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OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT:
THE HEALING POWER OF PLANTS
Article by herbalist
Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
Science has been studying
the chemical world of plants trying to find compounds that
will benefit mankind for many years now. These natural
compounds are found in roots, stems, leaves, fruits and
vegetables. Science gives them technical names like
polyphenols, flavanoids,
flavonols,
carotenoids, tocotrienols
and proanthocyanidins for
examples. To keep things simple we will call these
substances phytochemicals or
phytonutrients.
The research surrounding
these phyto (plant based)
nutrients is very exciting and is on the forefront of
leading vitamin, herbal and pharmaceutical companies. It is
believed that many of these compounds protect us from our
environment. Today’s article will center on the benefits of
a new/old plant, the olive leaf.
The use of olive leaf as
medicine goes far back in history. The olive leaf is the
first botanical listed in the bible. In Genesis 8:11 “and
the dove came in to him in the evening, and lo, in her
mouth was an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the
waters were abated from off the earth” and in Ezekiel 47:12
“the fruit thereof shall be for meat and the leaf thereof
for medicine.” Was this the olive leaf? It was the ancient
Egyptians that may have first used the olive leaf in
practical applications. The first formal medical mention of
olive leaf was a cure for malaria and fevers in the mid
1800’s. A preparation of the boiled
leaves was used and also an alcoholic tincture.
These early uses of the
olive leaf led researchers in the mid 60’s to isolate a
bitter compound names oleuropein
(oh-lee-or-oh-pin). It is this compound that helps keep
insects and bacteria from damaging the olive tree. It is
present in the oil, the bark, the leaves and fruit of the
tree. A Dutch researcher determined that the active
ingredient in oleuropein is a
substance called elenolic acid.
It was found to exhibit powerful anti-bacterial effects.
Upjohn, a major
pharmaceutical company, did numerous experiments with this
substance. They found that it inhibited the growth of many
viruses and parasitic protazoans.
They also discovered that there were no toxic side effects
to the host even at high doses. Due to obstacles
encountered by the company in animal testing, research into
the substance calcium elenolate
was dropped as a powerful anti-viral drug.
In the early 1990’s research
was resumed by another company and the substance
trademarked Olivir, a non toxic
herbal virucide and
bacteriacide became available
on the market. Olivir is a
proprietary preparation made by extracting certain
chemicals form a specific species of olive leaf.
So what is the big deal
about olive leaf? What is it good for and what benefits can
a person see when using this compound?
Oleuropein
has been shown to be effective in the treatment of cold and
flu, lowering blood pressure, relieving arrhythmias, and
preventing intestinal spasms, cholesterol lowering, blood
sugar lowering, and reduction of uric acid build-up. This
is in addition to its anti-bacterial and anti-viral
actions.
Researchers credit a number
of unique properties to olive leaf preparations. These are:
·
An
ability to interfere with critical amino acid production
essential for viruses.
·
The
ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by
interrupting virus shedding and budding in cell membranes.
·
The
ability to penetrate infected cells and stop viral
replication.
·
It
is able to neutralize enzymatic actions by retroviruses
thus preventing altering of RNA of healthy cells.
·
It
can stimulate phagocytosis,
which is an immune response where white cells ingest
harmful microorganisms.
Olivir
may be a true anti-viral agent since research shows it
selectively blocks an entire virus specific system in the
infected host.
From a more clinical
perspective, olive leaf extracts have been used for a short
period of time. Health professionals started using this in
1995 when it became available. It is showing promising
results in many of the patients that have been using this
product. Some of the conditions that it is being researched
for are conditions associated with viruses, retroviruses,
bacterium, and protozoa. These are influenza, the common
cold, meningitis, Epstein Barr (EBV), Herpes I and II,
shingles, HIV/ARC/AIDS, chronic fatigue,
candida
albicans, hepatitis B, pneumonia, tuberculosis,
gonorrhea, malaria, severe diarrhea, blood poisoning, and
dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections.
Many people have stated that
when they began using an olive leaf extract that they
experienced more energy and a better state of well being.
Olive leaf is potent and can generate an intestinal
cleansing action. This cleansing action may produce in some
people detox symptoms. This is known as the “die off”
effect. It can affect us differently but the following are
the reactions noted. Extreme fatigue, diarrhea, headaches,
muscle/joint ache, and or other flu like symptoms. Not
everyone experiences these effects, but if you do the
following will reduce them:
·
Reduce the number of tablets or stop for a while.
·
You
may need a day or two or even a week to allow the body to
process this die off effect.
·
When
you feel better resume the supplement at a low dose.
·
Use
other co-nutrients to aid liver detox processes.
Other than this “die off”
effect olive leaf appears to create no side effects.
There is no doubt that olive leaf extract
has real healing power but it is important to remember that
it should not be considered a cure-all or panacea. It can
be part of a comprehensive holistic program that includes
diet, exercise and nutritional support. It is equally
important that you research for yourself the benefits of
any substance you are considering using. A great resource
on this substance is an article written by James R.
Privitera, M.D.,
Olive Leaf Extract- A New/Old
Healing Bonanza For Mankind.
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