Many cultures have been using essential oils for therapeutic and health-related purposes for centuries. Essential oils are utilized in aromatherapy, household cleaning products, and skin care products, in addition to natural treatments.
What is an Essential Oil
Essential oils are obtained through the extraction or distillation of various plant parts, including leaves, bark, flowers, and fruits. The ancient Egyptians made essential oils by immersing various plants in oil. After that, they use a linen bag to filter the essential oil.
The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of essential oils make them useful. Essential oils are growing in popularity today because they have no negative side effects. Natural medicines, cleaning supplies, and skin and beauty products all use essential oils. Grapefruit essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils and has many advantages.
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit became well-known for its ability to help weight loss. People who go to the gym or run every day include grapefruit in their diet in order to maintain their great shape. Also called Shaddock in some places around the world, grapefruit contains not only weight-loss properties but also many others such as antidepressant, stimulant, antiseptic, diuretic, lymphatic, disinfectant, aperitif and more. Mainly composed of Sabinene, Alpha Pinene, Limonene, Terpinenol, Myrcene and more, this essential oil has a wide variety of uses.
Grapefruit essential oil is extracted from the Citrus Paradisi grapefruit plant. This aromatic oil provides numerous benefits .It is used for fighting stress, losing weight, stopping cravings for sugar, anti-inflammation and also for body and skin care treatments. Included in many shampoo, soaps and shower gels, grapefruit essential oil can also be used as a vaporizer.
Here are the incredible benefits of grapefruit essential oil.
1. Antioxidant
Grapefruit is a citrus fruit. Just like other citrus fruits, it is also rich in antioxidants. With its high amount of vitamin C content and other antioxidants, grapefruit essential oil can help the body combat free radicals while boosting the immune system. It does not only protect the body from many toxins and contaminants but it can also slow down the aging process. It prevents the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Grapefruit essential oil can keep the skin cells healthy by improving the production of collagen. It also enhances the ability of the skin to regenerate in order to maintain young and glowing appearance. You can add few drops of this incredible essential oil to your liquid soap to combat free radicals and keep your skin revitalized.
2. Weight Loss
Ever been told that grapefruit is one of the best fruits to eat for weight loss and fat-burning? Well, that’s because some of grapefruit’s active ingredients are super beneficial to boost metabolism and reduce your appetite. When mixed with patchouli oil, grapefruit oil is known to lower cravings and hunger, which makes it a great tool to lose weight fast in a healthy way. Add several drops to your water, diffuse it in your office or home, or massage some onto your chest and wrists when a craving strikes.
When applied topically to the skin in small amounts, grapefruit essential oil is an excellent diuretic and lymphatic stimulant. This is one reason why it’s included in many cellulite creams and blends that are used for dry brushing. Additionally, grapefruit can be very effective for shedding excess water weight loss since it helps kick-start a sluggish lymphatic system.
3. Boosts Energy
Another great benefit of grapefruit essential oil is it boosts the energy level of the body. It increases also the alertness of the mind in order to focus more on the tasks that you have to complete. Grapefruit essential oil can also enhance the secretion of hormones and enzymes that increases the body’s metabolic activities.
People who often feel sluggish or lethargic can also benefit from grapefruit essential oil as it relieves the adrenal fatigue. It can also improve blood circulation as well as the circulation of the lymphatic. While it energizes the body, the oxygen can be transported to all the organs and tissue. It also helps to eliminate toxins from the body’s system which makes it a remedy to overcome hangovers.
4. Stress Buster
The smell of grapefruit is uplifting, soothing and clarifying. It’s known to bust stress and works great when it’s diffused, added to bath wash or dabbed on skin just like perfume. Add several drops to a sterile cotton ball along with a touch of coconut oil; then rub it into your wrists, neck or chest.
5. Combats Acne
Grapefruit essential oil is very effective in fighting against acne. It helps in many ways and can also prevent the appearance of acne. Acne develops because of the excess amount of sebum on the skin glands. The sebum blocks the pores which lead to pimples. Bacteria start to grow in the trapped sebum and may lead to infection. Once the skin is inflamed, it makes the acne look sore or very red.
Luckily, grapefruit essential oil can decrease the production of sebum. Aside from that, this oil can remove skin impurities, excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells. It also drains the glands well. Its anti-inflammatory as well as its antimicrobial properties can prevent the skin to have other skin issues.
Dehydrated skin can also trigger acne. Simply mix two drops of grapefruit oil with a table spoon of jojoba or almond oil. Apply the mixture after washing your face. This procedure can trap the moisture and keep your skin hydrated.
6. Skin Care
Like other essential oils, grapefruit essential oils also have antiseptic qualities. Including this to your beauty regimen can keep the skin free from free radicals. It also removes congested skin. Aside from fighting bacteria and grease that leads to acne, grapefruit essential oil can also protect the skin from the harmful UV rays and air pollution. Because the oil protects the skin from free radicals, it slows down the signs of aging.
As a natural skin care remedy, this aromatic oil can also increase the healing process of wounds, bites and cuts while preventing infections. Its antiseptic properties can keep the wounds from tetanus and other infections.
7. Tonic
Tonic is the substance that tones up the organs. It is present in many products such as hair tonic, liver tonic and health tonic. Grapefruit essential oil contains tonic properties which can tone the hair follicles to make it strong and healthy. Naturopaths recommend the use of this oil to eliminate dandruff while keeping the hair healthier than ever. It can also be included in your hair care routine. Simply massage your hair with grapefruit essential oil and you can add other oils like olive oil.
Aside from hair tonic, grapefruit oil can also tone up the body organs including the nervous system, digestive, excretory and circulatory. It enhances the body’s strength and overall health. Because it increases the blood to the digestive system including the liver, kidneys, bladder and stomach, it means that this oil aids the body’s detoxification process. It also helps the body to combat microbes in the intestines.
8. Antibacterial
Grapefruit oil has antibacterial properties that can eliminate unwanted contaminants or bacteria that enters the body through contaminated water, air or food. According to many researches, this oil can also combat strong bacterial strains such as salmonella and E.Coli. Grapefruit oil can also prevent urinary tract infection as well as fungal infections. For respiratory tract infections, you can inhale the vapor of the oil to fight the pathogens.
Internal bacteria and fungus can also be eliminated using grapefruit oil. Aside from that, it is also used for removing molds, killing parasites and water disinfectant.
9. Air Freshener
To get rid of unpleasant odors in your kitchen, appliances and bathrooms, diffuse some grapefruit oil along with other citrus scents like lemon essential oil and orange oil. While your house fills with a clean scent, you also eliminate odor-causing bacteria from the air. Additionally, you can use a small amount of grapefruit essential oil on wooden surfaces, countertops, floors or in household appliances to kill bacteria and odor naturally.
10. Cure for Hangover
Grapefruit oil is a powerful gallbladder and liver stimulant, so it can help stop headaches, cravings and sluggishness following a day of drinking alcohol. To help alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal, you can diffuse grapefruit essential oil in your home, add one to two drops to water or use it topically over your skin, such as on your throat and neck. It works to increase detoxification and urination, while putting a hold on cravings that can occur due to hormonal and blood sugar level changes resulting from alcohol.
11. Removes Cellulites
When toxin builds up, it forms cellulite in the cells. The same goes for fluid retention. Extra fluid can also make the body sluggish and heavy. If the toxins are not eliminated out of your body, they start to create cellulites. Grapefruit oil is an effective cellulite remover. Because it is a powerful antioxidant, it can eliminate free radicals and other toxins from the body which prevents the creation of cellulite in the cells.
You can mix two drops of grapefruit oil with coconut oil and apply the mixture on your body before going to bed. You can also simply eat grapefruits every day but make sure that you drink a lot of water as these fruits have diuretic effect on the body. Aside from eliminating cellulites, grapefruit can also treat obesity.
12. Boosts Immune System
All citrus fruits, including grapefruits, act as stimulants of immune system. Using grapefruit essential oil can enhance the immune system which can protect you from many sicknesses. Aside from the immune system, it also stimulates the brain, endocrinal glands and nervous system. This ensures the overall health if you and your family and great protection from many diseases.
Other Great Benefits of Grapefruit Essential Oil:
- PMS – Grapefruit essential oil can also alleviate PMS. You can inhale directly from the bottle or apply some oil on your wrist. You can also massage it directly on your abdomen to ease the pain of PMS.
- Dry Mouth – If you have dry mouth, you can mix few drops of grapefruit essential oil in a glass of water. Swish it inside your mouth.
- Addiction – It is easy to remove addiction as well as food craving with grapefruit essential oil. Simply massage two drops of the oil on your neck or inhale it directly to get rid of the cravings.
- Stiffness and muscle cramps – Simply apply few drops of grapefruit essential oil on the affected area to treat cramps and stiffness.
Precaution: Grapefruit essential oil may cause irritation if exposed
to sunlight for a long period of time after applying to the skin. Even
if there are no inherent risks, it is best to avoid it during pregnancy.