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  Grapefruit Seed Extract Secret

  Be advised that the antiseptic property of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is not from natural compounds. Not all GSE are made the same way. The grapefruit seed extracts that use a certain extracting chemical create a synthetic chemical, benzethonium chloride, which is the compound that has those properties. GSE extracts that do not contain this compound do not work as antiseptics. So, don't be fooled. Most GSE contains this synthetic chemical and so is not "natural".

  Whenever I've used cosmetics with benzethonium chloride, I've experienced scarring of the skin. It was recently discovered that sodium benzoate and/or potassium benzoate mixed with ascorbic acid in sodas and fruit drinks make benzene which is linked to leukemia. There is no way I'd spray grapefruit seed extract all over my shower or use GSE in any manner.

  Also, some people add GSE drops to water and drink it. According to the entry in Wikipedia on benzethonium chloride, taking it orally could cause neuromuscular transmission failure and should not be done.

  Here are the titles of the journal articles that discuss GSE and benzethonium chloride in case you want to look them up.

  > Pharmazie 1999 Jun;54(6):452-6   (ISSN: 0031-7144)
  > von Woedtke T; Schluter B; Pflegel P; Lindequist U; Julich WD
  > Institute of Pharmacy, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.

  > J Agric Food Chem 2001 Jul;49(7):3316-20    (ISSN: 0021-8561)
  > Takeoka G; Dao L; Wong RY; Lundin R; Mahoney N
  > Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service,
  > U.S. Department of Agriculture, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, California 94710.
  On Umbra on bathroom mold posted 2 years, 3 months ago 4 Responses