Grapefruit Seed Extract
A Time-Tested Anti-Microbial Botanical
WHAT IT IS:
- A concentrated liquid grapefruit seed extract delivering 45 mg per 30-drop serving, with flexible drop-by-drop dosing
WHY YOU NEED IT:
- Concentrated liquid format allows the dose to be titrated precisely to each patient
- Important for patients working through chronic infections (Lyme, Epstein Barr Virus, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), Mold Biotoxin Illness, gut dysbiosis, yeast overgrowth and Candida
- Frequently used alongside broader gut protocols for SIBO and post-travel digestive upset
- Rich in naringenin and related citrus bioflavonoids and polyphenols
- A generous 83 servings per 125 mL bottle
- May also be diluted as a produce rinse for fruits and vegetables
- **Must be diluted before taking — never swallow the extract undiluted
HOW IT HELPS:
Grapefruit seed extract is produced from the seeds and pulp of Citrus paradisi and is concentrated in citrus bioflavonoids and polyphenols, including naringenin. In herbal practice it has been used for decades as a broad, non-selective agent for supporting healthy microbial balance in the digestive tract — the same category of botanical support as berberine, oregano oil and caprylic acid.
Its principal role in an integrative protocol is in the gut and in supporting patients fighting chronic infections and inflammation. When the normal balance of intestinal organisms is disrupted — after antibiotics, after a bout of travelers’ illness, or in patients with long-standing bloating, sugar cravings and irregular bowels — opportunistic organisms including Candida albicans can expand into the space left behind. Grapefruit seed extract is used to help push that balance back, and is typically paired with a probiotic to repopulate what has been cleared.
The liquid format is a genuine clinical advantage. Sensitive patients can begin with a very small number of drops and build slowly, which is often the difference between tolerating a gut protocol and abandoning it. The extract is intensely bitter and strongly acidic, so it must always be diluted in a full glass of water or juice; taken undiluted it can irritate the mouth, throat and esophagus.
One important caution: compounds in grapefruit interfere with the CYP3A4 enzyme system that metabolizes many prescription medications, including certain statins, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants and sedatives. Review your full medication list with Dr. Hirt before starting this product.
Dosage:
Begin with 10 drops in at least 5 ounces of water or juice, two to three times daily. Increase gradually toward 30 drops per dose as tolerated, or as directed. Always dilute. Not for use during pregnancy or nursing unless specifically directed.