Grapefruit Seed Extract

“Grapefruit Seed Extract has proved to be effective in combating hundreds of pathogens that affect birds, including parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This inexpensive substance is used by aviculturists, pet bird owners, and veterinarians. It is a safe, natural disinfectant and cleaner that can be used to prevent mold growth on home-grown sprouts as well as to clean cages, aviaries, and homes. Surprisingly, this powerful product is made from grapefruit seeds. The antimicrobial properties of the extract of grapefruit seeds and pulp were discovered in 1972 by Jacob Harish, a physicist and immunologist, as a result of his curiosity about the bitterness of grapefruit seeds.”

GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) — This food-derived substance is used by a growing number of aviculturists, pet bird owners, and veterinarians. It is a natural, safe and non-toxic disinfectant and cleaner as well as a preventive against disease-causing pathogens. This extract of the lowly grapefruit seed is effective at combating hundreds of pathogens that adversely affect birds, including parasites, bacteria, virus, and various fungi. GSE is used to disinfect food and water, to prevent mold growth on home-grown sprouts, to clean cages, aviaries and homes — all without harming the birds or the environment.

Here are some of the specific uses of GSE for birdkeepers:

• To disinfect surfaces and items in the aviary and nursery such as brooders, incubators, cages and carriers, make an all purpose cleaner by adding 30 to 60 drops of GSE to a 32-ounce pump spray bottle filled with water.
• To disinfect wood surfaces like cutting boards and perches, apply a few drops of GSE to the cleaned wood while still wet. Let stand for half an hour before rinsing
• To clean formula from baby parrots’ faces and feathers after syringe feedings, add a few drops of GSE to a bowl of warm water to wet the cleaning cloth. It kills bacteria and gets the skin and feathers squeaky clean
• To sterilize syringes, pipettes, spoons, and other handfeeding utensils, make a solution of 15 to 30 drops of GSE per pint of water. Soak between feedings
• To make your own antibacterial soap for the nursery and kitchen, add ten to fifteen drops of GSE to an eight-ounce pump dispenser of handsoap.
• To make a disinfectant soak for produce, add 10 to15 drops of GSE per gallon of water and submerge the fruits and vegetables for 15 to 30 seconds.
• To make a disinfectant spray for produce, add 20 or more drops to a quart spray bottle and spray on fruits and vegetables.
• To prevent the growth of algae and mold in incubators and humidifiers, add three or four drops of GSE per gallon to the water reservoir.
• To clean and disinfect cutting boards, apply 10 to 20 drops of GSE to the cutting board. Rub it into the board with a wet sponge or cloth. Leave the GSE on for at least 30 minutes and rinse.
• To purify water, add 10 drops of GSE per gallon of water and stir vigorously. It is more effective than iodine.
• To treat skin fungi, parasites, or bacterial diseases of the skin of birds and other pets, mix 30 to 50 drops of GSE per quart of water and spray on the infected area.
• To prevent the growth of pathogens and to kill existing parasites, (such as giardia in well water), use one drop of Nutribiotic GSE in an eight-ounce water cup. Daily use is safe and a probiotic can be used if you are concerned about maintaining healthy intestinal flora.
• To boost the cleaning power of dishwasher detergent for bird dishes, add 15 to 30 drops of GSE to the dishwasher along with detergent.
• To disinfect towels and cloths used for baby parrots, add 30 to 50 drops to the wash cycle, or add 10 to 15 drops of GSE to the final rinse to ensure that the laundry is free of fungi and bacteria.
• To disinfect carpet in bird rooms, add 10 to 15 drops of GSE per gallon of water to the reservoir of the carpet-cleaning machine.

A Gift from Mother Nature (GSE)
by Carolyn Swicegood

Mother Nature has provided an extraordinary substance from a surprising source to benefit her feathered creatures. An extract of a simple food item has proved to be effective in combating hundreds of pathogens that affect birds, including parasites, bacteria, virus, and fungi. This food-derived substance is used by a growing number of aviculturists, pet bird owners, and veterinarians. It is a natural, safe and non-toxic disinfectant and cleaner as well as a preventive against disease-causing pathogens. It is used to disinfect food and water, to prevent mold growth on home-grown sprouts, to clean cages, aviaries and homes as well as to treat a variety of illnesses — all without harming birds or the environment. Surprisingly, this powerful product is made from the lowly grapefruit seed! The antimicrobial properties of the extract of grapefruit seeds and pulp were discovered in 1972 by Jacob Harish, a physicist and immunologist, as a result of his curiosity about the bitterness of grapefruit seeds.

At the University of Georgia, tests were conducted to evaluate Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) as a disinfectant in tests against E. Coli, Salmonella sps., and Staph aureus. According to Roger Wyatt, Ph.D., and Microbiologist for the university, “Our studies indicate excellent potential for these products (GSE). …The toxicological that I have reviewed indicated that this product and the active ingredient poses very low toxicity. As you know this is important because most disinfectants that are currently used in either animal or human environments have moderate to high toxicity and extreme care must be exercised when these products are used… In view of the reports that we have discussed, the wide spectrum of activity that GSE offers (antiviral, antibacterial; Gram positive and Gram negative, antimycotic, and antiprotozoan) will undoubtedly aid in its acceptability.”

Dr. Wyatt’s findings have been confirmed by a variety of clinics and labs, as well as universities from around the world. GSE is non-toxic, environmentally safe, and quickly bio-degradable. It causes no side effects and is often dramatically less expensive than existing treatments or chemicals for similar applications.

Some physicians have found that GSE is as effective against candida, a yeast infection, as Nystatin or other antifungal preparations. It is also effective against protozoans such as giardia or entamoeba histolytica. Researcher Dr. Leo Galland says that it is more effective than prescription medicines such as metronidazole against these protozoal parasites. There is considerable research to support the claims of GSE’s efficacy as a natural antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-protozoan, anti-viral and antiseptic disinfectant. As a germicide, GSE has multiple uses and it is non-toxic and non-irritating when diluted as directed.

Bio Research Laboratories of Redmond, Washington, USA, tested GSE, a commercial chlorine bleach, and colloidal silver against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus faecium, and E. coli. GSE proved superior and the test report concluded:

“All microorganisms tested were inhibited with moderate levels of GSE liquid disinfectant. High levels of chlorine bleach inhibited the test organisms, but moderate levels were not effective. Because the GSE liquid was inhibitory at much lower levels, it may be assumed that it is ten to one hundred times more effective than chlorine against the organisms used in this study. On average, GSE proved to be ten times more effective than the colloidal silver.”

GSE is compatible with most antibiotics. It does not produce the negative side effects associated with antibiotic use. Proponents of GSE claim that it does not attack normal gastrointestinal bacteria as antibiotics do. To ensure that this is not a problem, I would use a probiotic after treating with therapeutic dosages of GSE. Even if it is unnecessary, it will do no harm. GSE rarely causes allergic or toxic reactions. Aspirin is said to be 25 times more toxic than GSE.

Grapefruit seed extract is available in health food stores. GSE has been proven in laboratory tests to be 10 to 100 times more effective as a disinfectant than chlorine, colloidal silver, and iodine.

According to The Journal of Ort*bleep*lecular Medicine, Volume 5, No. 3, USA, 1990, an international research team examined the effect of GSE on 770 strains of bacteria and 93 strains of fungus and compared this with 30 effective antibiotics and 18 proven fungicides. GSE was found to perform as well as any and all of the tested agents.

GSE USES AND DOSAGES

To disinfect surfaces in the aviary and nursery such as brooders, incubators, cages, perches, and carriers, make an all purpose cleaner by adding 30 to 60 drops of GSE to a 32-ounce pump spray bottle filled with water. Mix well and spray.

To disinfect wood surfaces, apply a few drops of GSE to the cleaned wood while still wet. Let stand for half an hour.

To clean formula from baby parrots’ faces and feathers after syringe feedings, add a few drops of GSE to a bowl of warm water to wet the cleaning cloth. It kills bacteria and gets the skin and feathers squeaky clean.

To sterilize syringes, pipettes, spoons, and other handfeeding utensils, make a solution of 15 to 30 drops of GSE per pint of water. Soak between feedings.

To make your own antibacterial soap for the nursery and kitchen, add ten to fifteen drops of GSE to an eight-ounce pump dispenser of handsoap.

To make a disinfectant soak for produce, add 10 to15 drops of GSE per gallon of water and submerge the fruits and vegetables for 15 to 30 seconds.

To make a disinfectant spray for produce, add 20 or more drops to a quart spray bottle and spray on fruits and vegetables.

To prevent the growth of algae and mold in incubators and humidifiers, add three or four drops of GSE per gallon to the water reservoir.

To clean and disinfect cutting boards, apply 10 to 20 drops of GSE to the cutting board. Rub it into the board with a wet sponge or cloth. Leave the GSE on for at least 30 minutes and rinse.

To purify water, add 10 drops of GSE per gallon of water and stir vigorously. It is more effective than iodine.

To treat skin fungi, parasites, or bacterial diseases of the skin of birds and other pets, mix 30 to 50 drops of GSE per quart of water and spray on the infected area.

To prevent the growth of pathogens and to kill existing parasites, (such as giardia from well water), use one drop of Nutribiotic GSE in an eight-ounce water cup. There are claims that GSE has cured a number of parrots with stubborn cases of giardia. Daily use is safe but a probiotic can be used if you are concerned about maintaining healthy intestinal flora.

To boost the cleaning power of dishwasher detergent for bird dishes, add 15 to 30 drops of GSE to the dishwasher along with detergent.

To disinfect towels and cloths used for baby parrots, add 30 to 50 drops to the wash cycle, or add 10 to 15 drops of GSE to the final rinse to ensure that the laundry is fungi and bacteria free.

To disinfect carpet in bird rooms, add 10 to 15 drops of GSE per gallon of water to the reservoir of the carpet cleaning machine.

Birds cannot tell us their symptoms and since GSE is a broad-spectrum treatment, it is quickly becoming the first line of defense for many pet owners, breeders, and veterinarians. Birds can safely be given GSE every day as a preventive or remedy. There has never been a report from any source stating that GSE has ever harmed any living thing. I do not sell Grapefruit Seed Extract but as you have read, I definitely am sold on GSE for birdkeeping.