Olive Leaves

The olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated trees on earth. The cultivation of olive started in ancient times and it dates back more than 7000 years. According to archaeological records, olives were commercially cultivated by the Minoans in Crete as far back as 3000 BC. It is the first botanical noted in the Bible, where it is described in Ezekiel 47:12, “The fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” The dove, released from the Ark by Noah in the book of Genesis, returned with an olive branch, thus permanently linking both the olive branch and the dove with peace. The olive branch has transcended its biblical origins to become an international symbol of peace and reconciliation. 

Throughout history there are multiple references for use of olive leaves in the treatment of fevers including intermittent fever, typhoid fever and bilious fever. The leaves were also traditionally used for the treatment of malaria. The first mention of olive leaves’ medicinal use in modern times was in 1843 when Daniel Hanbury of England reported a bitter substance from olive leaf tea was the agent responsible for healing malaria and associated fevers. These findings were reported in 1854 in the Pharmaceutical Journal, along with dosing instructions and a recipe for making the curative tea. In 1898, a strong decoction of olive leaves was cited in King’s American Dispensatory as helpful in regulating body temperature. 

In the last century, extracts of olive leaves have been studied in both animals and humans and have been found to exhibit strong antimicrobial properties against viruses, bacteria, yeast and parasites. Olive leaves also have numerous cardiovascular benefits, some hypoglycaemic activity, and possesses antioxidant activity and can be used for heart health to combat high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Research suggests the antioxidant action could help support the immune system and general wellbeing by providing protection and repair from oxidative damage to the liver, gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. 

References

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de Oliveira NM, Machado J, Chéu MH, Lopes L, Barroso MF, Silva A, Sousa S,

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Leaves from Selected Cultivars Based on Their Mineral and Organic Profiles.

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Somerville V, Moore R, Braakhuis A. The Effect of Olive Leaf Extract on Upper Respiratory Illness in High School Athletes: A Randomised Control Trial. Nutrients. 2019 Feb 9;11(2):358. doi: 10.3390/nu11020358. PMID: 30744092; PMCID: PMC6412187. vi Hechtman L. Advanced Clinical Naturopathic Medicine. Elsevier:Chatswood. 2020. p716