one targeted by ibuprofen and similar painkillers) while activating cellular receptors that regulate the body’s inflammatory response. In lab studies using human immune cells, citral reduced both the genetic signaling and the actual protein production of this inflammatory enzyme in a dose-dependent way, meaning more citral led to more suppression.
For practical use, people apply diluted lemongrass oil to sore muscles, joints, and tension headaches. The oil creates a mild warming sensation on the skin, which combined with its anti-inflammatory properties makes it a common choice in massage blends.
Stomach and Digestive Support
Lemongrass has a long folk-medicine history for stomach complaints, and animal research backs up at least part of that tradition. In a study on mice with stomach ulcers, lemongrass essential oil at a relatively low oral dose reduced ulcer area by about 52% compared to untreated animals. Geraniol, one of the oil’s secondary compounds, performed even better for healing existing ulcers, accelerating the healing process by over 80%. Tissue samples confirmed the healing wasn’t just surface-level: the ulcer base contracted and the protective mucus lining visibly thickened.
Lemongrass tea (made from the plant itself) is the more traditional route for digestive use. Ingesting the concentrated essential oil is a different matter and should be approached cautiously, particularly during pregnancy.
Fighting Bacteria and Fungi
Lab studies show lemongrass oil is effective against a broad range of harmful bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (a common cause of skin infections), E. coli (a frequent source of food poisoning), Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus species. The one notable exception in testing was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a notoriously resistant bacterium that the oil failed to inhibit. The oil also demonstrates antifungal activity, which is why you’ll find it in natural cleaning products, surface sprays, and DIY household disinfectants.
These results come from laboratory settings, not human infections, so lemongrass oil isn’t a substitute for medical treatment of active infections. But for everyday uses like freshening a room, wiping down kitchen surfaces, or deodorizing laundry, its antimicrobial properties add genuine function beyond just a pleasant smell.
Insect Repellent (With Limits)
Lemongrass and its close relative citronella are among the most recognized natural insect repellents. Citronella oil starts strong, repelling nearly 98% of mosquitoes at the moment of application. The problem is duration. In a study comparing citronella to DEET, citronella’s complete protection time averaged just 10.5 minutes, while 24% DEET provided over 300 minutes of full protection. After two hours, citronella’s repellency had dropped to about 58%.
This means lemongrass oil can work as a mosquito deterrent, but you’ll need to reapply frequently. It’s a reasonable choice for short outdoor activities or as a supplementary repellent in a backyard diffuser, but it won’t hold up for a long hike or evening cookout the way DEET-based products will.
Blood Sugar Effects
Animal research suggests lemongrass oil may help regulate blood sugar. In a study on diabetic rats, oral supplementation with lemongrass essential oil for 14 days significantly reduced blood glucose levels, even without insulin administration. The oil also improved lipid profiles and liver function markers that are typically disrupted by diabetes. Both the whole essential oil and isolated citral produced similar blood sugar reductions, and interestingly, a lower dose (32 mg/kg) worked just as well as a higher one.
These findings are from animal models only. No human clinical trials have confirmed whether lemongrass oil meaningfully affects blood sugar in people, so it shouldn’t be treated as a diabetes management tool.
How to Use It Safely on Skin
Lemongrass oil is potent and should never be applied undiluted to skin. For body massage or lotion, a 1 to 2% dilution works well, which translates to about 6 to 12 drops of lemongrass oil per ounce of carrier oil (coconut, jojoba, or sweet almond are common choices). For facial application, keep the concentration lower at 0.5 to 1% to avoid irritation.
Before using it on a larger area, apply a small amount of the diluted blend to your inner forearm and wait 24 hours to check for redness or irritation. Some people are more sensitive to citral than others, and skin reactions can range from mild tingling to actual chemical burns if the concentration is too high.
Pregnancy and Pet Safety Concerns
Lemongrass oil’s high citral content makes it a concern during pregnancy. Citral has been identified as teratogenic, meaning it can potentially cause developmental harm, and researchers recommend restricting internal use of high-citral essential oils throughout pregnancy. The suggested maximum intake of citral from all sources during pregnancy is just 46 mg per day, which is easy to exceed with concentrated essential oil. Diffusing small amounts occasionally is generally considered lower risk than ingestion, but caution is warranted.
For pet owners, lemongrass oil is listed as toxic to dogs and cats by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Cats and birds are especially vulnerable because they metabolize essential oil compounds poorly. Active diffusers pose a particular risk: the fine mist can land on fur and be ingested during grooming. Signs of essential oil poisoning in pets include vomiting, drooling, lethargy, loss of appetite, tremors, and difficulty breathing. If you diffuse lemongrass oil at home, do so in a room your pets can leave freely, and avoid diffusing around birds entirely.