Grapefruit and Grapefruit Oil - What it can be Used for.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit and its' oil has many beneficial uses.Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) of today is a hybrid between the sweet orange and the pomelo (also known as shaddock) The pomelo is an ancient variety of grapefruit. Arab traders brought it to Spain from Asia in the 12th century. It was then taken to the West Indies by Captain Shaddock in the 18th century.
The grapefruit tree is similar to other trees in the citrus family, being evergreen and having glossy oval shaped leaves.The star shaped white flowers have a lovely sweet smell, but are not as strongly scented as the flowers from other citrus trees.
Grapefruit is high in Vitamin C which is very important for good health. Vitamin C is well known as an anti-stress vitamin. It is also an excellent antioxidant. Eating the fruit helps to protect the body against the effects of pollution, promotes healthy skin and wards off infectious illnesses. Consumption of grapefruit helps the body absorb iron from other foods.
Grapefruit are typically cut in half horizontally and eaten by using a teaspoon and scooping out each segment individually and eaten from the spoon. Some varieties of grapefruit are quite sour and people tend to sprinkle sugar over the flesh and allow it to soak in before eating, however I have noticed most grapefruit I have eaten recently are sweet enough to eat as they are.
Grapefruit seed is available in health food shops in liquid or tablet form and is used to relieve stomach bugs, ear and throat infections, candida and intestinal parasites.
Grapefruit oil has a number of helpful properties. It is highly valued as a mood enhancer. The oil can be used in an oil burner or inhaled from a tissue. It provides relief for mild depression, anxiety and nervous tension. Due to its mild astringent effect it can be used sparingly on oily skin prone to acne and on the scalp.
Massage therapy is known to improve lymphatic drainage and hence alleviate cellulite on thighs and other problem areas. Using grapefruit oil as part of your massage treatment is thought to improve this process. At the same time using the oil in blends can help reduce muscular aches and pains.
Massage Oil to Reduce Cellulite
10 ml diluted grapefruit oil
5 ml sweet almond oil
4 drops of pure cypress essential oil
Massage into thighs, hips, buttocks and upper arms three times a week.
Grapefruit oil can be produced by cold pressing or by steam distillation. Oil of the grapefruit is extracted from the fresh peel by the cold pressing process and from the peel and fruit pulp in the steam distillation process. Both oils are a pale yellow or greenish colour and a sweet citrus fragrance. The cold pressed oil has phototoxic effects so sunlight or sunbeds are to be avoided for twelve hours afterwards to prevent the appearance of unsightly brown blotches. This does not seem to be a problem with the distilled oil.
A Blend For Anxiety
10 drops of pure grapefruit essential oil
10 drops of pure bergamot essential oil
10 drops of pure lavender essential oil
Put the oils in a small dark glass bottle ( maybe an old oil bottle), and shake well. Sprinkle a few drops on a tissue or handkerchief and inhale. Repeat as necessary.
Grapefruit Tree
