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This page contains information on olive leaf and how it is used as a herb in alternative herbal treatments to treat ailments and problems, such as chronic fatigue, heart disease, high blood pressure, herpes and yeast infections. It also is used to help heal wounds.
On this page
Please note that we are not advocating that people stop using their normal medication, but would like to make people aware that some alternative therapies can be very effective to help treat problems and create a healthier, younger and more vital you. For more information on our range of products, please click here.
Although we believe in the therapeutic and healing properties of herbs, care must be taken in the use thereof, as they are powerful compounds.
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Family |
Oleaceae | |
Genus and specie |
Olea europa (O. europaea) |
Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician prescribed olive oil for ulcers and other ailments, yet it was only in the 1900 that the bitter compound - oleuropein - was isolated from the leaf.
The olive tree is a rugged evergreen tree with gray fissured bark and leathery leaves.
The leaf is the main focus in herbal medicine, but the fruit oil - olive oil - is a very important commercial product.
It is an antiseptic astringent herb that lowers fever and blood pressure, improves kidney function and has a calming effect.
The leaves contain secoiridoids - including oleuropein, as well as ligustroside and oleacein. It further contains triterpenoids (oleanolic acid and uvaol), sterols, flavonoids (chrysoeriol, apigenin and luteolin glycosides) and various other phenolic acids.
- Internal use
- It is used for a variety of ailments and it is well known that the oleuropein lowers blood pressure by increasing coronary flow. A recent study has also shown that oleacein inhibits the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). The powerful antioxidant effect of olive leaf extract also protect the heart and circulatory system from free radical damage.
- Olive leaf extract is very beneficial for treating conditions caused by viruses, retrovirus, bacteria, as well as protozoa.
- It interferes with the critical amino acid production of viruses and may inactivate the virus by virus budding or assembly. It can also penetrate the cells and stop viral replication.
- It furthermore is effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, fungi and yeast strains and stops the production of micro-toxins, which contribute to chronic fatigue.
- People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have reported a radical improvement when taking olive leaf extract internally and report more energy and a better sense of wellbeing.
- Olive leaf extract further improves candida infections and the resultant vaginal discharge, psoriasis, PMS, weight problems, headaches and all other symptoms that coincide with yeast infections.
- People struggling with the Epstein Barr virus have also reported dramatic improvement.
- The bark is sometimes used to treat colic.
- External use
- Olive leaf extracts can have a number of applications in cosmetics: first of all, from their traditional use as a cicatrizing agent, they can be incorporated into a formulation for skin damage either by UV radiation or for assisting with wound healing.
- This activity is explained by the presence of flavonoids and oleanolic acid, which stimulate the components of the connective tissue and regularize the tissue - thereby boosting the health of the skin.
- The secoiridoid derivatives (oleuropeoside) in olive leaves are responsible for the vaso-dilating and relaxing properties of their extracts.
- In cosmetics this property may be used in rubefacient preparations and products for sport. Unlike Capsicum, which acts through direct stimulation of the nerve ends, olive leaf extracts act directly on the muscle, which then causes an increase in the blood irrigation.
- Use of essential oil
None noted.
To promote the interest and use of herbs and natural complementary health alternatives, we have included information on the following herbs.
Please note - although we discuss a wide variety of herbs, not all of them are used or sold by us.
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You are as young as your faith, as old as your fear and as long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer,
courage, grandeur, and power - from the earth, from man and from the Infinite - so long will you stay
Ageless. |
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