Native Lemongrass (Cymbopogon ambiguus), a type of grass native to Central Australia, has recently been scientifically proven to be as effective as Aspirin in the treatment of migraines, headaches, muscular pains and inflammations.
For millenia, the indigenous peoples of Central Australia have used Native Lemongrass (Cymbopogon ambiguus) to treat headaches, head colds, and general aches and pains. Now a team of researchers from the Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University in New South Wales, Australia, has confirmed that Native Lemongrass is in fact "as potent as aspirin" for treating headaches and inflammations. The team, led by Dr Darren Grice, published the findings of a 5 year research project into Native Lemongrass in the academic journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine in early 2010. Dr Grice believes that the scientific evidence to support the therapeutic efficacy of Cymbopogon ambiguus in the non-conventional treatment of headache and inflammatory conditions is "quite clear".
Working with samples of Native Lemongrass collected around Alice Springs in Central Australia, Dr Grice and colleague Professor Lyn Griffiths discovered that the plant contains eugenol, a bioactive compound which proved to be a powerful agent in combatting headaches and migraines. They tested the effect of eugenol extracted from Cymbopogon ambiguus on healthy blood platelets and discovered that it has a serotonin-inhibiting effect, in addition to stopping blood platelets from aggregating. Serotonins are neurotransmitters which help relay messages from one part of the brain to another. Elevated serotonin levels are associated with migraines and headaches, as well as mood in some cases.
The Cymbopogon (lemongrass) genus comprises about 55 species of grasses native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the world. A tall perennial grass, common names for these species include lemon grass, lemongrass, citronella grass, and fever grass amongst many others. The species are used for a wide variety of therapeutic and other applications, and Lemon Grass is a widely used ingredient in many Asian cuisines.
Central Australia's Cymbopogon ambiguus is distinguished by the fact that is it extremely drought hardy and fire-tolerant, to be expected from species adapted to the Central Australian desert. It is an erect, clumped perennial grass growing up to 1 metre in height. The leaves are bluish-green, becoming red coloured as the plant matures. Like all Lemongrass species, the leaves produce a strong citrus-like aroma when crushed. Native Lemon Grass is found throughout Central Australia, typically growing on rocky hillsides.
Native Lemon Grass remains an important medicinal plant for indigenous peoples throughout Central Australia. The leaves are crushed and inhaled for chest complaints. The leaves and roots are crushed and infused in water and drunk in small amounts or rubbed on the body to treat most forms of aches, pains and inflammation. Notably, this is one of the few Central Australian medicinal herbs that is taken internally.