It is not known how the history of essential oils would have developed if it had not been for the accident that accidentally occurred in the laboratory of the French chemist Hatefoss, which occurred in the 18th century. In an experiment, he severely burned his hand. Gatefoss felt such severe pain that the chemist did not come up with anything better than pouring the contents of the first vessel on his hand. The liquid inside it was lavender oil. It helped reduce pain, and subsequently stimulated wound healing. After this, Gatefoss continued to study the properties of oils and during the experiments found that they are excellent therapeutic agents for solving a wide variety of problems. After a while, the physician Jean Volnet became interested in the healing power of liquids, followed by other specialists in the field of official and alternative health care. The methodology for obtaining ether from various plants, which underlies modern technologies for the manufacture of essential oils, was thought out.
Probably everyone knows that smell plays a special role in human life. Hippocrates wrote about this. The smell is able to affect the emotional and physical spheres, it can heal, calm or, conversely, excite. But essential oil is not only an excellent aroma. Since ancient times, such fluids have been used in medicine and cosmetology. They are designed to solve a large number of problems related to the health or appearance of a person. Choosing from hundreds of esters, consumers often stop at grapefruit oil. What features does it have? How is it used in cosmetology? Is it true that grapefruit oil helps to lose weight and get rid of cellulite? You will find answers to all these questions in this article.
Grapefruit Ether Characteristics
By itself, this fruit is a “mixture” of pomelo and orange. Oil from it is obtained by pressing the peel of the fruit. It turns out a slightly viscous liquid of a light yellow hue, which has a bitter-sweet, but pleasant, refreshing aroma. Grapefruit oil has antibacterial properties, due to which it is widely used in medicine, cosmetology and aromatherapy as a means of destroying pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, it perfectly relaxes, relieves fatigue and improves mood. It is one of the most popular essential oils, mainly because it blends perfectly with many other extracts from various plants.
What does butter consist of?
The main secret of the healing composition is the method of its preparation. Like other oils, grapefruit is obtained by cold pressing. This technique allows you to save all the nutrients. It gives the finished product healing properties. Grapefruit essential oil consists of the following components:
- geraniol;
- carotene;
- magnesium;
- limonene;
- calcium;
- myrcene;
- zinc;
- organic acids;
- citral;
- linalool;
- selenium;
- ascorbic acid (vitamin C);
- potassium;
- riboflavin (vitamin B2).
Limonene is relatively rare in products and is an excellent natural antioxidant that reduces the negative effect of free radicals on body cells, and also cleans them of other pathogenic microorganisms. Each component in particular and all of them together have a beneficial effect on a person, which helps to improve sleep, get rid of fatigue, stress and depression. Ether helps to normalize physical and emotional state.
The beneficial properties of grapefruit oil
If we combine all the useful qualities of an extract, we can say that ether has such an effect on the human body:
- tonic;
- cleansing;
- refreshing
- bactericidal;
- stimulating;
- anti-infectious;
- soothing.
Possibilities of application and properties of grapefruit oil allow using it as a therapeutic agent in many diseases of various etiologies. In combination with the main therapy, grapefruit ether will help get rid of many problems associated with the internal state of organs or appearance. In addition, the oil is used for domestic purposes. Its composition allows housewives to qualitatively clean surfaces from plaque, rust and grease.
Contraindications
Grapefruit is a citrus fruit, and therefore can cause an allergic reaction. Oil can not be used for people who have individual intolerance. Before the first use, it is outwardly recommended to carry out an allergy test - apply a drop to the elbow bend and observe the skin reaction during the day.
However, burning and redness from grapefruit oil can occur in the absence of individual intolerance. Any ether cannot be used in pure form. It must be diluted with base oil - a plant product. For example, olive, peach, almond, wheat, grape seed. Therefore, it is preferable to dilute grapefruit ether with any vegetable oil.
The use of hoods by children is possible as aromatherapy. In any case, the child should be monitored by a pediatrician, and ether can be used only with the consent of the doctor. Caution should be used in the presence of severe diseases and pathologies in the acute stage, during pregnancy and lactation.
Another important point - grapefruit oil, like any other citrus, is phototoxic. It can not be applied to the skin before leaving the house if the weather is sunny. Use is allowed no later than one hour before leaving the premises.
Combination with other essential oils
Grapefruit extract is multifaceted. Therefore, it can be mixed with any base oil. As for the esters, it is best combined with oils such as cinnamon, lavender, nutmeg. Grapefruit oil perfectly reveals the unique notes of sage and representatives of the coniferous family, as well as "friends" with ylang-ylang, frankincense, vetiver oil and cardamom. The ideal aroma forms in a duet with neroli, palmarosa, geranium and, of course, bergamot, mandarin and lemon.
The effect of grapefruit oil on the human body
The use of ether helps lower blood cholesterol, remove toxins and get rid of cellulite. Grapefruit stimulates the immune system, relieves fatigue, irritability and anxiety, gives vitality and uplifting. As a skin care product, it helps whiten pigment spots, narrow pores, relieve swelling, prevent acne and neutralize excess sebum. Positive effect on the condition of the hair, helping to eliminate oily sheen and excessive hair loss.
How to use grapefruit ether?
It can be used as a liquid for aroma lamps and bathtubs, as well as as a component for a massage mixture and enrichment of cosmetics. Grapefruit essential oil is also taken orally. It has a beneficial effect on the digestive system, eliminating the feeling of heaviness, relieving cramping in the intestines and stomach, removing harmful substances and toxins from the digestive tract. It helps to cleanse blood and lymph from toxins.
Cosmetic use of oil
Most often, ether is used in cosmetology practice. Like its "counterparts", that is, other citrus fruits, grapefruit stimulates metabolic processes in the skin. The best effect can be achieved with a combination of several esters. They improve blood circulation by supplying skin cells with oxygen, moisture and other vital substances.
Grapefruit oil is used as a means to combat oily seborrhea, which is expressed by oily sheen and enlarged pores on the face, increased oily hair. It whitens the skin well, therefore it can be used against age spots, including freckles. Helps get rid of acne and blackheads.
Grapefruit ester eliminates cellulite, most often used to enrich specialized cosmetics. And the ability to whiten the skin can be used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
The use of grapefruit oil for the face
The ether can be used as a permanent skin care product by adding it to a cream, scrub, lotion, mask, tonic, or even shampoo and conditioner. It is necessary to take 5 drops of oil for every 15 ml of the base. It can be any cosmetics, even self-made masks. Oil is also suitable for creating a steam bath for the face. For example, you can add 1 drop of lemon balm and bergamot oil plus 2 drops of grapefruit oil to the water. It will turn out an ideal remedy against oily skin. As a rule, baths are taken for 10-15 minutes.
As a bleaching agent, a massage mixture is prepared, consisting of rosewood and grapefruit oils, taken in 3 drops, 4 drops of ginger and 30 ml of almond oil. The composition is rubbed into the skin with massage movements.
Hair improvement
Applying grapefruit essential oil will also help maintain moisture inside the cells. As a means to improve hair, as has already been written, it is added to various cosmetics and is a component of various masks. The composition can be selected independently or choose your favorite mask, for example with an egg, kefir and so on. The main thing is not to forget to dilute the composition with base (vegetable) oil.
Masks are not necessary at all; adding ether to a shampoo or conditioner is sufficient. With regular use, after about 6-7 sessions, the effect will be noticeable. However, trichologists and cosmetologists emphasize that ether is best for women with oily or mixed hair and skin types.
Anti-cellulite program
The most well-proven cellulite grapefruit essential oil. However, each representative of citrus fruits is endowed with such qualities. Grapefruit oil best helps to cope with a cosmetic defect as a means for massage or intensive grinding of problem areas. These procedures are accompanied by light tingling and patting, which helps to increase blood flow to the surface of the skin. You can dilute 10 drops of grapefruit ether with olive oil and honey - it will turn out to be an excellent and very useful for the skin product that will help to cope with fat deposits.
Ether can become the basis of home scrub. To this end, it is mixed with coarse salt, coffee grounds and various other oils.
In addition to massage, grapefruit oil for weight loss can be used as a filler for the bath. It is enough to add 10-15 drops, and plain water will become healing. It is believed that ether helps not only to improve the functioning of internal organs and systems, cleansing the body, but also contributes to weight loss. For this purpose, grapefruit oil is used orally. You should be very careful and not do this without the approval of the therapist. It is important that no more than 3 drops dissolved in honey are allowed per day. You can dilute the ether with milk, plain water, non-hot tea.
Pregnant grapefruit essential oil: benefit or harm?
In general, doctors do not recommend using grapefruit essential oil during the period of gestation and during lactation. Its properties, although they bring great benefits, but can harm the baby and the expectant mother. Therefore, if there is no special need for the use of oil, it is better to wait for childbirth, and then engage in restoration of the figure, but carefully - because lactation is ahead.
However, one cannot fail to notice that grapefruit oil helps to get rid of toxicosis well, alleviating the condition of the future mother. If the doctor is not against the use of such a peculiar “medicine”, you can check the veracity of this statement on yourself.