Herb Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

Xiang Mao

Lemongrass · 香茅

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf · Herba Cymbopogonis Citrati

Also known as: Ning Meng Cao (柠檬草), Xiang Mao Cao (香茅草)

Xiang Mao (Lemongrass) plant

Images shown are for educational purposes only

Lemongrass is a warm, aromatic herb widely used in traditional Chinese and Southeast Asian medicine for joint pain, body aches, headaches, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Its pleasant citrus scent and gentle warming properties make it one of the most accessible medicinal herbs, commonly taken as a tea or used in herbal baths to ease muscle soreness and promote comfort after colds.

Category Wind-Damp dispelling herbs (祛风湿药) Exterior-releasing herbs (解表药)
Therapeutic focus Joint and Muscle Health Digestive Health Pain Management Cold and Flu Relief

TCM Properties

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn), Sweet (甘 gān)

Channels entered

Lungs, Stomach, Urinary Bladder

Parts used

Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

Educational content • Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

What This Herb Does

Every herb has a specific set of actions — here's what Xiang Mao does in the body, explained in both everyday and TCM terms

Therapeutic focus

In practical terms, Xiang Mao is primarily used to support these areas of health:

Joint and Muscle Health Digestive Health Pain Management Cold and Flu Relief

TCM Actions

In TCM terminology, these are the specific therapeutic actions that Xiang Mao performs to restore balance in the body:

Dispels Wind-Dampness Unblocks the Channels and Collaterals Warms the Middle Burner and Stops Pain Stops Diarrhea Releases the Exterior Reduces Swelling

How these actions work

'Dispels Wind-Dampness' means Xiāng Máo helps drive out the pathogenic factors Wind and Dampness from the body's muscles, joints, and channels. In TCM, these factors cause pain, stiffness, and heaviness in the limbs and joints. This is why lemongrass has traditionally been used in baths or decoctions for joint pain, body aches, and numbness. As recorded in classical regional texts, it was used to treat conditions described as Wind-Cold-Dampness causing full-body pain.

'Unblocks the channels and collaterals' refers to its ability to promote the smooth flow of Qi and Blood through the body's network of channels. When channels are blocked (often by Cold, Dampness, or Blood stasis), pain results. Xiāng Máo's warm, pungent nature helps push through these blockages, which is why it was traditionally applied for traumatic injuries with bruising and swelling, as well as headaches caused by Wind obstruction.

'Warms the Middle Burner and stops pain' describes how this herb's warm nature can dispel Cold that has invaded the Stomach and digestive system. When Cold settles in the abdomen, it causes cramping pain, nausea, or poor appetite. Lemongrass oil was traditionally extracted and taken internally to relieve stomach and abdominal pain. This is consistent with its sweet and pungent taste, which helps harmonize the Stomach and move stagnant Qi.

'Stops diarrhea' reflects a specific folk application: lemongrass was stir-fried with rice and then boiled into a tea to stop watery diarrhea. The warming action combined with the astringent effect of the roasted preparation helps consolidate the Spleen's ability to transform fluids and stop loose stools.

Patterns Addressed

In TCM, symptoms cluster into recognizable patterns of disharmony. Xiang Mao is used to help correct these specific patterns.

Why Xiang Mao addresses this pattern

In this pattern, the external pathogenic factors Wind, Cold, and Dampness invade the body's surface and channels, causing widespread body aches, joint pain, stiffness, and heaviness. Xiāng Máo is well suited to address this because its warm temperature directly counters Cold, its pungent taste disperses Wind and promotes the movement of Qi through obstructed channels, and its aromatic nature helps transform and expel Dampness. The herb enters the Lung channel (which governs the body's exterior) and the Bladder channel (which runs along the entire back and is closely related to the Tài Yáng exterior defence), allowing it to release the exterior and drive pathogenic factors outward. Classical regional sources specifically recommended boiling large quantities of lemongrass for full-body baths to treat Wind-Cold-Dampness causing whole-body pain.

A practitioner would look for one or more of these signs

Moving Pain

Joint pain worsened by cold or damp weather

Body Aches

Generalized body aches and heaviness

Common Cold

Common cold with headache and body pain

Numbness in the Limbs

Numbness or reduced sensation in the limbs

Commonly Used For

These are conditions where Xiang Mao is frequently used — but only when they arise from the specific patterns it addresses, not in all cases

Arises from: Wind-Cold-Damp

TCM Interpretation

TCM understands rheumatic conditions as a type of Bì Zhèng (Impediment pattern), where the pathogenic factors Wind, Cold, and Dampness invade the body's channels, joints, and muscles, obstructing the normal flow of Qi and Blood. When Cold predominates, the pain is severe and fixed, worsened by cold weather and relieved by warmth. When Dampness predominates, there is heaviness, swelling, and a sense of the limbs feeling leaden. The Lung channel governs the body surface and the Bladder channel traverses the back and limbs, so both are closely involved in how these external pathogenic factors enter and lodge in the body.

Why Xiang Mao Helps

Xiāng Máo's warm temperature directly counters the Cold component of the impediment, while its pungent taste disperses Wind and promotes the movement of Qi and Blood through blocked channels. Its aromatic nature helps transform and expel Dampness from the joints and muscles. Entering the Lung and Bladder channels, it addresses the pathways through which Wind-Cold-Dampness typically invades. Classical folk practice recommended large-dose lemongrass baths for whole-body rheumatic pain, allowing the volatile oils to penetrate the skin and muscles directly. Modern research supports its anti-inflammatory properties, with its main constituent citral shown to inhibit inflammatory pathways including COX-2 and NF-kB signaling.

Also commonly used for

Headaches

Wind-type headache, especially used as an external wash

Abdominal Pain

Cold-type abdominal cramping

Diarrhea

Watery diarrhea from Cold or Spleen weakness

Sprains

Traumatic injuries with bruising and swelling

Amenorrhea

Menstrual pain related to Cold obstruction

Edema

Postpartum water retention

Athlete's Foot

Fungal skin infections, used topically

Herb Properties

Every herb has an inherent temperature, taste, and affinity for specific channels — these properties determine how it interacts with the body

Temperature

Warm

Taste

Acrid / Pungent (辛 xīn), Sweet (甘 gān)

Channels Entered

Lungs Stomach Urinary Bladder

Parts Used

Whole plant / Aerial parts (全草 quán cǎo)

Dosage & Preparation

These are general dosage guidelines for Xiang Mao — always follow your practitioner's recommendation, as dosages vary based on the formula and your individual condition

Standard dosage

9-15g

Maximum dosage

Up to 30g in decoction for external wash preparations (e.g. full-body bath for Wind-Damp pain). For internal use, do not exceed 15g without practitioner guidance.

Dosage notes

For internal decoction (treating headache, stomach pain, diarrhea), 9-15g is the standard range. Smaller amounts (3-5g) may be steeped as a tea for mild digestive complaints. For external use as a full-body wash to treat Wind-Damp pain throughout the body, traditional recipes use much larger quantities (up to 500g boiled in water for bathing). The extracted essential oil can be taken in very small amounts (a few drops) for acute abdominal pain, but this should only be done under practitioner supervision. The herb can also be soaked in wine (medicinal liquor) for topical application to areas of traumatic injury or joint pain.

Preparation

As an aromatic herb rich in volatile oils, Xiang Mao should not be decocted for prolonged periods. Add it during the last 5-10 minutes of decoction (后下, hou xia / "add near end") to preserve its essential oil content and therapeutic effectiveness. For external use as a bathing wash, a longer decoction time is acceptable since the purpose is to infuse the water with the herb's aromatic properties.

Common Herb Pairs

These ingredients are traditionally combined with Xiang Mao for enhanced therapeutic effect

Sheng Jiang
Sheng Jiang 1:1 (Xiāng Máo 10g : Shēng Jiāng 10g)

Both herbs are warm and pungent, and together they powerfully warm the Middle Burner, dispel Cold, and stop pain. Shēng Jiāng (fresh ginger) enhances the warming and anti-nausea effects while Xiāng Máo contributes its strong aromatic, Qi-moving properties. The combination addresses stomach pain and diarrhea from Cold more effectively than either herb alone.

When to use: Cold-type stomach pain with nausea, vomiting, or watery diarrhea, especially after ingesting cold food or during cold weather.

Jing Jie
Jing Jie 1:1

Tǔ Jīng Jiè (Herba Leonuri Artemisiae) and Xiāng Máo together strengthen the ability to dispel Wind-Dampness from the channels and joints. The combination enhances the pain-relieving and channel-unblocking effects for rheumatic conditions, with both herbs used in regional folk medicine for external washes.

When to use: Wind-Cold-Dampness impediment with joint pain, numbness, or swelling of the extremities. Particularly in external bath preparations.

Qiang Huo
Qiang Huo 1:1 (Qiāng Huó 10g : Xiāng Máo 10g)

Qiāng Huó is one of the strongest Wind-Cold-Dampness dispelling herbs, targeting the upper body and Tài Yáng channel. Paired with Xiāng Máo, the combination creates a broad-spectrum treatment for exterior Wind-Cold-Dampness, where Qiāng Huó focuses on the upper body and back while Xiāng Máo contributes its aromatic, channel-unblocking properties throughout.

When to use: Severe Wind-Cold-Dampness body aches with pronounced headache and upper back stiffness, as seen in early-stage colds or acute rheumatic flares.

Comparable Ingredients

These ingredients have overlapping uses — here's how to tell them apart

Xiang Ru
Xiang Mao vs Xiang Ru

Both Xiāng Máo and Xiāng Rú (Elsholtzia) are aromatic, warm herbs that release the exterior and address digestive symptoms. However, Xiāng Rú is specifically indicated for summertime exterior patterns complicated by Dampness and is stronger at promoting sweating and resolving Dampness in the Middle Burner. Xiāng Máo has a broader range of action for chronic Wind-Dampness impediment (joint pain) and traumatic injuries, and its warming effect on the Stomach for pain relief is more pronounced. Xiāng Rú is best for summer colds with vomiting and diarrhea, while Xiāng Máo is better for musculoskeletal pain and Cold-type stomach pain.

Qiang Huo
Xiang Mao vs Qiang Huo

Both dispel Wind-Cold-Dampness and treat body pain and headache. However, Qiāng Huó is far stronger and is a primary herb in the standard Materia Medica for Tài Yáng headaches and upper body Wind-Dampness pain. Xiāng Máo is a milder folk remedy, gentler and more suitable for long-term use as a tea or bath. Qiāng Huó is more drying and can easily injure Yin, while Xiāng Máo is gentler due to its sweet taste. Choose Qiāng Huó for acute, severe impediment patterns; choose Xiāng Máo for milder chronic conditions or as a complementary therapy.

Gao Liang Jiang
Xiang Mao vs Gao Liang Jiang

Both are warm herbs that treat Cold-type stomach pain. Gāo Liáng Jiāng (Lesser Galangal) is significantly hotter and more powerful at warming the Middle Burner and stopping pain, making it the primary choice for severe Cold-type stomach pain and vomiting. Xiāng Máo is milder and has additional channel-unblocking and Wind-Dampness dispelling actions that Gāo Liáng Jiāng lacks. For purely stomach-focused Cold pain, Gāo Liáng Jiāng is more effective; Xiāng Máo is better when the condition also involves body aches or joint pain.

Common Substitutes & Adulterants

Related species and common adulterations to be aware of when sourcing Xiang Mao

Xiang Mao (Cymbopogon citratus, lemongrass) is sometimes confused with Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus or Cymbopogon winterianus), which is a related species in the same genus. Citronella has reddish-coloured stem bases and a stronger, sharper lemon scent, and is primarily used for industrial essential oil extraction and insect repellent rather than cooking or medicine. Lemongrass has green stems and a sweeter, more pleasant citrus aroma. Additionally, the classical name "茅香" (Mao Xiang) historically referred to a completely different plant (Hierochloe odorata, sweet grass), and the two should not be conflated despite the similar-sounding names. East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) is another related species used mainly in the perfume industry; it can be substituted for C. citratus but has a somewhat different essential oil profile.

Educational content — always consult a qualified healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before using any herb.

Toxicity Classification

Classical Chinese pharmacopoeia toxicity rating for Xiang Mao

Non-toxic

Xiang Mao is classified as non-toxic. A human safety study found that a herbal tea prepared from dried lemongrass leaves, administered as a single dose or over two weeks of daily use, produced no changes in blood chemistry, liver enzymes, kidney markers, urinalysis, EEG, or ECG, confirming its safety at standard doses. However, the concentrated essential oil is much more potent than the whole herb: undiluted lemongrass oil can cause skin irritation, redness, and allergic contact dermatitis when applied topically. One animal sub-chronic toxicity study at higher extract doses (250 mg/kg) found mild elevations in liver enzymes (ALT, AST), suggesting that prolonged excessive doses could potentially stress the liver. At standard decoction dosages, no toxicity concerns apply.

Contraindications

Situations where Xiang Mao should not be used or requires extra caution

Caution

People with Yin deficiency and internal Heat. Xiang Mao is warm and pungent, which can further deplete Yin fluids and worsen Heat symptoms in those with underlying Yin deficiency patterns.

Caution

Exterior deficiency (表虚). Classical sources note that those with a weak exterior defense (prone to spontaneous sweating) should avoid this herb, as its dispersing nature can further weaken the exterior.

Caution

Known allergy or sensitivity to plants in the grass family (Poaceae). Topical use of lemongrass oil has been reported to cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Avoid

Pregnancy. Lemongrass is traditionally noted to promote uterine contraction and stimulate menstrual flow, posing a theoretical risk of miscarriage.

Caution

People taking hypoglycemic medications (oral diabetes drugs or insulin). Lemongrass and its constituent citral have demonstrated blood-glucose-lowering effects in animal studies, which could theoretically potentiate these medications and cause hypoglycemia.

Special Populations

Important considerations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and pediatric use

Pregnancy

Contraindicated during pregnancy. Lemongrass has been traditionally noted to promote uterine contraction and stimulate menstrual flow. Its actions of moving Blood and dispersing stagnation, combined with its warm, pungent nature, may theoretically increase the risk of miscarriage or premature labour. Pregnant women should avoid internal use of both the whole herb decoction and concentrated lemongrass essential oil.

Breastfeeding

Insufficient safety data is available specifically for breastfeeding. Some Western herbal traditions suggest lemongrass may support lactation (encourage milk flow), but this is not well established. Given the herb's aromatic volatile oils, which can potentially transfer into breast milk and affect the infant's digestion, caution is advised. Use only at standard doses under practitioner guidance, and discontinue if the infant shows signs of digestive upset or irritability.

Children

Safety in children has not been formally established. At culinary doses (used as a food flavouring in soups or teas), lemongrass is generally considered safe for older children. For medicinal decoction use, reduce the dose proportionally based on the child's age and body weight (typically one-third to one-half the adult dose for children over 5 years). Avoid giving concentrated lemongrass essential oil internally to children. Consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinally in young children.

Drug Interactions

If you are taking pharmaceutical medications, be aware of these potential interactions with Xiang Mao

Diabetes medications: Lemongrass and its major constituent citral have shown blood-glucose-lowering effects in animal studies. People taking oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin should exercise caution, as concurrent use could theoretically potentiate these effects and lead to hypoglycemia.

Drugs metabolized by CYP3A and CYP1A enzymes: A rat study found that lemongrass oil and citral reduced the activity of hepatic CYP3A and CYP1A enzymes. Since CYP3A is responsible for metabolizing a large proportion of pharmaceutical drugs, this raises a theoretical concern about altered drug metabolism. However, no clinical drug interactions with lemongrass have been formally reported in humans.

Antihypertensive medications: Pharmacological studies have shown that citronellol (a constituent of lemongrass oil) can lower blood pressure via direct vasodilation. Combining lemongrass with blood pressure medications could theoretically cause excessive hypotension.

Dietary Advice

Foods and dietary considerations when taking Xiang Mao

When taking Xiang Mao internally for Cold patterns (cold abdominal pain, Wind-Cold-Damp pain), avoid excessive consumption of cold, raw, or icy foods and drinks, as these can counteract the herb's warming effects. Lemongrass pairs well with ginger and rice in traditional preparations. When using it for digestive complaints, light, easily digested foods are recommended. Avoid greasy, heavy, or overly spicy foods that may further burden the digestion.

Botanical Description

Physical characteristics and morphology of the Xiang Mao source plant

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf is a robust, densely tufted perennial grass in the family Poaceae (grass family). It grows up to 2 metres tall with thick, sturdy culms (stems) that are often coated with white waxy powder at the nodes. The leaves are long and blade-like, reaching up to 1 metre in length and about 15 mm in width, with rough-textured surfaces and a greyish-green colour. The entire plant carries a strong, distinctive lemon-like fragrance due to its high essential oil content (primarily citral, at 75-85% of the volatile oil).

The plant produces large, loose, compound flower spikes (panicles) with reddish or pale yellow lance-shaped bracts, though flowering is infrequent in cultivated populations. It propagates mainly by division of its root clumps (tillering). Lemongrass is a tropical species that thrives in warm, humid climates with good drainage, and does not tolerate frost. It is cultivated on farmland, in gardens, and on hillside slopes throughout southern China and Southeast Asia.

Sourcing & Harvesting

Where Xiang Mao is sourced, when it's harvested or collected, and how to assess quality

Harvesting season

Can be harvested year-round in tropical and subtropical climates; washed and sun-dried after collection.

Primary growing regions

Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Zhejiang provinces in China. Also widely cultivated throughout tropical Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines), India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Guatemala, and parts of Africa. The highest quality medicinal material in China traditionally comes from the southern coastal provinces, particularly Guangdong and Guangxi, where the warm, humid climate produces herb with the richest essential oil content.

Quality indicators

Good quality dried Xiang Mao retains a strong, fresh lemon-like fragrance, which is its most important quality marker (indicating high essential oil content, especially citral). The dried leaves should be greenish to greyish-green in colour, without dark spots or excessive browning. The stems and leaves should feel relatively firm and fibrous, not crumbling or overly brittle. Fresh lemongrass stems should have bright green leaves and a pale green to yellowish-white lower stem that feels solid and firm. Avoid material that has lost its characteristic scent, appears mouldy, or shows significant discolouration.

Classical Texts

Key passages from the classical Chinese medical texts that describe Xiang Mao and its therapeutic uses

《开宝本草》(Kai Bao Ben Cao)

Original: 苗、叶可煮作浴汤，辟邪气，令人身香。

Translation: The shoots and leaves can be boiled into a bathing decoction to ward off pathogenic Qi and make the body fragrant.

《岭南采药录》(Ling Nan Cai Yao Lu)

Original: 散跌打伤瘀血，通经络。头风痛，以之煎水洗。将香茅与米同炒，加水煎饮，止水泻。煎水洗身，可祛风消肿，解腥臭。提取其油，可止腹痛。

Translation: Disperses bruising from traumatic injury, opens the channels and collaterals. For headache due to Wind, decoct in water and use as a wash. Dry-fry lemongrass with rice, then decoct and drink to stop watery diarrhea. Bathing with the decoction expels Wind, reduces swelling, and eliminates unpleasant odours. Its extracted oil can stop abdominal pain.

《陆川本草》(Lu Chuan Ben Cao)

Original: 发表退热，消肿止痛。主治风湿骨痛，跌打损伤，感冒身热。

Translation: Releases the exterior and reduces fever, reduces swelling and stops pain. Indicated for Wind-Damp bone pain, traumatic injuries, and fever from common cold.

《四川中药志》(Si Chuan Zhong Yao Zhi)

Original: 祛风湿，散凉寒。治筋骨疼痛及半身麻木。

Translation: Expels Wind-Damp and disperses Cold. Treats sinew and bone pain, and numbness of half the body.

Historical Context

The history and evolution of Xiang Mao's use in Chinese medicine over the centuries

The name Xiang Mao (香茅, "fragrant cogon grass") reflects the plant's most prominent feature: its strong, lemon-scented aroma. It is important to note that the classical name "茅香" (Mao Xiang) found in ancient texts like the Tang-era Kai Bao Ben Cao originally referred to a different aromatic grass (likely Hierochloe odorata, sweet grass), which was used as a bathing and ritual fragrance since the Han Dynasty. Specimens of this ancient aromatic grass were even discovered in the famous Mawangdui Han Dynasty tombs (c. 168 BCE) in Changsha. The modern TCM herb Xiang Mao, Cymbopogon citratus, was introduced to China much later, with Japanese colonizers bringing it to Taiwan around 1913 for essential oil production. Chinese emigrants subsequently introduced it to Hainan and Guangdong in the 1930s.

The medicinal use of lemongrass was primarily documented in regional materia medica of southern China, including the Ling Nan Cai Yao Lu (Records of Herb Collection in Lingnan), the Lu Chuan Ben Cao, and the Si Chuan Zhong Yao Zhi. Its botanical name Cymbopogon derives from the Greek words "kymbe" (boat) and "pogon" (beard), referring to the arrangement of its flower spikelets. Globally, lemongrass has been used in folk medicine across Southeast Asia, India, Brazil, and Africa for thousands of years, valued for treating fevers, digestive complaints, and pain.

Modern Research

4 published studies investigating the pharmacological effects or clinical outcomes of Xiang Mao

1

Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, Stapf (Lemon grass) — Review (2011)

Shah G, Shri R, Panchal V, Sharma N, Singh B, Mann AS. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research. 2011;2(1):3-8.

A comprehensive review of the pharmacological evidence for lemongrass. The authors summarized studies demonstrating anti-amoebic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic properties of the plant and its essential oil constituents (primarily citral, geraniol, and myrcene). The review concluded that these results are encouraging and warrant further clinical investigation.

PubMed
2

Pharmacology of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf). III. Assessment of eventual toxic, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects on humans — Human volunteer study (1986)

Leite JR, Seabra ML, Maluf E, Assolant K, Suchecki D, Tufik S, et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 1986;17(1):75-83.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy human volunteers. After single and 2-week daily doses of lemongrass herbal tea, no toxic effects were detected in comprehensive blood chemistry, urinalysis, EEG, or ECG. The study also tested for sedative and anti-anxiety effects but found no significant difference from placebo, concluding that oral lemongrass tea is non-toxic but lacks the CNS-depressant properties attributed to it in folk medicine.

PubMed
3

Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil as a potent anti-inflammatory and antifungal drug — Preclinical study (2014)

Boukhatem MN, Ferhat MA, Kameli A, Saidi F, Kebir HT. Libyan Journal of Medicine. 2014;9:25431.

This study evaluated lemongrass essential oil for in vivo anti-inflammatory effects (topical and oral in animal models) and in vitro antifungal activity. The essential oil demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity and potent antifungal effects in both liquid and vapour phases, supporting its traditional use for pain, swelling, and fungal infections.

PubMed
4

Effects of lemongrass oil and citral on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, oxidative stress, and acetaminophen toxicity in rats — Preclinical study (2018)

Li CC, Yu HF, Chang CH, Liu YT, Yao HT. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis. 2018;26(1):432-438.

Rats given lemongrass oil or its main component citral for two weeks showed reduced activity of CYP3A and CYP1A liver enzymes and decreased oxidative stress markers. The findings suggest lemongrass oil may modulate drug-metabolizing enzyme activity, raising theoretical concerns about herb-drug interactions with medications processed through these pathways, though no clinical interactions have been reported.

Research on individual TCM herbs is growing but still limited by Western clinical trial standards. These studies provide emerging evidence and should be considered alongside practitioner expertise.