The components of the grapefruit tree are also used as medicine in traditional medicine. Modern research shows that grapefruit has a clear anti-inflammatory effect through the mechanism of improving the local microcirculation network, inhibiting platelet aggregation, fighting edema, enhancing the strength of blood vessels and the body's resistance to pathogens. Some authors believe that grapefruit juice also contains an insulin-like substance that can lower blood sugar. According to traditional medicine, grapefruit leaves have a spicy taste, warm properties, and are used to treat headaches caused by wind, rheumatoid arthritis with cold and dampness, and abdominal pain caused by food stagnation. Grapefruit pulp has a spicy, sweet, and bitter taste, warm properties, and enters the three meridians of the spleen, kidney, and bladder, and has the effect of dissolving phlegm, digesting food, lowering gas, and making the chest comfortable. The book Compendium of Materia Medica recommends using crushed grapefruit leaves and onion bulbs to apply to the temples (1 inch behind the corner of the eye, 1 point on each side) to treat headaches caused by wind, crushed grapefruit leaves and fresh ginger mixed with a little tung oil to apply locally to treat acute arthritis. Grapefruit essential oil also has the effect of detoxifying alcohol and applied to areas of hair loss to stimulate hair growth.

Here are some commonly used remedies:
Cough and asthma in the elderly: peel 1 grapefruit, scrape off the white part and chop finely, put in a bowl with a sufficient amount of malt candy or honey, steam until soft, eat 2 times a day, 1 spoon each time; or wash and slice the peel of 1 grapefruit, steep in boiling water and drink instead of tea during the day; or eat shredded grapefruit peel steamed with celosia seed oil.

Treat severe headaches like wearing stones, nausea, dizziness, flabby tongue, thick white and sticky tongue coating: 500g grapefruit segments, 350g honey, enough white sugar. Grapefruit segments, marinate with white sugar 1 night, the next day pour into a pot to steam thoroughly then add honey and stir well, remove from heat to cool and store in a sealed container for gradual use, drink 3 times a day, 3g each time.

Treat stomachache due to cold: 2 parts grapefruit pulp, 4 parts tea, 2 parts green tangerine peel, dry all, grind into powder, drink 2 times a day, 6g each time; or use the following recipe: 12g grapefruit pulp, boil with 300ml water until 100ml remains, divide into several doses a day.

Treat breast abscess: 15g grapefruit leaves, 30g tangerine peel, 30g dandelion, boil and drink daily.

Food stagnation, slow digestion: grapefruit peel, cardamom, chicken gizzard lining and angelica, equal amounts of 4-6g, decoct and drink.

Treat gas flu: dry grapefruit peel, fried until golden brown, decoct and drink daily. Or grapefruit seeds 6-9g, decoct and drink.

Pregnant women vomit a lot: grapefruit peel 4-12g, decoct and drink.

Treat skin ulcers: fresh grapefruit peel in sufficient amount, decoct and take the water to soak and wash.

Treat stomach pain, chest pain: grapefruit flower 2-4g, decoct and drink, has the effect of promoting qi, reducing phlegm, and relieving pain.

Treat headaches: eat grapefruit (fresh grapefruit segments) and use grapefruit leaves and crushed onions to apply on the temples.

Treat impetigo: peel grapefruit seeds, burn them into charcoal, crush them and sprinkle them on the affected area, twice a day, continuously for 6 days.

TRUNG NGUYEN (Synthesis)