Bone Cancer Support Group

Israeli research finds lemongrass kills cancer
By Jim Chow
http://www.scribd.com/doc/12879711/...


Lemongrass, the herb commonly used in asian cuisine, has been found to have anti
cancer properties by researchers at Ben Gurion University [BGU] of the Negev in
Israel. Specifically, citral, a main component that gives lemongrass its unique
scent, was linked to cancer cell apoptosis or 'cell suicide' while leaving healthy
cells alone.

Scientists Dr. Rivka Ofir and Prof. Yakov Weinstein, of the Albert Katz Chair in
Cell-Differentiation and Malignant Diseases, Department of Microbiology and
Immunology at BGU headed the research team.

An amount of citral found in one gram of lemongrass [Cymbopogon citratus] steeped
in a tea cup of hot water was added to petri dishes with cancerous and healthy
cells. The healthy cells were unharmed while the cancerous ones died. Citral is
also present in melissa [Melissa officinalis] and verbena [Verbena officinalis.]

The findings were published in Planta Medica, a scientific journal on alternative
and herbal remedies. Why citral causes cancer cell suicide is not known. Cancer is
a result of damaged cells gone awry, dividing at a rapid rate. Normally defective
cells die on their own. Perhaps citral resets the defective cell so that it can
die.

How is the lemongrass taken?
Israeli doctors recommend 8 glasses of lemongrass tea on the days cancer patients
were treated with radiation and chemotherapy.
Steeped tea, may be one way to receive citral, but if you consider that plant
extracts, also known as essential oils, are heat sensitive and can be damaged by
high temperatures and being volatile, will have a portion evaporated. Another way
is to eat the lemongrass extract either with food or in a capsule and swallowed.
Topical application will have the lemongrass penetrate the skin. It can also be
massaged in with carrier oil such as sesame oil.
Posted on 02/13/11, 04:44 pm