Natural Herb Library

Remote Lemongrass Herb

Chinese
云香草
Pinyin
Yun Xiang Cao
Latin
Herba Cymbopogonis
Botanical illustration of Remote Lemongrass Herb, Cymbopogon distans, showing habit, leaves, inflorescence, spikelets, seed, roots, and diagnostic plant details.
Botanical plate by Kodi . View print →

Known in TCM as Yun Xiang Cao (云香草), this pungent and bitter, warm herb enters the Lung, Stomach, and Liver. Traditionally, it dispels Wind-Cold, releases the exterior, most often applied for common cold, headache, and abdominal pain. Modern research has identified Citronellol among its active constituents.

Part used: Whole herb

Also Known As

Cymbopogonis

Latin: Herba Cymbopogonis | Pinyin: Yun Xiang Cao | Chinese: 云香草

TCM Properties

Taste
pungent, bitter
Temperature
warm
Channels
Lung, Stomach, Liver

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Dispels Wind-Cold, releases the exterior … headache, fever without sweating, and body aches from wind-cold invasion
  • Regulates Qi and stops pain … epigastric pain, abdominal distension, and flatulence from Qi stagnation
  • Dispels Wind-Damp, relieves Bi syndrome … rheumatic joint and muscle aches, especially in cold-damp conditions
  • Warms Lung and stops cough … wind-cold cough with white or clear phlegm

Secondary Actions

  • External use: fumigation or fresh-herb poultice for skin conditions, wound cleansing, and insect repellent … widespread in Yunnan folk practice
  • Aromatic digestive … pungent volatile oils stimulate gastric secretion; used as a condiment-medicine in southwest China highland communities

Classical References

  • Yunnan Zhong Cao Yao (云南中草药): documents Yun Xiang Cao (Cymbopogon distans) as a pungent-warm exterior-releasing herb used in Yunnan folk medicine for wind-cold colds, headache, abdominal pain, and rheumatic aches; not found in classical Song/Ming-era formularies as it is a regional folk herb from the southwest China highlands and not part of the mainstream Shang Han or Wen Bing traditions

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Citronellol (major essential oil monoterpene alcohol; up to ~45% of oil; antimicrobial, analgesic, mosquito repellent)
  • Geraniol (essential oil monoterpene alcohol; ~25% of oil; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory)
  • Linalool (essential oil monoterpene alcohol; anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic in animal models)
  • Elemol and β-elemene (sesquiterpenes; anti-inflammatory)
  • β-Myrcene (monoterpene; analgesic, anti-inflammatory)
  • Luteolin and apigenin (flavonoids; anti-inflammatory, antioxidant)
  • Chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid (phenolic acids; antioxidant)

Studied Effects

  • Essential oil antimicrobial activity: GC-MS analysis of C. distans essential oil identifies citronellol and geraniol as dominant components with confirmed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans; minimum inhibitory concentrations comparable to other medicinal Cymbopogon species … supports the heat-clearing and toxin-resolving folk applications
  • Anti-inflammatory and analgesic: linalool and β-myrcene from Cymbopogon species essential oils inhibit prostaglandin synthesis and significantly reduce carrageenan-induced paw edema in rodent models; geraniol shows NF-κB pathway inhibition … provides mechanistic basis for the Bi-syndrome and pain-relieving traditional uses
  • Insect repellent: citronellol and geraniol from C. distans essential oil show repellent activity against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes; forms the scientific basis for the longstanding folk fumigation and topical repellent use across Yunnan and adjacent highland regions

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Wind-Heat patterns (fever with sweating, sore throat, yellow or green phlegm) … pungent-warm nature would aggravate Heat
  • Yin Deficiency with internal Heat … warming nature contraindicated in deficiency-heat conditions

Cautions

  • Standard dose: 6–12g dried herb in decoction; essential oil preparations for topical use should be diluted to 1–3%
  • Essential oil concentrate: avoid undiluted topical application; citronellol may cause contact dermatitis or sensitisation in susceptible individuals
  • No significant systemic drug interactions identified at standard therapeutic doses
  • Pregnancy: pungent-warm herbs are traditionally used with caution; insufficient clinical data for this species to confirm safety

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Remote Lemongrass Herb used for?

Remote Lemongrass Herb is traditionally used to Dispels Wind-Cold, releases the exterior … headache, fever without sweating, and body aches from wind-cold invasion, Regulates Qi and stops pain … epigastric pain, abdominal distension, and flatulence from Qi stagnation, Dispels Wind-Damp, relieves Bi syndrome … rheumatic joint and muscle aches, especially in cold-damp conditions, Warms Lung and stops cough … wind-cold cough with white or clear phlegm. Research has investigated its effects on: Essential oil antimicrobial activity: GC-MS analysis of C. distans essential oil identifies citronellol and geraniol as dominant components with confirmed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans; minimum inhibitory concentrations comparable to other medicinal Cymbopogon species … supports the heat-clearing and toxin-resolving folk applications; Anti-inflammatory and analgesic: linalool and β-myrcene from Cymbopogon species essential oils inhibit prostaglandin synthesis and significantly reduce carrageenan-induced paw edema in rodent models; geraniol shows NF-κB pathway inhibition … provides mechanistic basis for the Bi-syndrome and pain-relieving traditional uses.

What are other names for Remote Lemongrass Herb?

Remote Lemongrass Herb is also known as Cymbopogonis. In TCM: 云香草 (Yun Xiang Cao); Herba Cymbopogonis.

Is Remote Lemongrass Herb safe during pregnancy?

The safety of Remote Lemongrass Herb during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.

What are the contraindications for Remote Lemongrass Herb?

Remote Lemongrass Herb should not be used in: Wind-Heat patterns (fever with sweating, sore throat, yellow or green phlegm) … pungent-warm nature would aggravate Heat; Yin Deficiency with internal Heat … warming nature contraindicated in deficiency-heat conditions. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.