Olive Leaf Extract -- A New/Old Healing Bonanza

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> Olive Leaf Extract -- A New/Old Healing Bonanza

>

>> --

>> Olive Leaf Extract --

>> A New/Old Healing Bonanza For Mankind is intended exclusively for

>> informational and educational purposes only and not for medical

>> advice. Consult a medical or health professional

>> for any questions regarding your health.

>> ---

>> Olive Leaf Extract

>> A New/Old Healing Bonanza for Mankind

>> by James R. Privitera, M.D.

>>

>> http://www.alphazee.com/olive-leaf/olea.html

>> ---

>>

>> INTRODUCTION

>> ---

>>

>> Science has long stalked the chemical world within plants to uncover

>> their amazing healing secrets. Lately, these investigations have

>> yielded discovery after discovery of natural compounds with

>> promising health and medical potential.

>>

>> Some of these compounds stimulate the production of anti-cancer

>> enzymes in the body. Others bind and neutralize certain carcinogenic

>> chemicals. Other have antioxidant effects,protecting the body from

>> oxidation damage caused by harmful molecular fragments known as free

>> radicals that contribute to aging and illness.

>>

>> These natural compunds are found abundantly in roots, stems, leaves,

>> fruits and vegetables. They go by a variety of scientific names like

>> polyphenols, flavonoids, flavonols, pycnogenols, glucosinolates,

>> isoprenoids, carotenoids, tocotrienols and proanthocyanadins. To

>> keep things simple and pronounceable, we will just call them

>> phytochemicals or phytonutrients. Phyto stems from the Greek word

>> for plant.

>>

>> The volume of current research is intense. Some experts say these

>> compounds may offer the best protection we know of against the

>> diseases that plague us today. There's much yet to learn about the

>> tissue-specific way they work. But with time, these phytonutrients,

>> in the form of supplements or medical preparations, may play a major

>> role in anti-aging medicine and how we prevent and treat disease.

>>

>> Among the many phytochemicals that have interested me, as a

>> clinician, is oleuropein (pronounced oh-lee-or-oh-pin), a substance

>> found in the olive leaf. I, as well as other health practitioners,

>> have found that a natural supplement of olive leaf extract contains

>> substantial medicinal benefits. Among them, boosting the energy

>> among patients and aiding in the treatment of herpes and other viral

>> conditions, flu and colds, fungal infections, chronic fatigue and

>> allergies. I have also been surprised by unexpected results

>> generated by this supplement.

>>

>> ---

>> The Olive Leaf in History and Medicine

>>

>> ---

>>

>> It is hard to avoid the conclusion that there is something very

>> special about the olive leaf. For one thing, it is the first

>> botanical mentioned in the Bible.

>> " And the dove came in to him in the evening, and lo, in her mouth

>> was an olive leafplucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were

>> abated from off the earth. " (Genesis 8 : 11)

>>

>> After the Great Flood we didn't hear too much about the olive leaf

>> for a long time. Obviously this was a hard act to follow.

>>

>> In a much later biblical time (Ezekiel 47 : 12), God speaks of a

>> tree: " The fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for

>> medicine. "

>>

>> Was it the olive tree?

>>

>> In Revelations, at the very end of the New Testament, there is an

>> angelic vision of a " tree of life " whose leaves " were for the

>> healing of the nations. " Today, as modern medicine increasingly

>> embraces phytochemicals it is interesting to speculate about the

>> biblical " tree of life. "

>>

>> Again, was it perhaps the olive tree?

>>

>> The ancient Egyptians may be been the first to put the olive leaf to

>> practical use. They regarded it as a symbol of heavenly power, and

>> in keeping with that belief, they extracted its oil and used it to

>> mummify their kings.

>>

>> Later cultures found the leaf was better utilized for the living

>> than the dead. Over the ages, there is documentation that it was a

>> popular folk remedy for combating fevers.

>>

>> The first formal medical mention of the olive leaf - an account

>> describing its ability to cure severe cases of fever and malaria --

>> ocurred about 150 years ago. In 1854, the Pharmaceutical Journal

>> carried a report by one Daniel Hanbury and contained the following

>> simple healing recipe:

>>

>> Boil a handful of leaves in a quart of water down to half its

>> original volume. Then administer the liquid in the amount of a

>> wineglass every 3 or 4 hours until the fever is cured.

>>

>> The author said he discovered the effective tincture in 1843 and had

>> used it successfully. This method became well known in England for

>> treating sick Britons returning from His or Her Majesty's tropical

>> colonies. The author believed that a bitter substance in the leaves

>> wasthe key healing ingredient.

>>

>> He was right.

>>

>> Decades later, scientists isolated a bitter substance from the leaf

>> and named it oleuropein. It was found to be one ingredient in a

>> compound produced by the olive tree that makes it particularly

>> robust and resistant against insect and bacterial damage. From a

>> technical angle, oleuropein is an iridoid, a structural class of

>> chemical compounds found in plants. It is present in olive oil,

>> throughout the olive tree, and is, in fact, the bitter material that

>> is eliminated from the olives when they are cured.<

>>

>> In 1962, an Italian researcher reported that oleuropein lowered

>> blood pressure in animals. This triggered a flurry of scientific

>> interest in the olive leaf.

>>

>> Other European researchers confirmed this interesting finding. In

>> addition, they found it could also increase blood flow in the

>> coronary arteries, relieve arrhythmias, and prevent intestinal

>> muscle spasms.

>>

>> Around this time, a Dutch researcher determined the active

>> ingredient in oleuropein to be a substance he called elenolic acid.

>> It was found to have a powerful anti-bacterial effect.

>>

>> By the late 1960's, research by scientists at Upjohn, a major

>> American pharmaceutical company, showed that elenolic acid also

>> inhibited the growth of viruses. In fact, it stopped every virus

>> that it was tested against. Among others, the substance was found to

>> counteract a variety of viruses associated with the common cold of

>> humans.

>>

>> Moreover, a number of laboratory experiments at this time with

>> calcium elenolate, a salt of elenolic acid, demonstrated a strong

>> effect against not just viruses, but bacteria and parasitic

>> protozoans as well.

>>

>> The compound worked effectively at low concentrations without any

>> harmful influence on host cell mechanisms, the American researchers

>> concluded. That meant they believed it to be extremely safe and non-

>> toxic, even at high doses.

>>

>> Following test tube experiments, the pharmaceutical company launched

>> animal tests. Experiments showed the compound was indeed extremely

>> well tolerated. There was a hitch, however. In the body of an

>> animal, the substance rapidly attached to protein in blood serum.

>> For all intents and purposes, this meant calcium elenolate was of no

>> use. The binding action essentially took it " out of action, "

>> rendering it ineffective. As a result of this obstacle, research

>> into the compound as a potential virus and bacteria killing

>> pharmaceutical drug was dropped.

>>

>> Nevertheless, research and interest in olive leaf extracts has moved

>> forward, primarily in Europe. Among the most recent findings are

>> these:

>>

>>

>> In a series of experiments, oleuropein was found to inactivate

>> bacteria by apparently dissolving the outer lining of microbes.

>>

>> At the University of Milan Pharacological Sciences, researchers

>> found that oleuropein inhibited oxidation of low-density

>> lipoproteins, the so-called " bad cholesterol " involved in heart and

>> aterial disease. This revelation, if confirmed by further research,

>> suggests that oleuropein may contain antioxidant properties similar

>> to other phytochemical compounds. Medical researcher Morton Walker,

>> D.P.M., writing about olive leaf extract in the July 1996 issue of

>> the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, comments that the

>> intake of flavonoids " is correlated with a lower incidence of

>> cardiovascular disease indicated that the daily intake of olive oil

>> and/or olive leaf extract containing phenols will likely bring on a

>> similar result. " At the present time, the cardiovascular research

>> community is excited about such actions. Studies have shown that

>> some phytochemicals can reduce the harmful oxidation of cholesterol

>> as well as slow down the accelerated clumping of blood platelets

>> that can lead to dangerous clots.

>>

>> At Spain's University of Granada, pharmacologists determined that

>> olive leaf extract causes relaxation of arterial walls in laboratory

>> animals. Such results suggest a possible benefit for hypertension,

>> an effect first mentioned by researchers more than 30 years ago.

>>

>> In Tunis, researchers found that aqueous extract of olive leaves

>> reduced hypertension, blood sugar, and the level of uric acid in

>> rodents. This finding again indicates potential in the treatment of

>> hypertension, as well as diabetes and heart disease. An elevated

>> uric acid level is a risk factor for heart disease.

>> Remember the biochemical snag mentioned earlier -- that elenolic

>> acid binds with proteins in the body to nullify any therapeutic use?

>> The problem has been overcome and the door opened for the

>> development of effective olive leaf extract supplements.

>>

>> Such products are now available, containing oleuropein and

>> synergistic olive leaf extracts, including flavonoids.

>>

>> The medicinal firepower is there.

>>

>> The safety is there.

>>

>> The added benefit of other phytochemicals is there. In short, we now

>> have an exciting new herbal with a promising future.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>>

>> Olive Leaf Firepower

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> For the record, the researchers at Upjohn found calcium elenolate

>> effective in test tube experiments against the following viruses:

>> herpes, vaccinia, pseudorabies, Newcastle, Coxsacloe A 21,

>> encepthlomyocarditis, polio 1, 2, and 3, vesicular stomititus,

>> sindbis, reovirus, Moloney Murine leukemia, Rauscher Murine

>> leukemia, Moloney sarcoma, and many influenza and parainfluenza

>> types.

>> They found it effective against these bacteria and parasitic

>> protozoans: lactobacillus plantarum W50, brevis 50, pediococcus

>> cerevisiae 39, leuconostoc mesenteroides 42, staphylococcus aureus,

>> bacillus subtilis, enterobacteraerogenes NRRL B-199, E. cloacae NRRL

>> B-414, E. coli, salamonella tyhimurium, pseudomonas fluorescens, P.

>> solanacearum, P. lachrymans, erwinia carotovora, E. tracheiphila,

>> xanthomonas vesicatoria, corynesbacterium Michiganese, plasmodium

>> falciparum, virax and malariae.

>>

>> The researchers credit a number of unique properties possessed by

>> the olive leaf compound for the broad killing power:

>>

>> An ability to interfere with critical amino acid production

>> essential for viruses.

>>

>> An ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by inactivating

>> viruses or by preventing virus shedding, budding or assembly at the

>> cell membrane.

>>

>> The ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral

>> replication.

>>

>> In the case of retroviruses, it is able to neutralize the production

>> of reverse transcriptase and protease. These enzymes are essential

>> for a retrovirus, such as HIV, to alter the RNA of a healthy cell.

>>

>> It can stimulate phagocytosis, an immune system response in which

>> cells ingest harmful microorganisms and foreign matter.

>>

>> The research suggests that this may be a " true anti-viral " compound

>> because it appears to selectively block an entire virus-specific

>> system in the infected host. It thus appears to offer healing

>> effects not addressed by pharmaceutical antibiotics.

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>>

>> Clinical Perspective

>>

>> ---

>>

>> Clinically, the olive leaf extract has been used for a relatively

>> short time. Health professionals began using it early in 1995 when

>> it first became available. Although we do not have long-term

>> perspectives as yet, initial results are very positive. We see a

>> very promising and unique herbal with multiple applications. It

>> shows considerable therapeutic action against many common

>> conditions. In short, it appears to be living up to its unique

>> background and expectations.

>> >From research and clinical experience to date, we can say that

>> supplemental olive leaf extract may be beneficial in the treatment

>> for conditions caused by, or associated with, a virus, retrovirus,

>> bacterium, or protozoan. Among such conditions are influenza, the

>> common cold, meningitis, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), encephalitis,

>> herpes I and II, human herpes virus 6 and 7, shingles, HIV/ARC/AIDS,

>> chronic fatigue, hepatitis B, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea,

>> malaria, dengue, bacteremia, severe diarrhea, blood poisoning, and

>> dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections.

>>

>> In our clinic, we use olive leaf extract for a variety of infectious

>> and chronic conditions. We also believe that many people who lead

>> stressful lives or who may be particularly susceptible to colds and

>> viruses may benefit from long-term use of olive leaf extract as a

>> preventive agent.

>>

>> As I mentioned earlier, I am constantly surprised by unexpected

>> benefits reported by patients. This indicates that we are perhaps

>> just scratching the surface in our understanding of phytochemical

>> benefits. Patients have told me about improved psoriasis,

>> normalization of arrhythmias (heart beat irregularities), and less

>> pain from hemorroids, toothaches and chronically achy joints.

>>

>> I myself cured a chronic toenail fungal infection after starting on

>> the supplement. It had not responded to the many other nutrients

>> that I take.

>>

>> One woman with bad allergies reported significant improvement and a

>> level of energy she hadn't felt for years.

>>

>> One elderly male with severe arrhythmia told me his condition had

>> vastly improved in about eight days just from taking olive leaf

>> extract alone. A woman with mild arrhythmia said her condition

>> improved substantially while she took the supplement and then slowly

>> became irregular again after she ran out.

>>

>> We know from the oleuropein research done in the 1960s that the

>> substance improves blood flood to the heart and acts to normalize

>> arrhythmias. Currently, we are learning much about the

>> cardiovascular benefits of the phytochemical compounds found in

>> grape seeds, onions, kale, green beans, broccoli, and other

>> vegetables. It will be interesting to see what benefits the

>> particular phytochemicals in olive leaf extract produce for heart

>> and arterial health.

>>

>> Phil Selinsky, a naturopathic doctor at the Institute for Holistic

>> Studies in Santa Barbara, and biochemist Arnold Takemoto, who has

>> been developing patient nutritional programs on behalf of physicians

>> in Arizona for 15 years, have found olive leaf extract to be an

>> effective addition to their array of natural healing tools.

>>

>> After using the supplement in dozens of cases for over a year,

>> Selinsky is impressed with the benefits and looks forward to

>> continued use and greater understanding about its most effective

>> applications.

>>

>> There is no doubt that olive leaf extract has real healing power. In

>> a moment I will go into much greater detail on how it has helped

>> patients.

>>

>> It is important to keep in mind, however, that like any nutritional

>> supplement it should not be considered a cure-all or panacea. In

>> holistic practices such as mine, individual supplements are part of

>> a comprehensive program that includes better diet, exercise, and

>> stress control methods. That's how we maximize health and minimize

>> symptoms.

>>

>> In such a program, a patient may start with supplement X, Y and Z,

>> get involved in an exercise program, and experience perhaps 50

>> percent relief for a given condition. That's a lot of relief but

>> then we keep trying to improve the situation. We now add another

>> supplement, let's say the olive leaf extract, and we get another

>> degree of improvement, often quite large. In this manner, we

>> continually tailor the program of an individual patient for the best

>> results. And in this scheme of things, olive leaf extract is making

>> a very positive contribution. It complements all the good things

>> patients are doing.

>>

>> There is always the possiblity that one ingredient, one supplement,

>> can fill a large gap or particular need in the body and by itself

>> lead to major improvement. We see that happen all the time. But

>> usually it is all the elements in a nutritional program that work

>> together -- like a team of horses pulling a wagon -- that gets the

>> job done most effectively.

>>

>> Biochemist Arnold Takemoto puts it this way: " Olive leaf extract is

>> not a single magic-bullet. There are very few such things,

>> especially in non-pharmaceutical medicine. In many cases it takes a

>> whole lot more than just one ingredient to get over a particular

>> condition. Yet I find it a very valuable addition against chronic

>> fatigue syndrome and many other viral conditions, especially those

>> that are more tenacious. It fills a hole that we haven't been able

>> to fill before. "

>>

>> In the Townsend Letter article, Takemoto told Morton Walker that he

>> has " yet to discover another herbal substance that accomplishes

>> antimicrobially what this substance achieves. "

>>

>> Takemoto went on to say that Lisa Weinrib, M.D., one of the

>> physicians he works with, treats many cases of fibromyalgia and

>> chronic fatigue syndrome.

>>

>> She has noticed that patients with these problems exhibit much

>> improvement from use of the extract, according to Takemoto. " It's

>> the missing link that functions as an antiviral and antiretroviral

>> agent by slowing down the organism's reproductive cycle. A

>> slowdown...allows the patient's immune system to go on the attack. "

>>

>> Takemoto says olive leaf extract has helped patients eliminate

>> stubborn viral infections they have had for years. One patient, who

>> had suffered from shingles (herpes zoster) for nine years,

>> experienced complete relief within two days of starting olive leaf

>> extract and other supplements.

>>

>> " In my approach, " Takemoto says, " I target key antibody responses

>> for specific viruses, stimulate the immune system, and with olive

>> leaf extract attempt to inhibit the reproduction of the virus. It

>> takes everything to get over some of these real chronic conditions. "

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>>

>> More Energy

>>

>> ---

>>

>>

>> One of the most frequent comments we hear from patients after they

>> start taking olive leaf extract is that they feel more energetic and

>> have a greater sense of well-being. Many want to continue the

>> supplement even after the treatment program has cleared up or

>> reduced specific problems.

>> Some patients are energized to the point that they inquire whether

>> there is an " upper " in the product. There is not. It simply

>> generates a natural " upper " effect. Healthy people who take it say

>> they also feel this infusion of energy.

>>

>> One of my patients is an 18-year-old professional ice-skater who

>> says that one or two olive leaf extract tablets a day helps her

>> sustain the high energy level she needs for practice and

>> performance.

>>

>> In my clinic, as in many others, fatigue is the No. 1 complaint. I

>> am not refering to serious chronic fatigue situations but just

>> routine tiredness, likely caused by a combination of consuming a

>> dead food diet and not exercising. The average person, of course, is

>> not going to change eating habits and is not going to go on a

>> regular exercise program. In such cases, the olive leaf extract

>> looks like a good source of pep for the pepless.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>>

>> Chronic Fatigue

>>

>> ---

>>

>> In my experience, olive leaf extract also has helped in many chronic

>> fatigue cases, even the most serious. One female patient described

>> to me what she called a " really quite unbelievable " recovery within

>> one month of taking the supplement.

>> " For the last few years I have not been feeling like myself. I've

>> had little energy and enthusiasm for anything. This is not my usual

>> nature. I attributed it to weight, unemployment and just being down.

>> My head was always somewhat achy and I couldn't figure out why. The

>> only way I could describe it would be as a constant low-degree

>> headache which never left.

>>

>> " I started taking olive leaf extract and noticed an immediate

>> elevation of my spirits. What I liked about the product was that it

>> was effective but gentle and didn't make me hyper or unable to

>> sleep. Quite the contrary, I slept better.

>>

>> " After a few days I began to notice more energy and a stronger sense

>> of well-being. The cobwebs in my brain started to diminish. I also

>> noticed a bad shoulder and a bad knee started to get better. The

>> pain associated with these joints remarkably improved.

>>

>> " The only side-effects I had were a couple of headaches in the

>> beginning which disappeared with some aspirin. I started to feel

>> much, much better. It was amazing to see the fatigue disappear and

>> my general health improve. I couldnít believe I felt so well. I

>> stopped taking the product after 30 days and experienced no

>> withdrawal or anything. I simply felt better and that has stayed the

>> same for the last 60 days without the product. "

>>

>> Another female patient with Epstein-Barr Virus reported that the

>> supplement " has helped me very much in overcoming the tiredness I

>> feel. It has given me energy. "

>>

>> For some very sick individuals, including people with chronic

>> fatigue syndrome or particularly heavy loads of virus or bacteria in

>> their bodies, olive leaf extract may possibly generate

>> detoxification symptoms -- known as the " die-off effect " -- that may

>> be unpleasant.

>>

>> Such people may actually feel worse for a short time before feeling

>> better. As an example, many chronic fatigue patients suffer from an

>> associated depression. Patients of mine who toughed it out through

>> the " die-off " period emerged highly energized and no longer

>> depressed.

>>

>> The " die-off effect, " or Herxheimer Reaction as it is medically

>> called, refers to symptoms generated by a detoxification process. If

>> you are sick and use this product, you should be aware of the

>> possibility. For this reason it may be advisable to consult first

>> with a holistic health practitioner before using it.

>>

>> If you have ever used Nystattin to fight yeast infections, you are

>> probably familiar with this situation. Nystattin kills yeast. As the

>> body becomes full of dead yeast, you may experience a variety of

>> detox symptoms. Symptoms may intensify to the point where you need

>> to stop or reduce the dosage of the medication in order to give your

>> body a chance to eliminate the toxic waste.

>>

>> Olive leaf extract is potent stuff. It can generate an internal

>> cleansing action that may similarly cause significant detox

>> symptoms. Refer to the next chapter about what to do if you

>> experience such a reaction.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> " Die-off " Effect

>>

>> ---

>>

>> " Die-off " symptoms can begin almost immediately after starting the

>> supplement.

>> It can hit different people in different ways.

>>

>> Reactions include extreme fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, muscle/joint

>> achiness or flu-like symptoms.

>>

>> Severity differs also from person to person, depending on the extent

>> of infection.

>>

>> Keep in mind that such symptoms are positive signs.

>>

>> Nevertheless, they can be unpleasant.

>>

>> Some people may not want to continue because of the discomfort.

>> Others handle it better. Others experience no such effect.

>>

>> Here's what to do in case of substantial detoxification symptoms:

>>

>> Reduce the number of tablets, or even stop them altogether for a

>> while.

>>

>> You may need a day or two, or even a week,

>> to allow your body to

>> process the " die-off. "

>>

>> When you feel better, you can resume the supplement at a low dose

>> and increase slowly.

>>

>> Holistic practitioners can usually provide a supportive

>> detoxification program for individuals who experience a strong " die-

>> off " response. In my clinic, this program includes taking vitamin C

>> to bowel tolerance. Such a regimen is best done under professional

>> guidance.

>>

>> Other than the " die-off " detoxification effect among some

>> individuals, olive leaf extract appears to create no side effects.

>>

>> Past research with calcium elenolate, the derivative or oleuropein,

>> included safety studies with laboratory animals.

>>

>> They were dosed orally and also via injection. The only symptom

>> observed was a mild irritation of the mucous membrane among some

>> animals at the injection site.

>>

>> Since olive leaf extract is taken orally, this

>> observation is basically irrelevant.

>>

>> The research indicated that doses many times higher than recommended

>> are unlikely to produce toxic or other adverse side effects. During

>> 1993 testing of the liquid form of the product against the herpes

>> virus, there were no observed or reported side effects.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Potential Against Serious Infectious Diseases

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> Deaths from infectious diseases, formerly on the decline, have

>> recently taken an alarming upward turn in this country.

>> According to federal researchers, such deaths rose by 58% from 1980

>> to 1992, pushing this category of illness up behind heart disease

>> and cancer in the No. 3 spot of killer diseases.

>>

>> While the AIDS epidemic accounts for most of the rise, experts say

>> there has been an unusual increase in mysterious respiratory

>> infections among the elderly and blood infections among people of

>> all ages. When you eliminate the AIDS the death rate during the same

>> period for all other infectious diseases rose by 22 percent.

>>

>> The World Health Organization (WHO), back in 1978, looked to the

>> future and issued a report which contended that by the year 2000,

>> sources other than Western, technological medicine would be needed

>> in order for all people to have adequate health care. The

>> organization subsequently adopted the report that recommended the

>> use of traditional forms of healing and medicine, such as the use of

>> herbs, to meet the demands of an factor, exploding global

>> population.

>>

>> As we approach the year 2000, the wisdon -- and the urgency -- of

>> this advice is obvious in the light of the serious side-effects and

>> shortcoming of pharmaceutical drugs.

>>

>> With the emergence, for instance, of antibiotic-resistant bacterial

>> strains, natural products such as olive leaf extract take on greater

>> importance. Even if new antibiotics are developed, new infectious

>> bacteria would emerge that are resistant to new drugs. In the case

>> of herbal medicinals, their complex chemistry may often render them

>> potentially more effective against a wide variety of microorganisms

>> for which pharmaceutical drugs prove to be ineffective.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> AIDS

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> It will be interesting to see if olive leaf extract can benefit AIDS

>> cases. We know that it inhibits the production of reverse

>> transcriptase and protease, enzymes necessary for certain viruses,

>> such as HIV, to damage healthy cells.

>> Informal, preliminary reports are promising.

>>

>> Mark Konlee, editor of " Positive Health News, " a newletter on

>> alternative treatments that circulates widely in the AIDS community,

>> has reported exciting initial results with olive leaf extract,

>> either in the tablet supplement form or directly as a tea brewed

>> from leaves, in combination with other ingredients.

>>

>> Those other ingredients, according to Konlee, have been found to be

>> highly beneficial over the years. They include:

>>

>>

>> Naltrexone, an immune-stabilizing drug used in the treatment of

>> heroin and alcohol addiction. Clinical trials conducted by Bernard

>> Bihari, MD, a New York City physician specializing in HIV/AIDS,

>> demonstrated that this preparation stops the progression of the

>> disease and the decline of the immune system in a majority of

>> patients who take it regularly. Naltrexone stimulates key hormones

>> regulating the immune system and the communication between the brain

>> and immune function. No side effects have been reported.

>>

>> DNCB (dinitrochlorobenzene), a chemical used in photography labs

>> that is applied in small doses on the skin. This compound acts as

>> anti-viral agent by stimulating killer cell activity. An estimated

>> 7,000 patients with AIDS have used this substance for some 10 years.

>>

>> A blend of olive oil/whole lemon juice. This " grassroots " recipe

>> appears to be uniquely helpful in reversing neuropathy, swollen

>> lymph nodes and wasting syndrome associated with the HIV.

>>

>> For more specifics on this approach, interested individuals may

>> contact " Keep Hope Alive, " P.O. Box 27041, West Allis, WI 53227, or

>> by phone at 414-548-4344.

>> Konlee reports that the combination, with added olive leaf

>> extract, " has producted stunning results, " including viral loads

>> dropping dramatically within a month. Among the cases he describes

>> are these:

>>

>> 1. A patient had been using Naltrexone since October 1995 along with

>> weekly topical applications of DNCB. He had not used the olive

>> oil/lemon juice blend. In August of that year he had had a CD8 count

>> of 700. CD8 refers to killer T cells, which, along with so-called

>> Natural Killer cells, are major immune destroyers of virus infected

>> cells. They reduce viral loads and inhibit damage to the body's

>> defenses.

>> In January of 1996, his CD8 count had risen to 1380. In March of

>> 1996 he added olive leaf extract at the standart dose of one capsule

>> four times daily. He initially experienced a mild headache, a

>> probably " die-off effect. " Within days, he reported a significant

>> increase in energy along with the disappearance of swollen lymph

>> nodes. He said he felt 20 years younger. On March 21, his CD8 count

>> had soared to 1920! His physician said never before in his career

>> had he seen such improvement in an AIDS patient.

>>

>> 2. One patient reported that after finishing a bottle of olive leaf

>> extract, one of three Kaposi Sarcoma lesions on his chest vanished.

>> He experienced headaches and flu-like symptoms for about two weeks,

>> again a probable " die-off effect. " Continuing with a second bottle,

>> he said the second lesion was completely gone and the last one

>> was " fading fast. "

>> His HIV viral load, as measured by PCR technology, had dropped from

>> 160,000 to 30,000 in two months. Soon afterward, he reported that

>> his PCR results for HIV were now down to 692.

>>

>> 3. An HIV patient reported his genital herpes vanished within four

>> days of starting on the olive leaf extract.

>>

>> 4. Another patient with Kaposi's Sarcoma and retinitis added five

>> capsules of olive leaf extract daily along with Naltrexone and DNCB.

>> After doing this, he said that the sarcoma lesions stopped growing.

>> This prompted him to stop two drugs he had been taking --

>> Ganciclovir and Biaxin -- because of severe intestinal side effects.

>> A few days after discontinuing the drugs, his digestion returned to

>> normal. He soon reported improved vision and that lesions were

>> becoming lighter in color.

>>

>> 5. One patient took the olive leaf extract by itself for about 3 1/2

>> months. His HIV viral load dropped nearly in half as a result, along

>> with significant improvements in his white blood cell counts. After

>> adding Naltrexone and the lemon/olive oil drink, his improvement

>> accelerated.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Herpes

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> I have recommened olive leaf extract to many patients with herpes.

>> The results have been encouraging.

>> One man in his early 40s suffered from repeated lesions plus

>> fatigue. In a week after starting the supplement, his lesions

>> disappeared and his energy level increased. He told me that olive

>> leaf extract was the only preparation that had ever cleared up the

>> herpes. " Even the most minute blisters are gone, " he said.

>>

>> A female patient had an unusually stubborn herpetic cold sore in the

>> mouth for four months. She also suffered from cancer, thus there may

>> have been some significant immune exhaustion involved. After one

>> week with the olive leaf, the sore disappeared.

>>

>> These and other similar clinical successes are consistent with a

>> private 1993 herpes study in humans. In that investigation, a weaker

>> and ethanol (alcohol-based) form of olive leaf extract was used by

>> six individuals with herpes.

>>

>> All reported symptomatic relief.

>>

>> Three said their lesions disappeared within 48 hours. The remaining

>> three, who experienced no improvement, then received a stronger

>> dose. One said that three days later, most of the lesions were gone.

>> The other two also reported doing better.

>>

>> All six subjects said the olive leaf extract produced better results

>> than Acyclovir, a medication they had previously used.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Flu and Colds

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> Results to date indicate that olive leaf extract may be a good

>> weapon against the common cold and flu. Consider the following

>> letter written to me in August of 1995 by a female patient suffering

>> from persistent flu symptoms:

>> " I became ill with the flu in February and had several immune

>> boosters, extra vitamins and three antibiotics. My fever was 102-103

>> every afternoon and this continued even after the antibiotics. I

>> developed paralyzing chest and abdominal pain, being confined to the

>> couch for weeks -- not able to hardly walk. My weight dropped to 84

>> pounds. Medical tests revealed nothing specifically wrong.

>>

>> I started taking olive leaf extract on July 18. Within a few days my

>> temperature started dropping and it is slowly and steadily going

>> down, so that some days I haven't needed to take Tylenol to reduce

>> it. The pain is subsiding gradually and my appetite and strength is

>> returning. "

>>

>> At the time of her next medical examination, the woman's temperature

>> had been normal for a week. She hadn't needed pain-killers for two

>> weeks.

>>

>> I received a striking testimony from an elementary school teacher

>> with a history of asthma and vulnerability to colds and flu. She

>> felt that olive leaf extract fortified her against the constant

>> exposure to germs circulating throughout her classroom.

>>

>> " I used to get sick all the time, " she told me. " One school year I

>> got strep throat eight times. If you sneezed at me, the chances are

>> I would get sick. Not any more. When many kids in my class were

>> coughing, sneezing, and blowing their noses before Christmas, I

>> caught a slight cold and that's it. "

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Bacterial Infections

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> The ability of olive leaf extract to destroy bacteria was

>> demonstrated dramatically in the case of a 64-year-old physician who

>> had been bedridden for several years following a serious stroke. He

>> also had recurrent bladder infections which caused considerable

>> pain, smelly urine and fever.

>> All efforts to alleviate his condition had been generally

>> unsuccessful. Even a $1,000 antibiotic specially made for him had

>> not worked. He had constant discomfort. His urine was cloudy " and

>> looked like soup. " Often it was bloody.

>>

>> After one month on olive leaf extract, the infections had vanished.

>> After six months, the condition has not recurred.

>>

>> The doctor also suffered from frequent allergies and colds and had

>> to take medication to keep these under control. The incidence and

>> severity were significantly minimized with the supplement and as a

>> result he requires considerably less medicine.

>>

>> Naturopath Phil Selinsky reports success against bacterial

>> infections in a number of cases. These include sinus and bladder

>> infections and oral infections associated with tooth or gum disease.

>>

>> " Some patients have told me that olive leaf extract took down their

>> dental-related infections within hours, " according to

>> Selinsky. " They were quite impressed by the response. "

>>

>> The general recommendation for olive leaf extract is four tablets

>> daily. For these kind of infections, Selinsky recommends patients

>> begin with two tablets followed by another every four hours.

>>

>> " That usually gets you on top of the situation, " he says. For more

>> serious infections, tablets can be taken at shorter intervals.

>>

>> One night a patient of mine developed swelling and intense pain from

>> an abscess and decided to take several tablets at one time. It

>> reduced the pain. In the morning, when the pain returned, he took

>> a " handful " of tablets -- about eight or nine, he guesses. An hour-

>> and-a-half later, the pain and swelling were gone. The pain did not

>> return but a dental examination determined that the involved tooth

>> had to go.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Diabetes

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> Researchers have found that the natural olive leaf compounds can

>> decrease the level of blood sugar. I have had several cases in my

>> clinic confirming this finding.

>> One involved a 15-year-old girl with juvenile diabetes. The teenager

>> had been regularly taking 350 units of insulin daily for control.

>> After one month on olive leaf extract, she was able to maintain

>> similar control with just 220 units.

>>

>> In another case, the blood sugar level of a diabetic elderly priest

>> dropped from 450 to 160 after three months. In an yet another

>> instance, the blood sugar of a middle aged man stabilized at 140,

>> down from 250, after one month. He reported a great increase in

>> energy during this time.

>>

>> These results are exciting. I look forward to more opportunities to

>> gauge the benefits of olive leaf for diabetics. Will it generate

>> improved blood flow and antioxidant effects to help against the

>> destructive vascular complications of diabetes that contribute to

>> stroke, heart disease and peripheral circulatory problems?

>>

>> Time will tell.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Rheumatoid Arthritis

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> A number of patients have experienced significant easing of joint

>> pain. We don't know yetprecisely how this is happening.

>> A male patient, who had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis

>> five years before, had this to say: " After taking all the medicines

>> I could stand with no real results, I was informed about some

>> nutritional supplements. One of them was an olive leaf

>> extract.' " After taking it for three weeks I noticied more

>> flexibility in my fingers, elbows, and neck. There was marked relief

>> of muscle tension surrounding my joints. Overall I am enjoying olive

>> leaf extract with my daily routine. "

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Multiple Symptoms

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> One of our clinical observations is that olive leaf extract appears

>> to work on many different levels in the body. As a result we often

>> hear reports from patients that a variety of symptoms begin

>> improving.

>> One woman with chronic fatigue, frequent colds, asthma, and vaginal

>> yeast infections said that all her symptoms had virtually cleared up

>> within five weeks. The woman, a teacher, was able to take on new

>> projects she wouldn't even begin to think were possible before.

>>

>> A male patient wrote a detailed letter about his experience:

>>

>> " I became ill in December 1993 and was diagnosed with a stomach and

>> prostrate infection. I was treated with high doses of antibiotics,

>> but never fully recovered. I was troubled with multiple symptoms,

>> some of which were back and neck pain, fatigue, flu-like symptoms,

>> swollen glands, sinus and digestive problems. I was subsequently

>> diagnosed with fibromyalgia (chronic fatigue syndrome) and the

>> physicians recommeded Prozac-type antidepressants and anti-

>> inflammatory drugs. But I refused them. I began taking olive leaf

>> extract along with my regular vitamin and mineral supplements in

>> August of 1995 at the rate of one tablet every six hours. I

>> increased the dosage after five days and began to feel better. "

>>

>> " I tried different dosages for a number of days until I found the

>> optimum amount for me. Today I take three tablets four times a day.

>> My overall health has greatly improved and so has my energy and

>> disposition. One very interesting thing has occurred. My finger

>> nails were infected, by whatever infection I had, leaving them

>> wrinkled looking. Now they are slowly returning to their normal

>> shape. "

>>

>> A female patient, after taking olive leaf extract for a month, gave

>> me this happy report:

>>

>> " It has improved my allergy-like psoriasis, and symptoms of a kidney

>> infection. I have been having back aches for almost a year and

>> frequent urination. These have improved a lot also.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Fungus and Yeast Infections

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> Earlier I mentioned my own positive experience with olive leaf

>> extract. I started taking the supplement and it completely cleared

>> up a stubborn toenail fungus infection. A number of other patients

>> have told me similar stories.

>> A woman with an infection of the large toenail said that within 60

>> days her condition was about three-quarters healed. For five years,

>> she had tried many types of medication and natural agents without

>> help.

>>

>> More than 10 million Americans are said to have disfiguring fungal

>> nail infections, a widely ignored medical problem. It is frequently

>> found among patients with AIDS, cancer and diabetes, athletes,

>> elderly individuals, people who spend considerable time standing or

>> who wear the same shoes day after day, or who wear artificial

>> fingernails. Drugs taken for cancer and AIDS lower resistance and

>> are believed to make people more susceptible to infection.

>>

>> For the first time in 35 years, a new drug has been approved for the

>> condition. It is called Sporanox and is reported to be more

>> effective than previous anti-fungal preparations. But none of these

>> preparations come cheap. Patricia Anstett of the Knight-Ridder

>> Newspapers reports that two 100-milligram pills of Sproranox are

>> taken daily for about three months at a cost of $900. Older drugs,

>> taken for 12 months or more, cost double or more that amount over

>> the longer duration. Even with the new drug, the condition may

>> return if the medication is stopped.

>>

>> Olive leaf extract may offer a natural -- and for sure, less

>> expensive -- method of self-treatment.

>>

>> One patient said a fungal infection of the tongue he had for 30

>> years responded virtually overnight to the olive leaf. " I had tried

>> all kinds of diets, treatments and regimes but to no avail, " he told

>> me. " Within three weeks on olive leaf extract the fungus

>> disappeared! "

>>

>> More than a dozen patients with candidiasis have reported

>> significant improvements. They say they have fewer infections,

>> allergic reactions, less dullness and more energy. One woman said

>> she was finally able to clean out her dust-ridden garage. Before

>> olive leaf extract that would have been impossible for her.

>>

>> One 36-year-old woman, who had suffered repeated vaginal yeast

>> infections for several years, told me this account of her experience

>> with olive leaf extract:

>>

>> " I have seen several doctors using conventional medicine. They

>> prescribed every medication available to combat yeast, all to no

>> avail. After less than three weeks of taking the olive leaf

>> supplement, all symptoms cleared up and have not returned. As a

>> sufferer of herpes simplex II, I would experience outbreaks several

>> times a year. Now, I have had no more flare-ups. "

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Skin Conditions

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> A chronic scalp infection that had stubbornly resisted all treatment

>> for more than 10 year responded directly to olive leaf extract

>> within 60 days. The patient wrote me this detailed letter:

>> " The condition would flare up causing very painful eruptions and

>> lesions in my scalp, which, over time, have killed quite a few hair

>> follicles. Modern medical doctors and dermatologists have been

>> unable to eradicate (the condition). I had resolved my self to the

>> fact that there was no cure.

>>

>> " I am satisfied that I am getting some significant results from

>> using the olive leaf extract. My scalp remains a little tender, but

>> the eruptions have all but ceased. I am continuing to use the

>> product about twice a day, and the skin color is much healthier than

>> it has been in recent time.

>>

>> " No matter what drug therapy my doctors have prescribed in the past,

>> none has provided me with the level of relief I am currently

>> experiencing. I would gladly recommend this product to others

>> suffering chronic skin aliments. "

>>

>> A female patient reported better energy and disappearance of a rash

>> in 30 days. The rash occurred in winter, or during times of extreme

>> cold.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Tropical Illnesses

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> Olive leaf extract may offer considerable potential in the treatment

>> of tropical infections such as malaria and dengue.

>> Malaria is caused by parasitic protozoans injected into the body by

>> infected mosquitoes. Protozoans, in case you are interested, are one-

>>

>> celled organisms, the simplest creatures in the animal kingdom.

>>

>> As far back as 1827, reports have appeared in medical literature

>> indicating the benefits of olive leaf extract in the treatment of

>> malaria. In 1906, one report stated that olive leaves were, in fact,

>> superior to quinine for malarial infections. Quinine was preferred,

>> however, because it was easier to administer. In studies performed

>> by the Upjohn company, calcium elenolate, the substance within

>> oleuropein, was found to be effective against the malaria protozoa.

>>

>> Now in tablet form, there may be renewed interest in olive leaf

>> extract as an anti-malarial agent. Preliminary reports from Latin

>> America are promising.

>>

>> A full-fledged case of malaria at a clinic in Mexico was totally

>> cured with a dosage schedule of two olive leaf extract supplements

>> every six hours. A clinic report said that the 34-year-old female

>> patient made a steady recovery and after six months, " she was

>> without any of the malaria symptoms, not even anemia or shivers. Her

>> breath is good. Her state of mind excellent and she does not show

>> any signs of chronic or contagious disease. "

>>

>> Malaria has been reported recently in Texas and continues to be a

>> leading cause of illness and deaths worldwide, particularly because

>> of the development of drug-resistant strains. " It is a continuing

>> concern in the United States because of increased international

>> migration, travel, and commerce, " according to the publication

>> Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports.

>>

>> Another serious tropical disease giving concern to public health

>> officials is dengue fever. This ailment is also mosquito-borne, in

>> this case caused by a virus, and occurs mainly in tropical Asia and

>> the Caribbean. It can cause vomiting, high fever, loss of appetite,

>> and abdominal pain, and is deadly in 50 percent of the cases. Some

>> 50 million people are affected each year and about half a million

>> require hospitalization, according to the World Health Organization.

>> Researchers are trying to find a vaccine but no breakthroughs have

>> occurred yet.

>>

>> In 1995, large outbreaks of dengue were reported by health

>> authorities in 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Dosages

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> Olive leaf extract is currently available in the form of 500 mg.

>> tablets. The routine dosage is one tablet every six hours or four

>> throughout the day. Take the supplement between meals for best

>> results.

>> In the case of bad colds or flu, you can use two tablets every six

>> hours. For acute infections, some individuals have taken more --

>> three and even four every six hours -- and reported rapid relief.

>>

>> If you encounter a " die-off " effect, cut back on the number of

>> tablets you are taking or temporarily discontinue them. See the

>> section on " die-off effect. "

>>

>> For healthy folks seeking more energy or the prevention benefits of

>> olive leaf extract, we suggest one or two tablets a day. The younger

>> and cleaner the body, the more responsive it is to supplements such

>> as this. When a person becomes older and more toxic, more of the

>> supplement is required to do the job.

>>

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Dr. James R. Privitera, M.D.

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>> Dr. Privitera, M.D. earned his medical degree at Creighton

>> University and completed an Internship in Internal Medicine at

>> Providence Hospital in Seattle, Washintion and his residency at

>> Presbyterian Hospital in San Francisco, CA. Following a Clinical

>> Fellowship in allergy, immunology and rheumatolgy at Scripps Clinic

>> in La Jolla, he entered private practice in allergy and nutrition in

>> Covina, California where he practices today. Affiliated with the

>> American Preventive Medical Association and the International

>> College of Applied Nutrition, among others, Dr. Privitera has served

>> on the boards of several top health organizations including the

>> National Health Federation. A pioneer in dark field microscopy, Dr.

>> Privitera has been asked to consult to some of our nations's leading

>> vitamin manufacturers. He has a book soon to be released

>> entitled " Silent Clots - the Nation's Biggest Killer " .

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> References

>>

>> ---

>>

>> -----------

>>

>> Cruess WV, and Alsberg CL, The bitter glucoside of the olive. J.

>> Amer. Chem. Soc. 1934; 56:2115-7.

>>

>> Samuelsson G, The blood pressure lowering factor in leaves of Olea

>> Europaea. Farmacevtisk Revy, 1951; 15: 229-39

>>

>> Veer WLC et al, A compound isolated from olea europaea. 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.

>> Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 1970; 167-72.

>>

>> Elliott GA et al, Preliminary studies with calcium elenolate, an

>> antiviral agent. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 1970; 173-76.

>>

>> Soret MG, Antiviral activity of calcium elenolate on parainfluenza

>> infection of hamsters. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 1970; 160-66.

>>

>> Petkov V and Manolov P, Pharmacological analysis of the iridoid

>> oleuropein. Drug Res., 1972; 22(9); 1476-86.

>>

>> Juven B et al, Studies on the mechanism of the antimicrobial action

>> of oleuropein. J. Appl. Bact., 1972; 35:559-67.

>>

>> Hirschman SZ, Inactivation of DNA polymerases of Murine Leukaemia

>> viruses by calcium elenolate. Nature New Biology, 1972; 238:277-79.

>>

>> Heinze JE et al, Specificity of the antiviral agent calcium

>> elenolate. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 1975: 8(4), 421-25.

>>

>> Kubo I et al, A mutichemical defense mechanism of bitter olive olea

>> europaea (Oleaceae)-- Is oleuropein a phytoalexin precursor? J.

>> Chem. Ecol 1985; 11(2):251-63.

>>

>> Gariboldi P et al, Secoiridoids from olea europaea, Phytochem.,

>> 1986; 25(4)865-69.

>>

>> Zarzuelo A et al, Vasodilator effect of olive leaf, Planta Med.,

>> 1991; 57 (5),417-9.

>>

>> Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Society of Pharmaceutical

>> Industries of Tunis, Hypotension, hypoglycemia and hypouricemia

>> recorded after repeated administration of aqueous leaf extract of

>> Olea europaea, Belgian Pharmacology Journal, March-April 1994; 49

>> (2), 101-8.

>>

>> Visioli F and Galli C, Oleuropein protects low density liproprotein

>> from oxidation, Life Sciences, 1994; 55(24), 1965-71.

>>

>>

>> ---

>>

>>

>> 1996 by James. R. Privitera

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