Olive Leaf Info

[Guest guest]

Olive Leaf (Olea europa)

Parts used and where grown: Olive is a small evergreen tree native to Mediterranean regions. The characteristic green to blue-black fruit of this shrub yields a useful, edible oil. Both the oil and the dried green-grayish colored leaves are used medicinally.1 2

 

Olive leaf has been used in connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health concern for complete information):

 

 

 

Ranking

Health Concerns

 

Other

Infection Diabetes

High blood pressure

Historical or traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies): The olive tree has been held in high esteem throughout history. Moses 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. The winner in the Greek Olympic games was crowned with a wreath of olive leaves.3 Historically, medicinal use of olive leaf has been for treatment of fevers and for the topical treatment of wounds or infection. As a poultice, it was also used to treat skin rashes and boils.4

Active constituents: Olive leaf has a wide number of ingredients, including the chief constituent oleuropein (60–90 mg/g) and several types of flavonoids (e.g., rutin, apigenin, luteolin).5 While olive leaf traditionally is associated with a wide number of medicinal claims, few of these have been verified by experimental study. In animal studies oleuropein (when given by injection or in intravenous form) has been shown to decrease blood pressure (e.g., systolic and diastolic) and dilate the coronary arteries surrounding the heart.6 This ability to lower blood pressure may justify the traditional use of olive leaf in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.7 However, human studies are needed to clearly establish olive leaf as a potential treatment for high blood pressure.

In addition, a test tube study has revealed that oleuropein inhibits the oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) ‘bad’ cholesterol. LDL oxidation is one part in a series of damaging events that, if left unchecked, can lead to the development of heart disease.8 Together, these facts provide a possible basis as to why those consuming a Mediterranean-based diet may lower their risk of developing atherosclerosis.

Oleuropein from olives may also have certain antibacterial properties. When unheated olives are brined to preserve them, oleuropein is converted into another chemical called elenolic acid. Elenolic acid has shown antibacterial actions against several species of Lactobacilli and Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilus in a test tube environment.9 Whether or not the oleuropein in the leaf undergoes such a transformation is open to question at this point, raising some question as to its antibacterial effects.

Olive leaf extracts have been employed experimentally to lower elevated blood-sugar levels in diabetic animals.10 Unfortunately, these results have not been reproduced in human clinical trials and as such, no clear conclusions can be made from this animal study in the treatment of diabetes.

How much is usually taken? The amount of olive leaf is not well established for human use. To make a tea, steep 1 teaspoon of dried leaves in 1 cup of hot water for 10–15 minutes.11 Dried leaf extracts containing 6–15% oleuropein are available commercially, but no standard amount has been established.

Are there any side effects or interactions? The safety of olive leaf has not been established in pregnancy. Olive leaf can be irritating to the stomach lining and should be taken with meals.12

At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with olive leaf.

 

Within Healthnotes Online, information about the effects of a particular supplement or herb on a particular condition has been qualified in terms of the methodology or source of supporting data (for example: clinical, double blind, meta-analysis, or traditional use). For the convenience of the reader, the information in the table listing the supplements for particular conditions is also categorized. The criteria for the categorizations are: “Primary” indicates there are reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a health benefit. “Secondary” indicates there are conflicting, insufficient, or only preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or that the health benefit is minimal. “Other” indicates that an herb is primarily supported by traditional use or that the herb or supplement has little scientific support and/or minimal proven health benefit.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting these last several tidbits on herbs with their pictures. I'll see about getting them into the file archives as soon as I can.

 

Love,

 

Doc

 

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington

 

-

elaine davis

herbal remedies ; Elaine ; CH-H

Sunday, April 01, 2001 1:55 PM

[herbal remedies] Olive Leaf Info

 

 

Olive Leaf (Olea europa)

Parts used and where grown: Olive is a small evergreen tree native to Mediterranean regions. The characteristic green to blue-black fruit of this shrub yields a useful, edible oil. Both the oil and the dried green-grayish colored leaves are used medicinally.1 2

 

Olive leaf has been used in connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health concern for complete information):

 

 

 

Ranking

Health Concerns

 

Other

Infection Diabetes

High blood pressure

Historical or traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies): The olive tree has been held in high esteem throughout history. Moses 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. The winner in the Greek Olympic games was crowned with a wreath of olive leaves.3 Historically, medicinal use of olive leaf has been for treatment of fevers and for the topical treatment of wounds or infection. As a poultice, it was also used to treat skin rashes and boils.4

Active constituents: Olive leaf has a wide number of ingredients, including the chief constituent oleuropein (60–90 mg/g) and several types of flavonoids (e.g., rutin, apigenin, luteolin).5 While olive leaf traditionally is associated with a wide number of medicinal claims, few of these have been verified by experimental study. In animal studies oleuropein (when given by injection or in intravenous form) has been shown to decrease blood pressure (e.g., systolic and diastolic) and dilate the coronary arteries surrounding the heart.6 This ability to lower blood pressure may justify the traditional use of olive leaf in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.7 However, human studies are needed to clearly establish olive leaf as a potential treatment for high blood pressure.

In addition, a test tube study has revealed that oleuropein inhibits the oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) ‘bad’ cholesterol. LDL oxidation is one part in a series of damaging events that, if left unchecked, can lead to the development of heart disease.8 Together, these facts provide a possible basis as to why those consuming a Mediterranean-based diet may lower their risk of developing atherosclerosis.

Oleuropein from olives may also have certain antibacterial properties. When unheated olives are brined to preserve them, oleuropein is converted into another chemical called elenolic acid. Elenolic acid has shown antibacterial actions against several species of Lactobacilli and Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilus in a test tube environment.9 Whether or not the oleuropein in the leaf undergoes such a transformation is open to question at this point, raising some question as to its antibacterial effects.

Olive leaf extracts have been employed experimentally to lower elevated blood-sugar levels in diabetic animals.10 Unfortunately, these results have not been reproduced in human clinical trials and as such, no clear conclusions can be made from this animal study in the treatment of diabetes.

How much is usually taken? The amount of olive leaf is not well established for human use. To make a tea, steep 1 teaspoon of dried leaves in 1 cup of hot water for 10–15 minutes.11 Dried leaf extracts containing 6–15% oleuropein are available commercially, but no standard amount has been established.

Are there any side effects or interactions? The safety of olive leaf has not been established in pregnancy. Olive leaf can be irritating to the stomach lining and should be taken with meals.12

At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with olive leaf.

 

Within Healthnotes Online, information about the effects of a particular supplement or herb on a particular condition has been qualified in terms of the methodology or source of supporting data (for example: clinical, double blind, meta-analysis, or traditional use). For the convenience of the reader, the information in the table listing the supplements for particular conditions is also categorized. The criteria for the categorizations are: “Primary” indicates there are reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a health benefit. “Secondary” indicates there are conflicting, insufficient, or only preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or that the health benefit is minimal. “Other” indicates that an herb is primarily supported by traditional use or that the herb or supplement has little scientific support and/or minimal proven health benefit.