Lemongrass tea is a caffeine-free herbal drink with a mild citrus flavor, and it carries a surprisingly broad range of potential health benefits. Its active compounds, particularly citral and geraniol, give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that have been studied for effects on digestion, blood sugar, oral health, and more. Most of the stronger evidence comes from animal research, but the traditional uses of lemongrass tea span centuries and are starting to gain scientific backing.
Digestive and Stomach Protection
One of the oldest traditional uses for lemongrass tea is settling the stomach, and research supports this. In a controlled study on rats, a lemongrass infusion (essentially brewed tea) significantly reduced damage to the stomach lining caused by ethanol exposure. The protective effect worked both when the tea was given before and after the stomach injury occurred, suggesting it can help prevent irritation and support healing of existing damage.
Interestingly, the benefit wasn’t about taking more. Higher doses didn’t produce stronger results. What mattered was how long the tea stayed in contact with the stomach lining. Longer contact time meant better protection. This lines up with the common practice of sipping lemongrass tea slowly after meals rather than drinking it quickly. If you deal with occasional stomach discomfort or bloating, a warm cup after eating is a reasonable, low-risk option.
Blood Sugar and Metabolic Effects
Lemongrass tea shows real promise for blood sugar management, though the evidence so far is limited to animal studies. In diabetic mice, lemongrass tea brewed at standard concentrations reduced fasting blood sugar by up to 60% compared to untreated controls. Those same animals showed insulin levels roughly 30% higher than diabetic mice that didn’t receive the tea, meaning the lemongrass appeared to help the pancreas produce more insulin and improve the body’s response to it.
In healthy mice, a lemongrass extract lowered fasting blood glucose by about 26%. Multiple studies also found improvements in cholesterol and lipid levels alongside the blood sugar effects. One study using an extract from lemongrass noted both blood-sugar-lowering and lipid-lowering activity in animals with high cholesterol.
These numbers are striking, but they come from animals receiving concentrated doses. A daily cup or two of lemongrass tea delivers far less of the active compounds than what’s used in these experiments. Still, as part of an overall healthy diet, it’s a reasonable swap for sugary drinks, and the direction of the evidence is consistently positive for metabolic health.
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Lemongrass contains flavonoids and phenolic acids, both of which act as antioxidants. These compounds neutralize free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to cell damage, aging, and chronic disease over time. The flavonoids in lemongrass have been linked to anti-inflammatory effects as well, which means the tea may help reduce low-grade inflammation throughout the body.
Chronic inflammation plays a role in conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. While drinking tea alone won’t prevent these conditions, regularly consuming antioxidant-rich beverages is one piece of a larger pattern that supports long-term health. Lemongrass tea delivers these compounds in a gentle, easily absorbed form.
Oral Health Benefits
The antimicrobial properties of lemongrass extend to the mouth. The citral in lemongrass is strongly lipophilic, meaning it can penetrate bacterial cell membranes and break them apart. Lab studies show significant inhibitory effects against Streptococcus mutans (the primary bacterium behind tooth decay), Enterococcus faecalis (linked to root canal infections), and Candida albicans (the fungus responsible for oral thrush).
This makes lemongrass a candidate for natural mouthwash formulations and explains why swishing lemongrass tea around your mouth before swallowing may offer some benefit for gum health and cavity prevention. It won’t replace brushing and flossing, but it adds a mild antimicrobial rinse to your routine without the harshness of alcohol-based mouthwashes.
Anxiety and Sleep: Limited Evidence
Lemongrass has a long history in folk medicine as a calming herb, and animal studies suggest it has sedative effects that work through the same brain signaling system (GABA) targeted by prescription anti-anxiety medications. However, this is one area where the human evidence doesn’t match the animal data. Clinical studies testing lemongrass tea in people found that it did not significantly lower anxiety or produce measurable calming effects.
Lemongrass essential oil used as aromatherapy may work through different pathways, potentially stimulating the brain through scent receptors, but that’s a separate delivery method from drinking tea. If you find lemongrass tea relaxing, the ritual of drinking a warm beverage likely contributes as much as the compounds themselves. There’s nothing wrong with that, but don’t expect it to function like a sleep aid.
How to Prepare and How Much to Drink
You can make lemongrass tea from fresh stalks, dried leaves, or pre-packaged tea bags. For fresh lemongrass, cut two or three stalks into 2-inch pieces, lightly crush them to release the oils, and steep in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes. For dried lemongrass, one to two teaspoons per cup is standard.
In a clinical study examining the safety of daily lemongrass consumption, healthy adults were given doses of 2, 4, or 8 grams of dried lemongrass leaf powder brewed as tea, once daily for 30 days. This range roughly corresponds to one to three cups of moderately strong tea per day. The study flagged potential effects on kidney filtration rates, particularly at higher doses. If you have any existing kidney issues, or you take medications that affect kidney function, it’s worth being cautious with daily consumption and sticking to the lower end of that range.
Who Should Avoid Lemongrass Tea
Lemongrass tea is considered unsafe during pregnancy. It can stimulate uterine contractions and menstrual flow, which raises the risk of miscarriage. People with compromised kidney function, including older adults and those on dialysis or post-transplant, should be careful with regular consumption due to its potential effects on kidney filtration. If you’re taking medications known to stress the kidneys, such as certain blood pressure drugs or anti-inflammatory painkillers, adding daily lemongrass tea on top could compound the effect.
For most healthy adults, one to two cups per day is a safe and enjoyable amount. The tea is naturally caffeine-free, so it works well as an evening drink, and its light citrus flavor pairs easily with honey or ginger.