Olive Leaf

Olea europa

The Olive is a small evergreen tree native to Mediterranean regions. The characteristic green to blue-black fruit of this tree produces a useful edible oil. The olive tree has been held in high esteem throughout history. Moses reportedly decreed that men who cultivated the leaf be exempt from serving in the army. The oil is symbolic of purity and goodness, while the olive branch represents peace and prosperity. Historically, medicinal use of olive leaf has been for treatment of fevers and for the topical treatment of wounds or infection.

ANTI-MICROBIAL - Research has identified a chemical in olive leaf known as elenolic acid, with strong inhibitory effects on the growth of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
ANTI-VIRAL - Olive leaf may be a true anti-viral compound because it appears to selectively block an entire virus-specific system in the infected host. It then appears to offer healing effects not addressed by pharmaceutical antibiotics. Olive leaf's broad killing power includes an ability to interfere with critical amino acid production for viruses; an ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by inactivating viruses by preventing virus shredding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane; the ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral replication.
CARDIO-PROTECTIVE - Oleuropein, an important active constituent in olive leaf has been found to decrease blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) and dilate the coronary arteries surrounding the heart. Oleuropein also inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
HYPO-GLYCAEMIC - Olive leaf has been shown in studies to exert blood sugar lowering properties.

Dosage

200mg (standardised extract) one to three times daily. Olive leaf can be irritating to the stomach lining and should be taken with meals.

Potential applications

Influenza, the common cold, Candida infections, meningitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), encephalitis, herpes simplex, shingles (Herpes zoster), HIV, chronic fatigue, hepatitis B, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, malaria, severe diarrhoea, and dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections. Cardiovascular disease - angina, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and arrhythmia. Gout, rheumatic pain, intestinal spasm. Fever lowering (febrifuge). Psoriasis.

Known contraindications

None known.

Interactions

None known.

Use in conjunction with

Candida - Probiotics, garlic, grapefruit seed extract, Oregon grape

Note

The use of potent anti-microbial agents can cause a 'die-off' response known as 'Herxheimer' effect, due to the influx of toxins from the destroyed organisms.

References

Cruess WV, and Alsberg CL, The bitter glucoside of the olive. J Amer. Chem. Soc. 1934; 56:2115-7.
Veer WLC et al. A Compound isolated from Europea. Recueil,1957; 76:839-40.
Panizzi L et al. The constitution of oleuropein, a bitter glucoside of the olive with hypotensive action. Gazz. Chim. Ital; 1960; 90:1449-85.
Renis HE, In vitro antiviral activity of calcium elenolate, an antiviral agent. Antimicrob. AgentsChemother., 1970; 167-72.
Petkov V and Manolov P, Pharmacological analysis of the iridoid oleuopein. Drug Res., 1972; 22(9); 1476-86.
Zarzuelo A et al, Vasodilator effect of olive leaf, Planta Med., 1991; 57(5)417-9.
The evaluation of long-term effects of cinnamon bark and olive leaf on toxicity induced by streptozotocin administration to rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 1999 Nov;51(11):1305-12. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Second Edition. 2000

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