Gift from the Tree of Life

The ancient Greeks credited its creation to the goddess Athena and crowned the winners of the first Olympic contests with its leaves. In biblical times, Moses deferred military conscription for those men cultivating the orchards of the "Tree of Life." The oil, a kitchen staple, was used for sacred lamps in temples and to light Mediterranean homes well into the 1800s. It is the United Nations’ official symbol of peace. What are we referring to? The beautiful, silver-green leaves of the olive tree, native to the Mediterranean, Middle East and Southern Russia and now also cultivated in Chile, Peru, Southern Australia and California.

Americans nowadays are increasingly aware of olive oil’s health benefits in the diet. The healthful gifts of the Mediterranean cuisine have become popular topics of cookbooks, talk shows and seminars in recent years. However, few are aware of the health boosting activity found in the olive leaf.

Olive leaves have been used for centuries in traditional folk herbalism: as an astringent to correct excess mucous or oil secretions, for minor hemorrhaging as in hemorrhoids, to reduce fevers, to increase urination, to lower blood pressure, to stimulate bile flow for liver cleansing and better fat metabolism, and as an antiseptic and general tonic. An encyclopedic reference on the pharmacological properties of traditional Italian herbs lists olive leaf’s actions as dilating blood vessels in the extremities for better circulation to hands and feet, relieving spasms in the arteries and reducing elevated blood pressure (including that accompanying both menopause and hardening of the arteries). In the middle of the 19th century, a number of European medical papers surfaced describing the use of olive leaf tea for malaria in physicians’ practices.

By the end of the 19th century, an active flavonoid compound, oleuropein, had been isolated from the olive leaf, fruit, root and bark. Oleuropein was found to be active against insects and bacterial diseases that can plague the tree. Chemical analyses continued and, in 1969, a pharmaceutical company announced that a substance extracted from this compound was active in laboratory testing against all viruses screened, including coxsackie, herpes, rabies, polio and those responsible for the common upper respiratory flu and stomach flu. Research since that time has found activity in laboratory testing against fungi and bacteria as well, including the highly toxic Bacillus cereus that is responsible for many types of food poisoning.

Researchers have found that oleuropein is a potent antioxidant that is particularly protective in hardening of the arteries. This compound also slows the loss of vitamin E in the body that occurs during oxidation damage to tissues. It grabs charged metal ions that are involved in this destructive process, making them incapable of causing further damage. Laboratory studies from Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain and Germany have reported positive effects from olive leaf and its active compounds for relaxing blood vessels for improved circulation, regulating heartbeat, lowering blood sugar in both healthy and diabetic subjects and lowering blood pressure. These findings show some promise for the scientific validation of olive leaf’s traditional folklore reputation.

Some holistic health care practitioners have reported that olive leaf has been effective for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), poor immunity, fibromyalgia, sinusitis, chronic coughs, parasites, rheumatism, psoriasis, prostate complaints and some tumors. They credit these benefits to its ability to fight infection and its apparent detoxifying actions. These reports are not from controlled clinical or laboratory trials as yet, but are interesting anecdotes from private practice.

Caution: Die-off reactions have been reported. Whenever an antimicrobial agent is used to kill off viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites, a large quantity of toxic, dead refuse is produced that needs to exit the body quickly. If the body’s elimination systems are not working up to the pace generated by the rate of dying organisms, flu like symptoms, sore throat or aches may be experienced.

Olive leaf’s reputed benefits in folklore and scientific literature for many of the most common health complaints experienced in the late 20th century make it a natural addition to the holistic remedy shelf in the home, work place or practitioner’s office for heart disease, menopause, fatigue, infections, cleansing and liver tonification. Olive leaf is making a splash in Europe where much of the research is taking place. News of olive leaf’s health benefits is also creating much excitement in the US. The olive leaf renaissance has begun!

• Duarte, J., et al. Effects of Oleuropeoside in Isolated Guinea-Pig Atria. Planta Medica 59, 1993.
• Gonzalez, M., et al. Hypoglycemic Activity of Olive Leaf. Planta Medica 58, 1992.
• Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal. Dover, 1931.
• Mossa, J.S. Experimental Evaluation of Some Saudi Plants for their Antidiabetic Activity. IRCS Med. Sci. 14: 13-14, 1986.
• Occhiuto, F., et al. Olea europea L. and Oleuropein: Effects on Excito-Conduction and on Monophasic Action Potential in Anaesthetized Dogs. Phytotherapy Research, Vol. 4, No. 4, 1990.
• Palma, L. Le Piante Medicinali d’Italia. Societa Editrice Internazionale, 1964.
• Petkov, V. & Manolov, P. Pharmacological Studies on Substances of Plant Origin with Coronary Dilating and Antiarrhythmic Action. Comparative Medicine East & West, Vol. VI, No. 2, 123-130.
• Rauwald, H. & Brehm, O. Screening of Some Medicinal Plants for their Possible Calcium-Antagonistic Activity. Planta Medica, Supplement Issue 2, 1991.
• Ribeiro, R., et al. Acute Anithypertensive Effect in Conscious Rats Produced by Some Medicinal Plants Used in the State of Sao Paolo. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 15(3): 261-9, March 1986.
• Steinmetz,. E.F. Codex Vegetabilis. Amsterdam, 1957.
• Walker, M. Antimicrobial Attributes of Olive Leaf Extract. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, July 1996.
• Zarzuelo, A., et al. Vasodilator Effect of Olive Leaf. Planta Medica 57, 1991.

From Spring 1997 Herbal Insights.