Grapefruit Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Citrus paradisi, C. racemosa Grapefruit essential oil is made from the only variety of citrus that's native to the Americas. It's thought that today's grapefruit trees are the result of a cross between other citrus species brought to the West Indies by Spanish explorers in the 1600s. Regardless of grapefruit's exact origins, there's no doubt that this large and sometimes bitter fruit is immensely important to a number of industries. While it's only recently been "discovered" by aromatherapy, grapefruit has long been used to flavor foods and scent toiletries like soaps, shampoos and lotions. Like all other citrus fruits, grapefruit essential oil is expeller pressed from the rinds of its ripe fruit. Both "white" grapefruit and "red" or "ruby" grapefruit can be used to make essential oil. The only significant difference is a slightly higher aldehyde in the "white" varieties. In shopping for grapefruit oil, you may find a number of species represented as "grapefruit". Perhaps the most common oil is C. paradisi. It's believed to be a hybrid of C. maxima and C. sinensis. Characteristics of Grapefruit OilGrapefruit essential oil is a thin, yellow or yellow-green oil with a definite "citrus" scent. It should be less sweet than sweet orange but less harsh than bergamot. It will feel a bit "wet" to the nose and a tad drier than orange.Psychological AromatherapyLike other citrus oils, grapefruit appeals to people who are warm, happy and generally optimistic. Grapefruit may feel a bit more sophisticated than other citrus oils and is a good oil for people who feel stressed or tense.Grapefruit can be a fantastic substitute for heavier, sweeter citrus oils. Lisa Barger calls it "the grown-up's citrus". Traditional Uses for Grapefruit OilGenerally, grapefruit oil is considered more similar to lemon than other citrus oils. Author Salvatore Battaglia assigns the following therapeutic actions to grapefruit:
Scientific Studies on Grapefruit OilWeight LossAs surprising as it seems, grapefruit essential oil, diffused into the air, may help some people lose weight. A 2005 Japanese study on rats found that exposure to the scent of grapefruit essential oil directly affected the adrenal glands and, in the words of researchers, "inhibited the parasympathetic gastric nerve". This study found that a 15-minute exposure to the scent of grapefruit essential oil 3 times a week effectively reduced food intake--apparently by directly suppressing the appetite. To date, no human studies have been published but the results seem very promising. Cancer The various citrus oils have long been associated with detoxification and a 2003 suggests that the limonene content of citrus oils may also have strong anti-cancer properties. This study found that limonene and other chemical components of citrus oils induced apoptosis, or cell death, when put into direct contact with tumor cells. How this may someday benefit human cancer patients has yet to be determined. Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria As drug-resistant "super bugs" become more and more common, science is increasingly looking to botanical medicine for help. A 2004 study from the UK suggests that adding grapefruit essential oil to the standard antibiotic methicillin increases the effectiveness of the drug even on strains of Staph that are resistant to the drug. Safety IssuesGrapefruit is know to interact with or influence the metabolism of a number of medications. To date, all studies on grapefruit's potential drug interactions has focused on ingested grapefruit and not on the potential effects of inhaling the vapor of the essential oils. How, or even if, the casual use of grapefruit essential oil in aromatherapy could cause drug interactions is unknown at this time.In popular aromatherapy texts, grapefruit oil is considered non-toxic and non-sensitizing. Additionally, unlike other citrus oils, grapefruit shows very little potential for phototoxicity.
References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Stump, A., et al. (2006). Management of Grapefruit-Drug Interactions. Shen, J., et al. (2005). Olfactory stimulation with scent of grapefruit oil affects autonomic nerves, lipolysis and appetite in rats. Hata, T., et al. (2003). Induction of apoptosis by Citrus paradisi essential oil in human leukemic (HL-60) cells. Abulrob, A., et al. (2004). Identification and biological evaluation of grapefruit oil components as potential novel efflux pump modulators in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. Leave Grapefruit Essential Oil & return to Essential Oils Directory
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