Maximum Recommended Use Level For Grapefruit Essential Oil

Grapefruit essential oil, a therapeutic practice of aromatherapy, treats a number of health problems. However, clinical studies show there is an interaction between some drugs and grapefruit juice. Although there are no clinical studies that show a "safe" level for the use of grapefruit essential oil, it is recommended that you take similar precautions. Consult a qualified health care professional before using grapefruit essential oil.

Grapefruit Oil

According to Julia Lawless in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils," grapefruit, Citrus paradisi, is a hybrid of shaddock, Citrus maxima and sweet orange, Citrus sinesis. The grapefruit tree produces a large fruit that is yellow in color. The essential oil is extracted from the peel of the grapefruit by cold expression. According to Patricia Davis in "Aromatherapy: An A-Z," grapefruit essential oil contains up to 90 percent of the chemical component limonene; the remaining chemical constituents of grapefruit oil include geraniol, paradisiol and citral.

Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit juice is also extracted from the grapefruit. According to the Purdue University website, grapefruit juice is available fresh, concentrated, canned, frozen or even as a dehydrated powder. The Pharmacy Times website writes that in 1989 an interaction between grapefruit juice and certain drugs was discovered.

Clinical Studies

According to the Pharmacy Times website, a 1989 double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that grapefruit juice may have caused a rise in plasma concentrations of felodipine, although the study was not initially set up to monitor this reaction. Further clinical studies showed that grapefruit juice appeared to interact with some types of drugs, such as amiodarone, carbamazepine and diazepam. The interactions of each drug varied, depending on the type of drug.

Drug Interaction

Tony Burfield in an article published on the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy website, "Grapefruit Oil Supply Situation and Grapefruit Juice Contraindications," suggests that there may not yet be enough data from clinical studies to fully understand the interaction between some drugs and grapefruit juice. Burfield also states that the contraindications and interactions of grapefruit juice may not be the same as for grapefruit essential oil. The chemical composition of grapefruit juice and grapefruit oil varies, as does the exact chemical components between different varieties of grapefruit.

Conclusions

Burfield concludes that until further clinical studies have been carried out on the interactions of grapefruit oil with drugs, it is advisable to avoid grapefruit oil if you are taking certain drugs that have been shown to have an interaction with grapefruit juice. However, grapefruit oil that is inhaled or applied to the skin presents a low risk to safety levels, when used correctly.

In addition, grapefruit oil is non-phototoxic, unlike many other citrus oils, and you can therefore use it in exposure to sunlight. Davis writes that the oil does not contain furocoumarins that cause the phototoxic effects in other citrus oils. However, use grapefruit oil in low dilution and dilute with a carrier oil before applying it to the skin. Consult a qualified health professional before using grapefruit essential oil.