Essential Oil of the Week: Grapefruit

    There are a variety of essential oils that are great motivators for the body and mind - this will be of great interest to our North Lake Tahoe massage and skin care spa guests.  One of my favorites for the start of my day is that of the sweet and gorgeous grapefruit.  As a child I can remember my mother cutting her giant citrus fruit in half and simply eating it piece by piece with a sharp edged spoon.  I wasn’t ever a huge fan of grapefruit or any of the citrus fruits as a kid but that all changed in adulthood.  Firstly, grapefruit essential oil helps to decrease physical and mental fatigue while increasing endurance and mental clarity.  All of those qualities may not have meant much to me when I was young but they most certainly turn bad days into good ones now that I am a busy new mother.  Those looking to incorporate essential oils into their health care routine need to grab a bottle of this powerhouse liquid.  Grapefruit essential oil helps curb cravings and decreases appetite while reducing cellulite and obesity.  When combined with Cypress the two have a winning reputation for beautifying and toning the skin by increasing blood flow and balancing bodily fluids.  Some words that come to mind when smelling this lovely scent are cooling, purifying, refreshing and reviving.  This oil can make for a wonderful addition to facial products aiming to reduce oil and sebum production on the skin.  Grapefruit essential oil is photo-toxic therefore those applying it to the skin topically need to avoid direct sunlight for a few hours so as not to increase the chance for severe burns.  One of my favorite ways to enjoy this oil is internally by adding a few drops to my daily fresh squeezed juice.  The tart and fresh taste takes me right back to those summer days of my youth.  Treat yourself to a wonderful foot soak filled with a few drops of Grapefruit essential oil before your next massage treatment and you will feel ready for the day!
By: Sarah McCallum
Massage Therapist @ NLMSC