GSE and Parabens? was Re: Swollen Armpit

[Guest guest]

Desh,

FWIW, a friend on another list found this information on GSE. I think I

posted this before and no one responded, but figured I'd give it another

try. The bottom line is that the antimicrobial activity is due to the

synthetic agents. -Sharon

Another ingredient that many people use in pursuit of a natural

product is Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE). * However, this natural

preservative is commonly adulterated with synthetic preservatives*. A

study by the Institute of Pharmacy, Ernst Moritz Arndt University,

Greifswald, Germany stated, " The antimicrobial efficacy as well as

the content of preservative agents of six commercially grapefruit

seed extracts were examined. Five of the six extracts showed a high

growth-inhibiting activity against the test germs.* In all of the

antimicrobial active grapefruit seed extracts, the preservative

benzethonium chloride was detected by thin layer chromatography.*

Additionally, three extracts contained the preserving substances

*triclosan and methyl paraben*. In only one of the grapefruit seed

extracts tested no preservative agent was found. *However, with this

extract as well as with several self-made extracts from seed and

juiceless pulp of grapefruits (Citrus paradisi), no antimicrobial

activity could be detected. Thus, it is concluded that the potent as

well as nearly universal antimicrobial activity being attributed to

grapefruit seed extract is merely due to the synthetic preservative

agents contained within. Natural products with antimicrobial activity

do not appear to be present. " *

Concerning GSE the USDA said, " Confirming an earlier study by

researchers in Germany we found that some commercial grapefruit seed

extracts contain benzethonium chloride, a synthetic antimicrobial

agent commonly used in cosmetics and only approved for topical use,

at relatively high levels of 8%. " And according to the Swiss

Toxicological Information Center, " Grapefruit seed extracts

containing benzethonium chloride in concentrations of 7-11% represent

a major health risk if larger amounts of a concentrated solution are

ingested (i.e. by mouth). Exposure of the skin or the eye may cause

toxic symptoms. The Swiss Toxicological Information Center

discourages consumers from administration of these extracts unless it

is known which of them are containing benzethonium chloride and what

the concentrations are. "

http://essentialu.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/03/paraben-puzzlem.html

On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 11:25 AM, De Bell-Frantz <deshabell@...> wrote:

> When I had one, grapefruit seed extract seemed to help, but I think it

> also likely that my sluggish lymph system factored in- low grade

> inflammation in one system of the body can increase the likelihood of

> infection in the surrounding area, in the same or contiguous system.

> This is definitely a situation where non-allopathic medicine could really

> have helped instead of rushing to an antibiotic, but in this economic

> climate it's hard not to go with what's covered by insurance. The last

> conventional antibiotic I took 5 years ago sent me on a yeast spiral. . .

> .good luck.

>

> Desh

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