Citronella Essential Oil

Cymbopogon Winterianus 

Citronella Essential Oil is widely used to defend against annoying insects like mosquitoes in the back yard but did you know that it has medicinal value as well?

Medicinal uses such as supporting a normal immune system function as well as normal inflammatory responses; relieving sore muscles after a strenuous work-out: alleviating fever, intestinal parasites, digestive and menstrual problems and much more.

Read along with me and we will look at a few of Citronella's unique qualities.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.



What is Citronella Essential Oil?

Let's start with some basic information; a brief description of where the oil comes from, what it contains and how it is obtained. The following information is provided by Bill Fifield in his book "Integrated Guide to Essential Oils & Aromatherapy".

This is a book that I highly recommend by the way.

About Citronella Essential Oil

Family:  Poaceae (Gramineae)
Origins:  Native to Java
Other Names:  Java citronella, Lenabatu citronella. Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winteriana
Description:  Tall aromatic perennial grass
Extraction:  Essential oil by steam distillation
Botanical Part Used: fresh and dried grass

Principal Constituents:  Mainly geraniol, citronellal with geranyl acetate, limonene, and camphene with monoterpene hydrocarbons.

Integrated Guide to Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
by Bill Fifield  (forward by Dr. Daniel Penoel)

Key Benefits

  • Defends against Insects
  • Soothes Sore Muscles
  • Helps relieve minor head and neck tension
  • Cleanses and purifies skin
  • Provides oxidant protection
  • Aids normal Immune system function
  • Supports a normal inflammatory response

Methods of Application

Caution:

  • Possible skin sensitivity
  • Consult your physician before using if pregnant, nursing, taking medications or have a medical condition
  • Avoid your eyes, mucous membranes and sensitive skin
  • Keep out of the reach of children
  • Aromatically - Can be inhaled or diffused into the air
  • Topical - Can be applied to the skin (may require dilution with a carrier oil)
  • Internal - Can be taken internally in foods or beverages
  • Dilute - Requires dilution with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil

Suggested Uses

Arthritis

Citronella Essential Oil can be used to ease the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis.

Put 5 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil like coconut oil and apply it to the areas of concern.

Other Oils for Arthritis   Main Page - Arthritis Relief

Candida

Citronellal-induced disruption of membrane homeostasis in Candida albicans and attenuation of its virulence attributes.
PubMed.gov

There is an increasing burden of multi drug resistance in the medical establishment and as a result there has been a concerted effort to study the effects of natural substances with anti-fungal properties.

Citronella Essential Oil is one of the oils which has shown promise (along with Clove, Lemongrass and Lavender) for its ability to attack the cell membrane of Candida albicans.

Topical Use: Dilute 50:50 with a carrier oil and apply it to the affected area. Increase the dilution if you have sensitive skin.

Internal: Add a drop to drinking water mixed with honey for taste or include it in a gel capsule to consume once a day. Do not give to small children (under 6 years of age)

Other Oils for Candida   Main Page - Candida Cleanse

Digestive System

Add Citronella Essential Oil to an equal amount of a carrier oil and massage your abdomen in order to stimulate digestion and ease abdominal issues including colitis.

Add a drop to drinking water mixed with honey for taste or include it in a gel capsule to consume once a day. Do not give to small children (under 6 years of age)

Other Oils for Digestion   Main Page - Digestion Problems

Environment

Citronella Essential Oil works great to clean and deodorize because it is a great antiseptic that can kill many bacteria and fungal growths. It also has a pleasant aroma so your home will smell wonderful. 

For a nice fresh scent in the air diffuse about 20 drops.

Also add 10 - 20 drops in your household cleaning products.

Other Oils for Environment

Headache/Migraine

Diffuse 20 drops of Citronella Essential Oil to ease headaches/migraine pain.

Other Oils for Headache/Migraine

Main Page - Remedy for Headache   Main Page - Migraine Remedy

Immune System

Diffuse 20 drops of Citronella Essential Oil to help strengthen your immune system especially during flu season.

Other Oils for Immune System

Infection

Citronella Essential Oil is a great antiseptic that can kill many bacteria and fungal growths.

Dilute 50:50 with a carrier oil and apply it to the affected area. Increase the dilution if you have sensitive skin.

Add a drop to drinking water mixed with honey for taste or include it in a gel capsule to consume once a day. Do not give to small children (under 6 years of age)

Other Oils for Infection

Insect Repellent

I am sure you have probably purchased those citronella candles to burn in your back yard in order to keep the mosquitoes away.

Citronella Essential Oil works in the same way. 

You can dilute 5 drops in a teaspoon of water or your choice of carrier oil and use it as a personal repellent.

You can also diffuse it into the air where you are sitting.

Other Oils for Insect Repellent

Nerve Pain

To ease neuralgia pain apply 5 drops of citronella in a teaspoon of carrier oil.

Other Oils for Nerve Pain

Pain Management

Citronella Essential Oil can be mixed with an equal amount of carrier oil such as coconut oil and massaged into sore muscles and joints for soothing relief after physical exertion.

Skin Treatment

Citronella Essential Oil can be used to assist your existing skin care products address oily skin/perspiration.

Just add a couple drops to each application of lotion (or 20 drops to 8 oz) to enhance their effect.

Other Oils for Your Skin   Main Page - Skin Treatment


Combine With Other Oils

Blends well with: 

*** Please Share Your Comments Below! ***

Related Pages You May Like

  • Patchouli Essential Oil has a pleasing aroma that became very popular in the 1960s because of the release of hormones like serotonin and dopamine making it effective at supporting feelings of peace & love. One of the best skin remedies keeping skin looking healthy & vibrant

    Patchouli Essential Oil

    Patchouli Essential Oil has a pleasing aroma that became very popular in the 1960s because of the release of hormones like serotonin and dopamine making it effective at supporting feelings of peace & love. One of the best skin remedies keeping skin looking healthy & vibrant

  • Tea Tree Oil / melaleuca oil has been used in holistic medicine to stimulate the immune system & for infections, cuts, scrapes, burns, itches, cankers, cold sores, insect bites, warts; reduces swelling in legs/arms; relieves asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, cough, tuberculosis

    Tea Tree Oil

    Tea Tree Oil / melaleuca oil has been used in holistic medicine to stimulate the immune system & for infections, cuts, scrapes, burns, itches, cankers, cold sores, insect bites, warts; reduces swelling in legs/arms; relieves asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, cough, tuberculosis

  • The prime ingredient in Eucalyptus Radiata, eucalyptol is used to promote normal respiratory function. It fights problems like coughs, sinus headaches, nasal & chest congestion. Eucalyptus is also used to fight malaria, typhoid, cholera, burns, infections, ringworm & wounds

    Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil

    The prime ingredient in Eucalyptus Radiata, eucalyptol is used to promote normal respiratory function. It fights problems like coughs, sinus headaches, nasal & chest congestion. Eucalyptus is also used to fight malaria, typhoid, cholera, burns, infections, ringworm & wounds


Where Can I Get These Oils?

I don't sell oils but here are my
recommended sources.

The companies I use and recommend guarantee the quality of their oils and I believe you will be satisfied with all your purchases, I am.

If you have any questions/concerns feel free to contact me.



Return to Essential Oil Remedies Home Page

Return to List of Essential Oils featured on this site

Return to List of Ailments/Conditions discussed on this site

Return to Essential Oil Accessories shopping

  1. Home
  2.  ›
  3. List Of Essential Oils
  4.  ›
  5. Citronella Essential Oil

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Way Beyond Air Filtration

FDA-Compliant Military
Lab Tests show:

ActivePure Technology® Eliminates 99.9% of Airborne
SARS-CoV-2 Virus
Within 3 Minutes in FDA-Compliant Military Lab Tests

+ Sanitize Surfaces

Purifies both Air and Surfaces
Watch Video


Essential Oil Diffusers


Inhalers


Essential Oil Books