“There is a lot more juice in a grapefruit than meets the eye.”
Anonymous
Family: Rutaceae
Synonyms: C. racemosa, C. maxima var. racemosa
Aroma: Sweet, fresh, citrusy
Colour: Yellow with a hint of green
Plant: A large tree growing to 30 metres with glossy dark green leaves and large fragrant flowers. The fruit is usually yellow but may vary in colour depending on the cultivar.
Main Growing Areas: California, Israel and Australia
Major Constituents: Limonene, nootkatone, octanal and decanal
Interesting snippets: Grapefruit probably originated in Barbados from a natural cross between pummelo (Citrus maxima) and sweet orange (Citrus sinesis).
Part of Plant used / Extraction: Cold pressed from rind. The essential oil is usually produced as a by-product of fruit juice extraction.
Therapeutic actions: Constipation, nausea, fluid retention, cellulite
Emotional and Spiritual: Mentally refreshing and energising, stress, nervous exhaustion, depression, mental and spiritual clarity, helps to achieve harmony and balance calms mind chatter
Robbi Zeck writes that when you are feeling drained, strung out and depressed, Grapefruit provides a new zest for life. With its light, fruity aroma it gives wings to feelings of heaviness, uplifts sagging spirits and radiates optimism. Learn from your obstacles and cultivate the ability to remain open to the moment. Life is essentially refreshingly sweet and Grapefruit brings the gift of appreciation. Live your life consciously every moment and take full advantage of every single day.
Gabriel Mojay writes that grapefruit is particularly suited to those individuals who, tense and under pressure, resort to food as a means of dealing with difficult emotions. Essentially cleansing, clarifying and refreshing, it works to rid the ‘heavy’ feelings that accompany those of angry disappointment, allowing us to perceive and accept more realistic goals.
Aromatherapy Insight Card:
OPTIMISM
Renew that zest for life. Stop feeling disappointed and wrung out. Focus on life’s positives, looking after yourself better and nurturing yourself emotionally. Grapefruit removes heavy, negative emotions that can feed our addictions when expectations are not met. An emotional purifier, grapefruit releases self-doubt and frustration, get out of that mood and have some childlike fun again. Be optimistic and move from the state of poverty consciousness to prosperity consciousness.
Fragrant Change Healing Card: I appreciate all that I have and the abundance that flows to me each day.
Contemplations for the Soul Card:
Have you lost your zest for life?
Does it all seem too much and you just want to go back to bed and forget about the world.
Are you finding it hard to see or find what is good in your life?
Are you a perfectionist with impossibly high standards that no one including yourself can live up to?
Begin today to appreciate what you have even if it is something as simple as the gift of friendship.
Accept also that you and others in your life are doing the best you/they can even if you/they don’t live up to your standards.
As you begin to appreciate the people and all that you have in your life your mood will lift allowing more peace and opportunities to come your way.
Safety: Non-irritating, non-sensitising, non-toxic. Possibly mildly photosensitive.
Note Grapefruit essential oil deteriorates quickly on exposure to air, daylight or moisture. Keep in the refrigerator to prolong her shelf life to a maximum of 12 months.
Sources: Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion, Australia (1995)
Bowles E.J, The A to Z of Essential Oils. New Burlington Books (2003)
Eidson D, Vibrational Healing, Frog Books (2000)
Hodges C, Fragrant Change Healing Cards (2015)
Hodges C. Contemplations for the Soul (2016)
Jefferies J, Osborn K, Aromatherapy Insight Cards. Living Energy, Aust. (2nd Ed. 2005)
Kerr J, Grapefruit Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.21 (2002)
Mojay G, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Hodder and Stoughton (1996)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)