Ancient Mayan Use of Lemongrass
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus)
is also known as “fever grass” to Mayan healers today.
Rosita Arvigo writes that she has learned from Mayan healers not to be afraid of fevers. She says they are Mother Nature’s way of fighting off invading organisms.
On page 67 of her book, Rainforest Home Remedies, she writes, “Fever fights off infection, invaders, and viruses by raising the body’s temperature and activating the immune system. The foreign invaders cannot survive the higher temperatures.”
That said, her daughter was ill with a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. A traditional healer staying with her prepared a tea made from lemongrass with a bit of honey added. Two more cups of tea helped her daughter sleep, and she sweated profusely through the night. The next morning, she was well and ready to play.
The Maya Health Toolkit for Medical Providers also lists lemongrass as a “fever reducer.”
http://www.brycs.org/maya-toolkit/upload/Maya-Toolkit.pdf.
