Olive leaf extract is derived from the leaves of the olive tree. While olive oil is well-known, few recognize the healing properties of the leaves. Olive leaf extract offers potent antioxidant, antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects, making it beneficial for various therapies.

Olive Leaf Extract from Ancient Trees

Humans have used the olive tree since the 4th millennium BC. Its olives are primarily food, and the leaves (as tea) serve as a remedy. Olive leaf extract became popular in naturopathy later, but its higher active ingredient content provides a more pronounced effect.

Olive trees can live over 1,000 years, even in regions with little rain. Their roots can reach up to 6 meters deep, absorbing water and nutrients to sustain the tree. This life force and energy are believed to transfer to the fruits and leaves, and ultimately to those who consume them.

People enjoy olives and olive oil, while olive leaves are consumed as tea or taken as a concentrated extract in capsule or liquid form.

Historical Use of Olive Leaves

For thousands of years, folk medicine has used olive leaves to treat various ailments. Ancient Greeks, Romans, and other Mediterranean peoples valued them in healing practices. Hildegard von Bingen also appreciated olive leaves, using them to treat digestive issues successfully. While olive leaf tea is effective, its bitter taste makes extracts more appealing.

Preparation of Olive Leaf Tea

To make olive leaf tea, pour 250 ml of boiling water over 1 tbsp. of crushed olive leaves (fresh or dried). Cover and let it steep for about 20 minutes. Strain and drink in three servings throughout the day. Longer steeping increases the tea’s potency and bitterness, so adding lemon juice, water, or fruit juice is recommended. This tea has a relaxing effect when consumed in the evening and can aid sleep.

Comparing Olive Leaf Extract to Olive Oil

Olive leaf extract impacts health differently than olive oil. Olive oil works mainly through monounsaturated fatty acids, while olive leaf extract contains highly concentrated polyphenols and other plant substances like oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, flavonoids, phytosterols, glycosides, and terpenes.

Oleuropein: The Key Ingredient

Oleuropein, a powerful antioxidant, is found in all parts of the olive tree, with the highest concentration in the leaves. While olives contain 4-350 mg of oleuropein per 100 g, liquid extracts can contain 800-950 mg per 100 ml, with some reaching up to 2200 mg.

Health Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract

The overall health effects of olive leaf extract are based on the interaction of its numerous healing ingredients. They have a synergistic effect and thus strengthen their effectiveness.

The strong antioxidant power of olive leaf extract (2) (3), its high chlorophyll content, and the large number of secondary plant substances contained explain the subsequent individual effects of olive leaf extract, which have largely been proven by initial scientific studies (especially in vitro, but there are also isolated human studies).

The olive leaf extract works.

• Antioxidant
• Antibacterial (4) (5) (6)
• Antiviral (e.g., against herpes simplex)
• Antifungal (e.g., against Candida albicans) (7, 8)
• Antiparasitic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Immune-boosting

As a result, olive leaf extract is used in naturopathy in the following ways:

Olive leaf extract as an anti-aging substance

Oleuropein ensures the survival of the olive tree because it protects it from damage caused by free radicals as well as from damage that would otherwise be caused by insect damage, bacteria, viruses, and fungal infestations. The high content of oleuropein increases the resistance of the olive tree so much that it is able to reach its old age in the first place.

It remains to be seen whether this high life expectancy can also be transferred to humans. In any case, cell studies (10) showed that olive leaf extract could extend the life of the cell.

Oleuropein can also restart the self-cleaning process in the cell (autophagy). However, an autophagy deficiency has been proven in Alzheimer’s in particular, which means that toxins can accumulate in the cells. In a study from Spain (18) in 2018, brain samples from Alzheimer’s patients showed that oleuropein is able to initiate autophagy, which could possibly trigger a healing process.

Olive leaf extract for digestive problems

Digestive problems, for example, can be caused by bacteria, parasites, or fungi (Candida). Some digestive problems are also accompanied by inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.

In such cases, the olive leaf extract removes the wrong bacteria from the digestive system and, in this way, enables the regeneration of a healthy intestinal flora. In addition, the olive leaf extract, together with other holistic antifungal and parasitic measures, repels Candida fungi and parasites and also has an anti-inflammatory effect.

In the case of problems with the digestive system or as an accompaniment to intestinal cleansing, olive leaf extract can therefore be used very well.

Olive leaf extract for cystitis and vaginal thrush

Due to its antibacterial and antifungal effects, olive leaf extract could also be suitable for problems in the urogenital tract (urinary tract and genitals), such as frequent bladder infections or vaginal yeast infections. However, the specific use of the remedy should be discussed with a naturopathic doctor or naturopath.

Olive leaf extract for colds and flu

In the case of colds and flu-like infections, bacteria are often involved in addition to viruses. The olive leaf extract is effective against both types of pathogens and can therefore noticeably relieve the immune system and thus prevent a possible infection, especially in times when respiratory infections are rampant. If the infection is already present, experience has shown that olive leaf extract can reduce the intensity of the disease and shorten the healing phase.

At the University of Auckland (11) it was found that an olive leaf extract (with 100 mg of oleuropein daily) was able to reduce the number of sick days in athletes (students) when respiratory infections occurred.

Olive leaf extract for heart and circulation

Cardiovascular diseases are usually caused by chronic inflammation that spreads to the walls of the blood vessels, where it leads to tiny injuries and consequently to deposits of cholesterol, among other things.

However, if the inflammation is nipped in the bud, the risk of typical blood vessel changes can also be reduced. Since the olive leaf extract has an anti-inflammatory effect, it could play a significant role in the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.

In a Palestinian in vitro study from 2018 (1), the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of olive leaf extract were investigated. This showed that the oleuropein contained is responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity.

Olive leaf extract as a cholesterol-lowering agent?

Studies in animals indicate a possible cholesterol-lowering effect (14). For example, rats had been fed a high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. One group also received olive leaf extract, another a statin (a cholesterol-lowering drug), and a third nothing else.

The animals, which were fed only a high-cholesterol diet, had high cholesterol levels, as expected. In the animals that had also received olive leaf extract or statin, cholesterol levels had dropped noticeably.

Olive leaf extract and high blood pressure

The first human studies on the effect of high blood pressure are already available. In a Swiss study (from 2008) with identical twins (12) with slightly elevated blood pressure, subjects were given either 500 or 1000 mg of an olive leaf extract for eight weeks, plus advice on how to live a healthier lifestyle.

Body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose and lipid levels were measured every 14 days.

The result: blood pressure could be lowered in a dose-dependent manner with the olive leaf extract. With the higher olive leaf extract dose, the systolic value decreased by an average of 11 mmHg (from 137 to 126) and the diastolic value by an average of 4 mmHg (from 80 to 76).

At the lower dosage, the values decreased only slightly; in the control group, they remained unchanged or even increased slightly.

In the olive leaf group, cholesterol levels also decreased significantly and dose-dependently.

At the University of Reading (13), Great Britain, a double-blind study was conducted in 2017 with 60 male subjects suffering from a prehypertensive condition (121–140 mmHg systolic and 81–90 mmHg diastolic). They were given an olive leaf extract containing 136 mg of oleuropein (and 6 mg of hydroxytyrosol) or a placebo for 6 weeks.

The intake of the olive leaf extract led to significantly improved blood pressure values compared to the placebo preparation. The systolic value decreased by an average of just under 4 mmHg and the diastolic value by about 3 mmHg (both the daily values). Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were also lowered in the test subjects thanks to olive leaf extract, as were the levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-8.

Olive leaf extract protects cells from X-rays.

Studies have shown that olive leaf extract can protect against DNA damage caused by X-rays if it is taken before or after X-rays. The active ingredients in the extract apparently defuse the incoming ionizing particles, so that the organism is better protected from radiation. In the same way, the extract is said to protect the skin from UV radiation from the inside out.

Olive Leaf Extract and Cancer

In vitro studies have already shown a strong anticancer effect with olive leaf extracts. Mouse studies (16) confirmed the anti-cancer effect of an administration of 125 mg of olive leaf extract per kilogram of body weight (breast cancer). The risk of metastasis to the lungs has also been significantly reduced.

However, in a review from New Zealand in 2016 (17), the researchers write that the anticancer effect in humans has so far only had an anecdotal character and that further studies are needed to confirm the previous assumptions or to be able to better assess them for the time being.

Olive Leaf Extract and Arthritis

Since the olive leaf extract has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect and many chronic diseases are associated with inflammatory reactions and a high level of oxidative stress, such as arthritis, it is assumed that the olive leaf extract could also help with diseases of the rheumatic form and is therefore worth a try.

A mouse study from 2012 was conducted in which an olive leaf extract was able to significantly reduce arthritis-related swelling and tissue changes (15). Olive leaf extract could therefore be considered a possible therapeutic agent for arthritis, the researchers said.

Olive leaf extract and gout

Even for gout, olive leaf extract can be the remedy of choice. For example, a study by the University of Leipzig showed that olive leaves contain substances that inhibit the enzyme xanthine oxidase. However, this enzyme promotes the development of gout.

This means that the first scientific evidence has now been provided for what traditional folk medicine has known for a long time. In Mediterranean regions, olive leaves have been used for centuries for gout.

Of course, olive leaf extract can be excellently combined with other holistic measures or even with conventional medical remedies to support their effectiveness. However, in the case of chronic or acute illnesses, always consult your doctor or naturopath before using olive leaf extract.

Dosage Recommendations

Follow the manufacturer’s dosage instructions for olive leaf extract, as it varies based on oleuropein content. For example, effective nature’s capsules suggest taking one capsule three times a day. Start with one capsule daily to assess tolerance.

For digestive issues or Candida, testing on an empty stomach may enhance effectiveness. If side effects like diarrhea or nausea occur, take it after a small meal.

Note: This article includes information from empirical medicine and traditional statements. Where available, studies are listed for reference.