Lemongrass as an insect repellent

 Lemongrass herb is a very popular plant found commonly in India and used for medicinal, food and mosquito and insect repellent products. The lemongrass oils are also used in cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, dyes and odorizes along with thousands of other products.

 There are many different and related types of lemongrass, all belonging to the grass family, Poaceae. East Indian and West Indian lemon grass are popular names for Cymbopogon flexuous and Cymbopogon citratus. Lemon grass is an evergreen, native to Southeast Asia, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Another type of lemongrass also used in insect repellents comes from Malaysia.

 The thin stems and foliage of lemon grass ranges from blue-green to gold, and the flowers are white, cream, or green. Lemongrass grows to around 8 feet in height in some cases with the majority of species tapering off at 4 feet.

 Lemon grass grows best in full sun and moist soil and cab be propagated by dividing the root clump into sections. Lemon grass leaves can be dried or frozen but require rehydration before use.

 Lemon grass is very mild, rating only a one on the hotness scale. It is mostly known as a common staple found in Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indonesian, and Indian cooking. Lemon grass is used in curry, stir fry, soups, and marinades and it can be sautéed, mixed with soy sauce and spices, and used as a marinade. Lemongrass is particularly popular with seafood due to its distinctive lemony aroma and flavor.

 Unlike DEET which can be toxic and harmful, lemongrass is extremely safe and is listed on the EPA's GRAS list (generally regarded as safe). People all over the world have come to rely on the potent insect repellent properties of lemongrass and utilize it as a personal and area spray. Many repellent products now turn to all natural ingredients as more and more negative data is released pertaining to chemical compound found in many of the top selling repellent brands.