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Olive Leaf

Other Names of Olive Leaf: Olea Europaea

Useful Parts of the Plant: Leaves, Fruit

The olive leaf is the leaf of the olive tree. The olive fruit along with olive oil, oil got from this tree is very healthy and very popular. The leaf from this tree also has many health benefits. The tree belongs to the family of Oleaceae and family Olea europa. This plant typically has been used for its therapeutic properties for many centuries now. Extract of this leaf is commonly used. Extract from fresh leaves can contain 400 per cent of antioxidants as compared to green tea.

This extract is very popular in alternative healing treatments so the medical and scientific community does not recognize it.

You can have olive leaf in many different ways. You can have in a liquid concentrate, dried leaf tea, a powder, a decoction and even a fresh leaf extract. The olive leaf extract is even available in a capsule form, made commercially.

The plant also provides many health benefits including the olives which are also a powerhouse of nutrition. Allergies, colds, chronic symptoms, people have found relief from all these and more by include more olives and olive leaf extract.

Nutritional Information and Properties: The leaves contain secoiridoids, ligustroiside and oleacin.  Along with these, the leaves also contain triterpenoids, flavonoids, and other phenolic acids. All these chemicals make the leaves largely antiseptic and astringent in nature. The leaves of an olive tree are also astringent in nature.

Health Benefits and Therapeutic Uses

• Olive leaves are an effective ingredient in order to control blood pressure.

• The antioxidant nature of the leaves also protects the heart from long term damage by free radicals. These leaves are high in antioxidants, higher especially when combined with other items that are also high in antioxidants.

• The extract from olive oil leaf can also be used to treat viral conditions, bacterial condition s, as well as infection from protozoa. This includes infections like encephalitis, herpes I and herpes II, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, dengue, urinary tract infections and infections from different surgeries.

• Olive leaves also help in the reduction of chronic fatigue symptoms.

• Ingesting the leaf extract can build resistance to fight yeast infections or candida.

• Other infections and symptoms olive leaf can help you fight include pre menstrual syndrome, weight problems, psoriasis and even vaginal discharge.

• The bark of the olive tree is used to treat colic, occasionally.

• The extract of the leaf is used in many cosmetics including anti aging creams and lotions.

• The different components of the leaf also build better elasticity in the skin.

• Some of the products that olive leaf extract is used are shaving creams, muscle and joint balm, face masks along with anti aging creams.

• The olive leaf extract even promotes better immunity and healthy heart health. Long term use of olive leaf extract helps prevent regular colds and aches.

• Extracts from olive leaf have also been known to reduce cholesterol along with reducing blood pressure.

• People suffering from juvenile and type 2 diabetes have seen benefits by regularly consuming olive leaf extract.

Other Uses

Its ability to improve skin tone has made for olive leaf extracts being used in sports injury products too. This extract is also used in oils and soaps as it is very good for the skin.It is important to remember that while the olive leaf extract is very beneficial, it should be taken with care and not in excess doses. You should also not stop your medication without consulting your doctor. Though there have not been documented cases of adverse reactions, you might want to tread carefully.