Grapefruit Seed Extract and It's Many Uses | The Family Homestead Archives

This article originally appeared in my newsletter (which I no longer have) and it was on my website (The Family Homestead). It was written by a very dear friend of mine, Debi. I was sent a request to reprint it on my blog. I hope you all find it helpful. I'm a big fan of Grapefruit Seed Extract. I've used it for years. 

Grapefruit Seed Extract and It's Many Uses
by Debi Hopkins

 

Grapefruit Seed Extract is a product my family has been using for about 20 years now.  I wouldn't be without it in my home because it is so versatile and easy to use, and has been a real blessing to my family's overall health and well-being.

 

Here are some of the things GSE is helpful for:

 

Skin fungi or bacterial diseases of the skin: Mix 30 to 50 drops of GSE liquid extract in a quart of water, and spray on the infected area at least 2 times a day.

 

This same dilution can be used as a general antiseptic for cages, stalls, or any other contact areas where a commercial antiseptic or disinfectant would be applied.  There is no need to rinse or try to remove any residue left by GSE.  It can also be mixed into virtually any topical preparation,
like shampoo, flea-dip, cat litter, bedding, etc.

You can make your own organic Kitchen & Bath Spray by adding one or two drops per ounce of distilled water. 

 

It makes a wonderful rinse for fruits and vegetables as well, or for a more thorough treatment, soak them for fifteen minutes and then rinse thoroughly under cold water.
 
Adding GSE to your carpet or floor cleaning machine will help to remove odors caused by bacteria left from pet, food , mold or mildew.  It is reported that ten to fifteen drops per gallon in the reservoir is effective in killing staph, strep, aspergillus, salmonella and many other pathogenic organisms that are present in some carpets.
 
Gargling with GSE and water will most times handle even the most resistant Strep germs.  Naturopathic doctors recommend gargling with two or three drops in five ounces of water three or four times daily, you can't do it too often.

Grapefruit seed extract can be used to clean fungus and mildew off of shower stalls, tile, swimming pools, hummingbird feeders and birdbaths. It is user-friendly, and environmentally safe.
 
GSE can be used in the garden to control aphids, snails, fungus, mildew, and algae.

 

Use it in hot-tubs or Jacuzzis (one to two ounces per hundred gallons) or less if you are also treating with ozone, to keep the water clean and disinfected.

 

Drinking Water can be made safe by ten drops for each gallon of clear water. Agitate or mix vigorously and let it rest for a few minutes. It may be used as a prophylactic agent for those who travel abroad.
 
A very small amount of Nutribiotic GSE will keep a covered bottle of clean distilled water safe for a very long time. You can add it to home- made products like medicinal or cosmetics,  to lengthen their shelf life.  

 

All by itself GSE is an extremely stable product and has an indefinite shelf life. 

 

For sore throats or tonsillitis, put 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract into
a glass of lukewarm water and gargle extensively with the solution 5-6 times a day. In addition, the extract should be used internally.  Those in my family find the small tablets very easy to swallow, even with a sore throat, but the drops can be mixed with a small amount of real fruit juice or warm tea.

 

As an antiseptic mouthwash:  Gargle thoroughly three times daily with 5
drops of extract in a glass of water. 

For mouth ulcers:  Rinse your mouth several times daily with 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract in a glass of water. In addition, dab the mouth ulcer with 2 drops in a Tbs. of water using a cotton swab.

(Don't use GSE straight, it is very potent stuff!)

For cracked lips, dilute a few drops of GSE with a Tbs. of light olive oil and apply several times a day.

For cold sores, apply a mixture of several drops of GSE with one tablespoon of light olive oil 2-3 times daily to the affected spots using a swab. Let the preparation remain on the sore overnight. Use again as soon as possible if there are any signs of the blisters forming again.

For sinus problems, either purchase the Nutribiotic nasal spray, or do 
a nasal rinse several times a day. In addition, the extract should be used internally (as in, a few drops taken in water 1-3 times a day).  To do a nasal rinse: put about 3 drops of GSE in an egg-cup of lukewarm water and mix well. Using a pipette, drip a few drops of the mixture into both nostrils while leaning your head back for a minute or two. Move your head from side to side and back and forth, sniff in several times and then gently blow your nose. (Always use in a diluted form,  NEVER drip undiluted extract into the nose!!!)

For internal use, the rule of thumb for gastrointestinal disorders, including bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral, is to use one drop of liquid concentrate per 10 pounds of body weight.  We have found it very helpful for bronchitis and sinus infections in our family.

Some other things that are benefited by the use of GSE are: bad breath, toothaches, gingivitis, runny nose, coughs, hoarseness, laryngitis, earaches, acne, shaving, head lice, rashes, dermatitis, psoriasis, shingles, eczema, insect bites and stings, warts, athlete's foot, corns, blisters, vaginitis, yeast infections, colds, gastrointestinal infections, candida albicans, parasitic diseases, and allergies.

Nutribiotic GSE is the brand I am most familiar with, though there are other brands out there.  It is available in these forms:  liquid concentrate, tablets, capsules, powdered concentrate, nasal spray, and ointment. 

 

Debi <><

 

Debi Hopkins is the mother of 3 children and grandmother to 12! She and her husband have enjoyed the homesteading life for the last 25 years.  She enjoys Bible studies, gardening, sewing, cooking baking, studying health topics and anything that helps to make her house a home!