Its leaves are used to make tea which can relieve stomach and gut problems.
It can also act as an antidepressant and as a mood enhancer.
While it can be grown in warmer temperate regions it is not hardy to frost.
In the folk medicine of Brazil it is believed to have anxiolytic, hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties but at least one study has found no effect on humans.
It has cytoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties.
In a small randomised controlled trial Cymbopogon citratus has been used as an inexpensive remedy for the treatment of oral thrush in HIV patients.