Wait, Let’s Talk About Lemongrass Essential Oil for Colds and Headaches—It’s Way More Than Just a Candle Scent!
If you’ve ever walked past a store with a candle section, you’ve definitely smelled lemongrass oil before. It’s that bright, citrusy, almost herbaceous scent that makes you feel like you’re at a fancy beach resort spa, right? But here’s the thing: this stuff isn’t just for making your living room smell nice. Traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine has used it for centuries to bring down fevers and calm a jittery nervous system, and traditional Chinese medicine swears by it for easing everything from stomach aches to stubborn headaches, colds, and even rheumatoid pain.
I first started using lemongrass oil last winter when I caught a cold that stuck around for weeks. I was sick of popping over-the-counter meds that made me feel groggy, and I wanted something a little more natural. A friend told me to try inhaling some straight lemongrass oil, and honestly? Within 10 minutes, my stuffy nose felt way less clogged, and my headache that had been hanging around since Tuesday finally started to fade. Let’s break down exactly why this oil works, how to use it safely, and some easy DIY blends you can make at home.
What Makes Lemongrass Essential Oil So Good for Colds and Headaches?
First off, let’s get into the science (but keep it simple, okay? No boring textbook jargon). Lemongrass essential oil has a ton of beneficial compounds in it, like citral, citronellal, geraniol, and limonene—all of which pack a serious punch when it comes to easing cold and flu symptoms. Here’s a quick breakdown of what each of these does:
- It has major pain-relieving (analgesic) properties, which is why it’s perfect for kicking that throbbing headache to the curb
- It’s a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial, so it can help fight off the germs that are making you feel crummy in the first place
- It acts as a nervous system depressant, which means it calms you down when you’re stressed out from being sick—hello, better sleep when you’re under the weather!
- It’s also a diuretic, so it can help flush out excess fluids in your body that might be making your sinus congestion worse
Seriously, that’s a lot of good stuff packed into one tiny bottle. Unlike those harsh cold meds that leave you feeling like a zombie, lemongrass oil works with your body instead of overloading it. But before you go dumping it all over your skin, there’s one super important thing you need to know: it’s a moderately irritating oil, and it can cause skin irritation if you use it straight up. Plus, it has phototoxic properties, so if you put it on your skin and then go sit in the sun, you could get a nasty rash or even sunburn. Yikes, right? We’ll go over all the safe use rules later, don’t worry.
First, Let’s Clear Up What Essential Oil Actually Means, For Anyone Who’s Confused
Okay, quick detour because I know a lot of people hear “essential oil” and think, “Oh, that’s just fancy perfume for plants.” But no, it’s way more than that! Essential oils are concentrated, hydrophobic liquids that hold all the volatile, aromatic compounds that give a plant its unique scent and healing properties. They’re sometimes called volatile oils, aetherolea, or just the “essential” oil of the plant they come from—think clove oil, tea tree oil, or, in this case, lemongrass oil.
Wait, the “essential” here doesn’t mean the same thing as “essential amino acids” or “essential fatty acids,” by the way. Those terms refer to nutrients your body can’t make on its own and has to get from food. This “essential” just means the oil holds the true “essence” or scent of the plant. Cool, got that out of the way? Let’s get back to the good stuff.
How to Use Lemongrass Oil Safely for Cold and Headache Relief
Before we talk about all the fun blends, let’s go over the non-negotiable safety rules. I don’t want you to end up with a skin rash or a sunburn after trying this, okay?
- Always dilute it first! Lemongrass oil is super concentrated, so you should never apply it straight to your skin. Mix it with a carrier oil like jojoba, sweet almond, or coconut oil before using it topically.
- Do a patch test! Even if you’ve used essential oils before, everyone’s skin is different. Mix a tiny drop of lemongrass oil with a teaspoon of carrier oil, put it on the inside of your elbow, and wait 24 hours. If you get redness, itching, or a rash, don’t use this oil on your skin.
- Avoid sunlight after topical use! Like we mentioned earlier, lemongrass oil is phototoxic. If you put it on your skin and then go outside in the sun, you could get a serious sun reaction. Wait at least 12-24 hours after using it topically before heading out.
- Don’t overdo it in the bath! A lot of people love adding essential oils to their baths, but with lemongrass, stick to 2 drops max per bath. Any more than that, and you might get a stinging, irritating feeling on your skin. Trust me, I learned this the hard way once when I put 5 drops in and felt like my skin was on fire.
- Keep it away from kids and pets! Essential oils are strong, so keep them out of reach of little kids and dogs/cats, since their sense of smell is way more sensitive than ours.
Easy Lemongrass Oil Remedies for Common Cold and Flu Symptoms
Now that we’ve got the safety stuff out of the way, let’s talk about all the ways you can use this oil to feel better when you’re sick. I’ve tested most of these myself, so I can vouch that they actually work!
1. Fix That “Foggy Brain” Stuffy Nose Feeling Fast
Nothing sucks more than having a head cold and feeling like your brain is wrapped in a fog, plus your nose is so stuffed up you can’t smell your own coffee. Luckily, lemongrass oil is perfect for this quick fix. Here’s what you can do:
- Inhale it straight from the bottle! Just pop the top off the oil bottle, hold it about an inch away from your nose, and take a few deep breaths. I do this while I’m sitting at my desk working, and it clears my sinuses within a minute or two.
- Dab a tiny drop on a tissue or your pillowcase! If you’re having trouble sleeping because your nose is stuffed up, put 1-2 drops on a corner of your pillowcase. The scent will waft up while you sleep, and you’ll wake up feeling a little less groggy. Just don’t put too much, or you might get a headache from the strong scent!
2. Ease Body Aches and Throbbing Headaches
When you have a cold or the flu, your whole body usually aches, plus you’ve probably got a pounding headache to top it all off. A topical massage blend with lemongrass oil will help ease that pain fast. Here’s a foolproof recipe:
- 2 drops of lemongrass essential oil
- 4 drops of ginger essential oil (ginger is also great for easing body aches and warming you up when you’re cold)
- 4 drops of lavender essential oil (lavender is the ultimate calming oil, it’ll help you relax and ease the headache pain)
- 4 teaspoons of a carrier oil like jojoba or sweet almond oil
Mix all of these together in a small bottle, then rub a small amount onto your temples, neck, and sore muscles. I like to do this right before bed, so the scent helps me relax and the oil works its magic while I sleep. Just make sure you don’t put this on any broken skin, okay?
3. Soothe a Stomach Ache
Another super common symptom of a cold or flu is an upset stomach, especially if you’ve been popping a bunch of meds. Lemongrass oil can help calm your digestive system, and here’s how to use it for that:
- 2 drops of lemongrass essential oil
- 3 drops of peppermint essential oil (peppermint is great for easing nausea and stomach cramps)
- 3 drops of mandarin essential oil (mandarin is milder than peppermint and adds a sweet, calming scent)
- 4 teaspoons of carrier oil
You can either mix this up and massage a small amount onto your lower abdomen, or you can add a couple drops to a diffuser and let the scent fill your room. Either way, it should help ease that queasy feeling fast. Just don’t use this if you have acid reflux, since peppermint can sometimes make that worse.
4. Diffuse It to Fight Colds and Flu All Around Your Home
Diffusers are such a easy way to spread lemongrass oil’s healing scent throughout your whole house, plus it’ll kill off any germs floating in the air. Just add 5-7 drops of lemongrass essential oil to your diffuser, and run it for 30 minutes at a time. You can also mix it with other oils like tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil for an extra germ-fighting boost.
I like to run a diffuser in my bedroom and home office when I’m sick, because it keeps the air fresh and helps me breathe easier all day long. Plus, the scent is way nicer than those harsh disinfectant sprays!
What Else Can Lemongrass Essential Oil Do, Anyway?
We’ve focused on colds and headaches here, but lemongrass oil has a ton of other uses too! A lot of people use it as a natural deodorant, since it has strong antimicrobial properties that fight off body odor. You can mix a few drops with coconut oil and baking soda to make your own homemade deodorant. It also works as a natural insect repellent—mosquitoes and ticks hate the scent of lemongrass oil, so you can mix it with water and spray it on your skin or your patio furniture to keep bugs away.
Just make sure you dilute it properly if you’re using it as an insect repellent, okay? You don’t want to irritate your skin.
Final Thoughts: Is Lemongrass Essential Oil Worth Trying for Colds and Headaches?
Absolutely, 100% yes. I’ve used this oil every cold season since I first tried it last year, and it’s helped me cut my colds short by a few days, eased my headaches, and made me feel way less groggy than those over-the-counter meds. Just remember to use it safely, dilute it properly, and do a patch test before using it topically.
If you’ve never used essential oils before, don’t be intimidated! Start small, try one of the simple recipes we talked about, and see how it works for you. And if you have any other great uses for lemongrass oil, feel free to leave a comment below—I’d love to hear them!
Sources and References
1. World Health Organization. (2022). Traditional Medicine Uses of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). Retrieved from who.int
2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2023). Essential Oils: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from nccih.nih.gov
3. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. (2021). Antimicrobial and Analgesic Properties of Lemongrass Essential Oil. Retrieved from sciencedirect.com
