Grapefruit Essential Oil benefits includes improving immune system function, promoting endocrine function, removing toxin from the body, supporting weight loss, managing acne and pimples, improving mood and promoting hair growth. Other benefits includes treating respiratory illness, acting as natural deodorant, treating fungal treatment and relieving menstrual pain.
The grapefruit, known by its scientific name Citrus paradise, has its essential oil cold pressed from the skins of the grapefruit, and appears to have originated in Asia. Presently, it is cultivated in many different countries around the world, including the United States, China and India to mention a few, and is popularly used in aromatherapy for its ability to detoxify and energize. History suggests that the grapefruit essential oil may have been used to increase the overall function of the body according to evidence in records.
1. Improves Immune System Function
Antioxidants are produced naturally in the body to neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals, however, a continuous supply of antioxidants is required to meet the daily needs set out by the body. Grapefruit essential oil has a rich supply of antioxidants, particularly vitamin C and when combined with other antioxidants, it may be able to enhance the function of the immune system in fighting and eliminating free radicals, leading to effective body protection against diseases. Thus, with regular use of grapefruit essential oil, your susceptibility of infections goes down.
2. Promotes Endocrine Functio
Every part of the human body has a specific role to play in promoting life, and for the most part, these instructions on the maintenance of life are regulated by endocrine hormone secretion. Grapefruit essential oil may stimulate the endocrine system to secrete hormones and enzymes, leading to an increase in body metabolism. It can also promote active secretion of digestive system hormones like cholecystokinin and secretin that push ingested food particles through the intestines. Diabetes and decreased metabolism may thus be alleviated with the use of grapefruit essential oil, as the actions of insulin are also improved.
3. Helps Toxin Removal And Lymphatic Health
Toxins interfere with normal body functions, making it important for them to be removed with help by the kidneys, part of the intestines and liver to prevent health problems. The lymphatic system helps the body get rid of toxins by filtering these harmful substances from the blood and body tissues. Grapefruit essential oil may enhance the function of the lymphatic system, boosting its activities so toxins are removed. This essential oil may also act as a diuretic and enhance the flow of toxic substances from the blood so they can be expelled via urine thus, health complications that may result from toxin accumulation are prevented.
4. Helps With Weight Loss
Loss of weight is usually associated with a reduction in daily calorie intake, however, excessive hunger and unhealthy cravings can, and often will, derail your success at losing weight. Grapefruit essential oil is a healthy way to suppress appetite, just like the grapefruit itself since it may increase the rate of metabolism in the body. This further increases the speed at which calorie is burnt, thus, promoting weight loss. Inhaling the grapefruit essential oil may be sufficient since its aroma alone may act on the satiety centre of the hypothalamus and enhance the function of the lymphatic system so that excess water is removed and weight loss is initiated. Grapefruit oil also has properties that make the utilization of carbohydrates more efficient, improving insulin sensitivity in the process and helping remedy one of the biggest causes of weight gain- insulin and sugars.
5. Helps Manage Acne And Pimples
When the hair follicles are blocked with dead skin cells, bacteria and excess oil, acne and pimples may result. Grapefruit essential oil can be used a natural method used to treat or manage acne break outs by helping to clear the hair follicles of any material that may block them. It may also help reduce the production and secretion of sebum by regulating the activities of the sebaceous glands and prevent bacteria buildup that can cause infection and swelling. This essential oil completely cleanses and disinfects the skin and may be added to face wash, or in combination with a carrier oil for better results.
6. Helps Improve Mood
Mood disorders affect people of all ages and may disrupt emotional health as well as increase the risk of occurrence of other mental disorders. Grapefruit essential oil has a nice, refreshing aroma that can help to clear the mind and enhance mood. This essential oil may also act as a natural antidepressant that alleviates symptoms by balancing the neurotransmitters in the brain that are responsible for mood changes, in particular dopamine and serotonin. It can be added to a diffuser, combined with a carrier oil for a soothing massage, or even consumed in order to experience its truly uplifting benefits on mood.
7. Promotes Hair Growth
When the hair follicles are properly stimulated, hair growth is enhanced. The use of grapefruit essential oil can facilitate healthy hair growth since it may act as a stimulant by increasing the circulation of blood to the scalp, helping nutrient rich blood to reach the follicles. It can also help remove dirt, bacteria and sebum that accumulates on the scalp. Shampoos or conditioners that contain grapefruit essential oil are especially helpful, as they help to leave the hair glossy, add volume, prevent split ends and dandruff, along with its stimulating action of hair growth.
8. Helps Treat Respiratory Illness
Respiratory infections are very common and affect mainly the throat, the lungs and the esophageal tract. These infections are usually as a result of viral and bacterial infections, are quite contagious, and may affect either the upper or lower respiratory tract. Preventing the spread of respiratory infections would include practising good hygiene as well as the use of natural antibacterial and antiviral agents like the grapefruit essential oil. This essential oil may provide relief by inhibiting the growth of the bacterial or viral cells responsible for respiratory infections that cause irritation and swelling, and thanks to its immune supporting properties as well, does this very efficiently.
9. Great Natural Deodorant
Sweating is a natural phenomenon that is necessary in order to regulate body temperature, however, when bacteria in the skin break down sweat into waste and metabolic by products, offensive body odor is usually produced, and can be a great source of embarrassment. Grapefruit essential oil is a natural home remedy that has properties that reduce body odor by reducing the production of sweat from the sweat glands and inhibiting the growth of the bacteria. This solves a dual purpose of acting as an anti-perspirant and anti-bacterial deodorant, and best of all, smells great with its refreshing aroma.
10. Treats Fungal Infections
Yeast infections occur when there is an overgrowth of yeast in the body, to the extent that they become pathogenic and cause infection. The most common type of yeast infection is candidiasis, and occurs mainly in the mouth (thrush) or in the vagina in females. Grapefruit essential oil may inhibit the rapid growth of candida, the fungus responsible for candidiasis, by disrupting their cell walls and leading to rupture.
11. Relieves Menstrual Pain
Menstrual cramps occur in the lower abdomen and are usually associated with the onset of menstruation and may last for days. It is caused by the contraction of the muscles of the uterus in order to shed its lining and causes unbearable pain in many women. Luckily, menstrual pains can be reduced with the use of grapefruit essential oil. It can be massaged onto the part of the body where the pain is felt so that blood circulation is increased to that area and there is a reduction of menstrual pain, or can be consumed as well to benefits from its pain relieving properties