What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are organic compounds extracted from the bark, flower, fruit, leaf, seed or root of a plant or tree and have several healing properties. The oils in the plants are made up of very small molecules that can penetrate your cells, and some can even penetrate the blood-brain barrier. These oils are highly concentrated and have a strong aroma and can be used in aromatherapy and their benefits range from mental to physical healing.

What Is Grapefruit Essential Oil?

Have you ever peeled open a grapefruit and was greeted with a burst of fragrance and wet sticky fingers? You may have even been sprayed in the face by the juice of the rind. This is the grapefruit’s essential oils. The essential oils are extracted from the rind of the grapefruit plant and it has been used for centuries for its healing benefits.

Grapefruit essential oil has been used to help beat inflammation, weight gain, sugar cravings and even hangover symptoms. It is considered a natural stress reliever, anti-inflammatory agent, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic agent.

Essential oils from the grapefruit are one of the most versatile essential oils. The aroma is fresh, clean and a little bitter like the fruit itself. Due to its signature taste and smell of citrus fruits, many people like. 

Grapefruit essential oil is naturally high in antioxidants and phytochemicals that help reduce oxidative stress and disease- causing inflammation.

Grapefruit essential oil is usually used to fight throat and respiratory infections, fatigue, muscle aches as well as a natural remedy for arthritis. It is also used to help lose weight by increasing energy levels and metabolism and helps curb sugar cravings. Grapefruit essential oil is also used in detoxing your body. It is used to cleanse the liver and the body of harmful toxins and waste as well as activate the lymphatic system and control fluid retention. 

Benefits of Grapefruit Essential Oil

Helps Reduce Stress

Grapefruit essential oil is uplifting, soothing and clarifying which is the perfect ingredients to help relieve stress and anxiety while bringing on feelings of peace and relaxation. When used as aromatherapy, within your home can help turn on relaxation responses within the brain and even lower you’re your blood pressure naturally.

Add 2-3 drops of grapefruit essential oil to a sterile cotton ball mixed with a little bit of coconut oil. Rub the mixture into your wrists, neck or chest. You can also inhale it directly from the bottle, use a roll on and roll it on to the same areas, take a hot bath with a few drops of essential oil or use a room spray. 

Natural Energizer and Mood Booster

Grapefruit oil is another popular oil used in aromatherapy because it can increase your mental focus and give you a natural mood boost. When inhaled, its stimulating effects can make it effective for reducing headaches, sleepiness, brain fog, mental fatigue and even poor moods.

Grapefruit oil may even be beneficial for resolving adrenal fatigue symptoms such as low motivation, aches and sluggishness. Some people prefer to use grapefruit as a mild, natural antidepressant because it can increase alertness while also calming the nerves.

You can inhale grapefruit essential oil directly from the bottle or diffuse 5 drops in your diffuser or rub 2-3 drops onto your wrists for a pick me up during the day. 

Helps Boost Weight Loss

When inhaled or applied topically, grapefruit essential oils are known to lower hunger cravings and hunger. This makes it great for those who want to lose weight the healthy weight. You can’t lose weight by just using grapefruit, however. It should be used in combination with dietary and lifestyle changes.

Another way grapefruit essential oil can help with weight loss is that it is an excellent diuretic an and lymphatic stimulant. For these reasons, it is also used to help get rid of cellulite by being added into cellulite creams and blends that are used for dry brushing.

If you need to lose excess water weight, grapefruit essential oil can help you do just that. This can help kick start a sluggish lymphatic system and get rid of excess waste. 

Reduces Sugar Cravings

If you’re like me, you may get a sweet tooth more often than we would like. Grapefruit oil may help to reduce those sugar cravings and help kick that sugar addiction.

To reduce cravings, add 1-2 drops of grapefruit to your wear, inhales it directly from the bottle or diffuse 5 drops in your diffuser. You can also massage 2-3 drops into your chest and wrists when ever a craving decides to raise its ugly head. 

Aids in Digestion

Grapefruit oil can help with detoxification because it can increase blood to the digestive organs such as the bladder, liver, stomach and kidneys. It can help you shed fluid retention and fight negative and harmful microbes in the intestines, gut and other digestive organs.

You can make a handmade massage oil by mixing 3-5 drops of grapefruit essential oil and equal parts of a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil and rub the mixture onto your abdomen. 

Works as a Natural Antibacterial Agent

Grapefruit essential oil has antimicrobial effects which help reduce or eliminate harmful strains of bacteria that enter the body through contaminated food, water or parasites. It may even be strong enough to fight strong bacterial strains that are responsible for food born illnesses including E. Coli and salmonella.

Grapefruit is also used to kill skin or internal bacteria and fungus, fight mold growth, kill parasites in animal feeds, preserve food and disinfect water. 

Helps Fight Acne and Improve Skin Health

Citrus oils can be found in many commercially made lotions and soap due to their antibacterial and anti-aging properties. Grapefruit essential oil helps to fight bacteria and greasiness that can cause acne and blemishes. It also can be useful for keeping your skin’s immunity strong against indoor and outdoor pollution. As an added bonus, it may help get rid of cellulite, heal wounds, cuts and bites and help prevent skin infections.

You can create a skin salve by combining 1-2 drops of grapefruit essential oil with about a half of teaspoon of a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. Apply the mixture one to two times daily on the affected area. 

Helps Relieve Hangover Symptoms

Grapefruit oil is a powerful gallbladder and liver stimulant which is good to help stop headaches, cravings and sluggishness which is usually prominent following a day of drinking alcohol. It also helps to increase detoxification and urination which helps get rid of the toxins. It can put a hold on cravings that can occur due to hormonal and blood sugar level changes resulting from alcohol.

To ease hangovers, diffuse 5 drops of grapefruit essential oil in your home, add 1–2 drops to a glass of water, or apply 1–2 drops topically to your temples and neck. 

Boost Circulation

Limonene that is a main component found in grapefruit oil and other citrus oil is known to help reduce inflammation. Therapeutic-grade citrus essential oils are known for their ability to help lower inflammation and increase blood flow. Grapefruit oil can be used as a natural remedy for PMS craps, headaches, bloating, fatigue and muscle pains due to the blood vessel- dilating effects.

To boost circulation, try adding 2–3 drops of grapefruit oil to a nightly bath, place some on your shirt collar or dap 1-2 drops onto your wrists. 

Improves Hair Health

Due to the antibacterial properties in grapefruit essential oils it can enhance the susceptibility of microorganisms that are usually resistant. For this reason, when applied to the hair and scalp or added to shampoos and conditioners (2-3 drops), grapefruit essential oil may help to cleanse your hair and scalp thoroughly. Grapefruit oil can also reduce the amount of grease build in your hair minimizing the greasy look in your hair while adding volume and shine.

Try adding 1-2 drops of grapefruit essential oil to a small amount of coconut oil or jojoba oil and rub the mixture into your clean, damp hair after bathing. 

Grapefruit Essential Oil Precautions

Generally, grapefruit essential oil is safe to use, but it can interact with certain medications including antidepressants and blood pressure medication. Check with your healthcare provider before adding grapefruit essential oil to your diet or using it as a natural medicinal remedy if you take medications or have skin sensitivity.

Be sure to avoid direct sunlight or sun exposure directly after applying grapefruit essential oil topically. Grapefruit essential oil, as well as most citrus essential oils, can increase photosensitivity. Be sure to wait at least an hour before going into the sunlight.  

It is important to not use high levels of grapefruit essential oils for it can overstimulate the gallbladder and cause spasms and serious digestive issues. Often times, information on the internet can be misguiding in terms of using the oil as weight loss, especially with low-quality brands that might also contain dangerous additives and fillers. Be sure to use only high grade therapeutic oils and follow the directions on the labels carefully.

Has grapefruit essential oil benefited you? Let us know in the comments below.