Citronella oil: properties and applications

The amazing citronella oil has long ceased to be something exotic. Now on the shelves of stores various extracts of lemon grass are often found in the form of oil essences and elixirs. Oil is valued for its healing properties, so it is used in many fields: cosmetology, household chemicals, perfumes, traditional medicine and cooking.

Lemon grass, lemon sorghum, limonella, shuttlebeard, cymbopogon, lemon grass - these are all varieties of the same plant - ordinary citronella.

All contain essential oils that are similar in smell to citrus. Along with this, they have a delicate aroma of freshly cut grass. Together, a unique bouquet of aromas of freshness is created, giving vigor and a good mood.

Lemon grass Andropogon grows with a low spider, very similar to the decorative look, belongs to the mannikov family. The habitat is Sri Lanka, Java and South America. Not so long ago, it began to be grown in Africa. The thermophilic plant is very demanding on moisture and can be grown at home.

Grass is grown solely for the sake of oil. It is extracted by steam distillation from raw grass.

Grass is used in cooking as a salad and as a part of seasonings and sauces for meat, fish and vegetables. Dried citronella leaves are brewed in tea for energy and increase the overall tone of the body. This herb is a popular ingredient in air fresheners, aerosols, and deodorants.

Citronella oil has a uniform, dense, grassy consistency. The composition of the oil contains an extract of grass, per 100 grams of which there are the following useful substances and minerals:

• proteins - 1.9 g;
• fats - 0.5 g;
• carbohydrates - 26 g;
• water - 70.6 g;
• ash - 1.9 g;
• beta-carotene - 0.004 mg;
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.066 g;
• vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.136 g;
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) - 0.06 mg;
• vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 0.09 mg;
• vitamin B9 - 76 mcg;
• vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - 2.7 mg;
• Vitamin PP - 1.102 mg.

If we consider macro- and microelements, then it is worth noting the following:

• potassium - 724 mg;
• calcium - 66 mg;
• sodium - 5 mg;
• magnesium - 59 mg;
• phosphorus - 102 mg;
• Manganese - 5, 223 mg;
• iron - 8.18 mg;
• selenium - 0.6 mg;
• zinc - 2.24 mg.

Monounsaturated, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids are represented by the following:

• palmitoleic - 0.013 g;
• omega-9 (oleic) - 0.043 g;
• omega-3 - 0.032 g;
• omega-6 - 0.139 g;
• palmitic - 0.085 g;
• stearin - 0.013 g;
• arachin - 0.006 g;
• coastal - 0.008 g;
• myristic - 0.003 g;
• linoleic - 0.139 g;
• linolenic - 0.032 g.

Plus, the oil composition contains esters, phytosterols, citronellol aldehyde with a lemon smell and rose geraniol, farnesol, first isolated from acacia farnese, campfire with a camphor smell, cinnamon methyleugenol and many other compounds that provide oil with unique properties.

For external and internal use, ethereal the composition of the oil has the following properties:

• removes decay products, poisons and toxins;
• relieves grounding and muscle spasms;
• tones and strengthens capillaries and blood vessels;
• strengthens the immune system during seasonal exacerbations of colds and flu;
• normalizes digestion;
• has diaphoretic and diuretic effects in viral diseases;
• deodorizes and protects the skin from pathogenic bacteria;
• the smell of citronella repels insects;
• used in aromatherapy.

Oil is extracted from the green ground parts of the plant. The properties of aromatic oils are used for the following problems:

• otitis media, pharyngitis and edema of the maxillary sinuses - as an external remedy;
• headaches and dizziness - inhaled to improve cerebral circulation;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia, pressure drops and tinnitus - externally, rubbing into the temples;
• skin problems, acne and acne - adding to daily care products;
• anemia and anemia - as a general tonic, raising vitality.

Citronella oil is used in a number of cases described above exclusively in small quantities. Due to the high concentration of biologically active substances, it is advisable to simply add it to any base. There are some rules for using the product.

Citronella oil is often used in cosmetology for various purposes.

• For external use - for the treatment of affected skin surfaces with eczema, sunburn, allergic rashes and other lesions. Oil is applied with fingertips or in the form of compresses, previously applied to gauze.
• As a means of massage. To prepare the massage base, take any oil, for example, linseed oil, and add a few drops of citronella to it.
• To lose weight and get rid of cellulite, take baking soda, salt in half a glass, a little citronella, mix everything and apply massage movements in the shower. After a while, wash off with plenty of water. If you do this procedure at least once a week, the "orange peel" from the surface of the skin will gradually disappear.

• In spa treatments, citronella is actively used. The oil composition is added to the bath. The procedure normalizes the nervous system, stabilizes the water-alkaline balance in the body, making up for the loss of nutrients. In general, it has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the human body.
• When enriching feeds, ointments, lotions, elixirs, emulsions and other cosmetics, a few drops of lemon grass essential oil are added to their compositions.Such a procedure should be performed immediately before the application to a small amount of the base, from the calculation - for single use.
• When sweating legs, a number of procedures are performed. Within a week, do foot baths, adding healing oil to the water.

• For skin regeneration, whitening, getting rid of age spots, freckles, scars and stretch marks, citronella is used to treat problem areas with a cotton pad moistened with its aqueous solution. The tool is also able to get rid of acne, acne and other inflammatory skin diseases.
• To remove warts, papillomas and other formations, the skin is treated with an ear stick moistened with citronella concentrate. After application, burning or slight tingling is possible, which means the effectiveness of the method.
• In perfume compositions of domestic and foreign manufacturers as famous brands: Chanel, Christian Dior, Lacoste, Versace, Givenchy, Guerlain, Avon, Yves Rocher and others. Using this or that type of perfume or perfume water, be aware that citronella essential oils are certainly present in its composition.

Lemon oil is widely used both in everyday life and in traditional medicine.

• Inhalation with colds, healing oil is added to the steam baths. Separately, an herbal composition of sage, mint and St. John's wort is prepared in equal quantities. Pouring herbs with water, bring to a boil, remove from the stove, inject five drops of citronella. These vapors are inhaled by covering their heads with a large bath towel for 10-15 minutes. If necessary, fold the edge of the towel to normalize the temperature of the vapor.
• For aromatherapy use special ceramic or iron lamps heated by a candle or electricity. They must be made of heat resistant material. Essential oil is poured into these lamps. When heated, aromatic fumes spread in the room, filling it with a pleasant lemon smell. Inhalation of vapors produces a therapeutic effect: headaches, seasonal spleen and depression go away.
• As an aphrodisiac use tonic massages, alternating them with aromatherapy.

• Under stretching and excessive strain on the muscles also apply rubbing with citronella essential oil. The procedure restores muscle elasticity, promotes the elimination of lactic acid, eliminating pain effects. Therefore, this oil is necessary for athletes, bodybuilders and all those involved in the gym.
• It has a pronounced insecticidal effect. A few drops of oil applied to insect plates work wonders. Not only mosquitoes and annoying midges disappear, but also dangerous ticks, fleas and ants. The same effect is obtained with aromatic lamps with the medicinal composition of citronella.
• To clean the house 10 drops of oil are added to the wash water. The result is a disinfectant that can wash everything: from furniture to the floor. In addition, the deodorization of the room is performed in this way, since the unpleasant odor is removed.

• For the treatment of pediculosis Citronella oil is rubbed into the scalp, hold for 35 minutes, then rinse with shampoo with the same oil. Next, comb the hair with a frequent comb dipped in an oil solution.
• When treating flea pets prepare a shampoo containing healing oil, which thoroughly washed the wool. The procedure must be carried out several times, until the fleas disappear completely. To maintain the effect on the neck of the animal (dog, cat) you need to wear a special collar soaked in citronella oil.

For this, a tool is applied to the bend of the elbow and wait about a day. With individual intolerance and allergic reactions, expressed in redness and itching, this type of product should not be used.Pregnant women, elderly people and children should use oil with caution, as it can stimulate the body and increase blood pressure.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to use oil. So it is safe to say that citronella oil is a universal remedy. The main thing is to choose the right quality product.

Now in the market of this type of product you can find both high-quality oils and cheap analogues, low in price. However, one should not rush to conclusions and purchase insanely expensive citronella oil. High price is not a guarantee of quality.

If you want to get quality products, follow these rules:

1. the product must have a mandatory certification and license, the so-called quality certificate;
2. such a product is sold exclusively in pharmacies or specialized stores;
3. try not to buy essential oils for bottling, as they are not intended for contact with air and the quality of such a product is very low;
4. do not take any homemade “grandmother's” production oils from your hands, otherwise you run the risk of getting into a hospital bed instead of the desired magical effect;
5. carefully watch the terms of sale of this type of product, which should be in order, and not 1-2 days before the end of the term;
6. the storage temperature of essential oils should not exceed +23 degrees, so make sure that it is not too hot in the room where these products are sold; at high temperature and inappropriate form, oils quickly lose their properties, their shelf life is significantly reduced.

You need to know about all this, intending to purchase a good quality citronella essential oil. Do not buy dubious oils of unnatural colors in bright flashy packaging.

Read more about using citronella oil in this video.