Olive (Olea europaea Oleaceae)

Other Names: Tame Olive, European Olive

The olive tree, a Mediterranean staple, has a gray, twisted trunk and grows up to 10 meters. Its evergreen, lanceolate leaves are grayish-green on top and silvery-white underneath. White flowers form small inflorescences, and the oval fruit transitions from green to black as it ripens, each containing a hard stone.

Parts for Use

Leaves and Fruits

1. Leaves are harvested in March and April before flower buds appear, dried, and torn into pieces for infusions, extracts, tinctures, or combined with other herbs for blood pressure remedies.
2. Olives are harvested in November and December, cold-pressed to produce oil used in food, creams, and massage oils.

Ingredients

Olive leaves contain secoiridoids (notably oleuropein, which lowers blood pressure), triterpenes, and flavonoids. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated (oleic acid) and polyunsaturated (linoleic, linolenic) fatty acids and vitamin E.

Use in Treatment

Olive leaves, rich in oleuropein, lower blood pressure, dilate heart vessels, regulate heart rate, reduce blood sugar, and act as a diuretic. Often paired with hawthorn, they are effective for mild hypertension, as shown in 2002 Egyptian animal studies. Olive leaf extract may support treatment of mild type 2 diabetes, with 1992 Spanish studies confirming oleuropein’s blood sugar-lowering effects. Olive oil, mildly laxative, stimulates bile excretion, aiding gallstone treatment, and is used for stomach ulcers and calming nervous tension. Externally, olive oil softens and soothes skin and is a key ingredient in sunscreens and sunburn relief oils.

Cultivation

Olives are grown from seeds or cuttings in well-drained soil with ample sunlight.

Preparation and Dosage

For Internal Use (Mild Hypertension, Mild Type 2 Diabetes)

1. Infusion: Boil 20 dried leaves in 300 ml of water for 30 seconds, let stand for 10 minutes, strain, and drink at least 3 cups daily with meals.
2. Capsules (50 mg dry extract): Take 1–2 capsules with a glass of water 3 times daily with meals.
3. Tablets (500 mg olive leaves): Take 1 tablet daily with food.

For External Use (Skin Softening, Soothing)

1. Olive Oil: Apply directly to skin or use in creams and massage oils as needed.

Warnings

1. Consult a healthcare professional before use.
2. Olive leaves and oil are generally safe with no known harmful side effects when used properly.