Grapefruit

Grapefruit Essential Oil in Chinese Medicine

Common Name: Pink Grapefruit

Botanical Name: Citrus paradisi

Pin Yin Name: Da Guo Pi

Main Acupressure Channels Activated by Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil: Earth (Spleen, Stomach), Wood (Liver, Gallbladder)

Learn How to Use Self-Acupressure with Essential Oils Linked Here!

Apply the Earth Element Acupressure Stick to Acupressure Point Stomach 36

Benefits of Grapefruit Essential Oils in Chinese Medicine

Grapefruit essential oils is treasured for its ability to clear congestion in the body such as lymphatic congestion and Liver Qi Stagnation. It also drains and dries Internal Dampness relating to weight gain, joint pain, or stomach problems. It’s cooling nature resolves Heat in the body, so joint pain with swelling and a feeling of warmth as often happens with rheumatoid arthritis would respond well to the application of grapefruit essential oil. Because it acts on cellular detoxification, it helps to clear cellulite in women. This is also an important formula for harmonizing the Middle Jiao when the Liver overacts on the Spleen or Stomach.

Properties: Neutral to cool, dry, bitter, sour

Nature: Cheerful, joyful, liberating, radiating, dispersing, balancing, harmonizing, supportive, spontaneous, enthusiastic, inspiring, refreshing, reviving, confident, uplifting, clarifying, cleansing, purifying, decongesting, circulating

Diseases, Emotional Imbalances, and Pain Syndromes Treated with Grapefruit Essential Oil in Chinese Medicine

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, each energetic organ system is assigned to one of the Five Elements. Each element has both physical and emotional symptoms that would indicate imbalances in one or more of the related organ systems. Learn more about the Five Elements here!

Water Element Energetic Organ Systems: Kidney, Urinary Bladder

Edema
Kidney detox

Wood Element Energetic Organ Systems: Liver, Gallbladder

Regulates the flow of Liver Qi
Liver Qi Stagnation
Promotes bile flow
Frustration, irritability
Pessimism
Depression
PMS

Fire Element Energetic Organ Systems: Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, San Jiao

High cholesterol
Mood swings
Mental fatigue
Poor memory

Earth Element Energetic Organ Systems: Spleen, Stomach

Food stagnation
Drains Dampness
Poor appetite
Poor muscle tone
Foggy head

Metal Element Energetic Organ Systems: Lung, Large Intestine

Self-criticism
Guilt
Tired, aging skin

Plant description: Tree grown in tropical climates.

Part used: Fruit, peel

Note: High not with quick dispersion rate

Safety and Contraindications

No known cumulative toxicity used topically
Dilute to 6% so not to irritate the skin
Recommendations for topical use only
Pregnant or nursing women and children-infants should only use essential oils under the guidance of their local natural healthcare practitioner.

References

Deng W, Liu K, Cao S, Sun J, Zhong B, Chun J. Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Antiproliferative Properties of Grapefruit Essential Oil Prepared by Molecular Distillation. Molecules. 2020;25(1):217. Published 2020 Jan 5. doi:10.3390/molecules25010217

Dosoky NS, Setzer WN. Biological Activities and Safety of Citrus spp. Essential Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1966. Published 2018 Jul 5. doi:10.3390/ijms19071966

Ou MC, Liu YH, Sun YW, Chan CF. The Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Cold-Pressed and Distilled Essential Oils of Citrus paradisi and Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:804091. doi:10.1155/2015/804091

Sharifi-Rad J, Sureda A, Tenore GC, et al. Biological Activities of Essential Oils: From Plant Chemoecology to Traditional Healing Systems. Molecules. 2017;22(1):70. Published 2017 Jan 1. doi:10.3390/molecules22010070

Nagai K, Niijima A, Horii Y, Shen J, Tanida M. Olfactory stimulatory with grapefruit and lavender oils change autonomic nerve activity and physiological function. Auton Neurosci. 2014 Oct;185:29-35. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2014.06.005. Epub 2014 Jun 25. PMID: 25002406.

Han C, Li F, Tian S, et al. Beneficial effect of compound essential oil inhalation on central fatigue. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):309. Published 2018 Nov 26. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2375-6

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.