Limited evidenceStress & mood

Lemongrass

An aromatic culinary herb tested mostly as an aroma rather than a supplement. The small human studies on anxiety are mixed, and oral lemongrass tea has shown no measurable sedative or lipid effect.

Where to buy

View on iHerb

Ships to 180+ countries · welcome discount for new customers

Referral link — this site may earn a commission on purchases.

What the science says

Aroma may reduce situational anxiety Limited evidence
A controlled study of lemongrass aroma in healthy volunteers found reduced anxiety and tension during an experimental anxiety task, and a randomized clinical trial of lemongrass aromatherapy in dental patients reported lower anxiety during scaling and root planing. Both are small, short trials of inhaled aroma, not oral supplements.
Oral lemongrass tea showed no sedative or anxiolytic effect Limited evidence
An early human pharmacology study of Cymbopogon citratus found no hypnotic or anxiolytic effect and no toxicity from the tea. Oral preparations have not been shown to do what the aroma studies suggest.
Lipid effects are not established in humans Limited evidence
Cholesterol-lowering claims rest on animal and in vitro work with the essential oil and its constituent citral. No randomized human trial supports a lipid benefit.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseAromatherapy studies used a few drops of essential oil diffused for 5–20 minutes. Culinary tea is typically 1–2 g of dried leaf per cup; no oral supplement dose is established.

SafetyCulinary amounts are safe for most people. Concentrated essential oil should not be swallowed and can irritate skin; citral is a known contact sensitiser. Avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy, and note that high intakes have been associated with liver and blood changes in animals.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter; the tea is commonly drunk in the evening for its relaxing ritual as much as its chemistry.

With food?Food makes no difference for the tea.

Worth knowingNever swallow the essential oil — the aromatherapy studies diffused a few drops, and concentrated citral irritates skin and mucous membranes.

Frequently asked questions

Does lemongrass help with anxiety?

Lemongrass has limited evidence for anxiety: small, short trials found that inhaled lemongrass aroma reduced anxiety during an experimental task and during dental scaling. These tested aromatherapy, not an oral supplement.

Does lemongrass tea help you sleep or relax?

An early human pharmacology study found lemongrass tea had no hypnotic or anxiolytic effect, and no toxicity. So oral lemongrass tea has not been shown to sedate you; its relaxing reputation rests on aroma studies and ritual (limited evidence).

Does lemongrass lower cholesterol?

Lemongrass cholesterol claims rest only on animal and in vitro work with the essential oil and citral; no randomized human trial supports a lipid benefit. The evidence is limited.

Is it safe to drink lemongrass or swallow lemongrass oil?

Culinary amounts of lemongrass, such as tea made with 1–2 g of dried leaf per cup, are safe for most people. Never swallow lemongrass essential oil, which can irritate skin and mucous membranes, and avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy.

Scientific references

Effect of Lemongrass Aroma on Experimental Anxiety in Humans
Goes TC, Ursulino FR, Almeida-Souza TH — J Altern Complement Med, 2015
Effect of aromatherapy with lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) on the anxiety of patients undergoing scaling and root planning: a randomized clinical trial
Maybodi FR, Herandi V, Vaezpour MS — BMC Complement Med Ther, 2025
Pharmacology of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf). III. Assessment of eventual toxic, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects on humans
Leite JR, Seabra Mde L, Maluf E — J Ethnopharmacol, 1986

Related in Stress & mood

Ashwagandha Moderate evidence
L-Methylfolate Limited evidence
5-HTP Limited evidence
L-Ornithine Limited evidence
SAM-e Moderate evidence
Rhodiola Rosea Limited evidence

Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)