Lemongrass adds a distinctive, pleasant citrus aroma to a wide range of Thai food, including tom yum soup, curry paste, and assorted meat dishes such as lemongrass chicken. Lemongrass adds a wonderful flavor, but a key point of using it in Thai food is for the aroma--to add the sensation of the scent, or to mask any undesirable odors of beef, poulty or fish. Lemongrass is also known throughout the world for it's medicinal effects, including general pain relief, reducing blood pressure, reducing intestinal gas, helping to improve the appetite, it detoxifies vital organs, and is known to reduce cholesterol, excess fats and other toxins. Lemongrass stimulates digestion, blood circulation, and lactation.