Login or Register

Uses of Olive Leaf Supplements

Aug 18, 2011 | By Peter Mitchell

Manufacturers claim that olive leaf supplements work for a range of conditions. However, at the time of publication, no conclusive scientific evidence backs up any medicinal uses of olive leaves as a treatment. Olive leaf extract can affect blood pressure and plasma sugar levels, so avoid it if you're on medication for diabetes or blood pressure. Speak to your doctor before taking olive leaf supplements as a way to control any medical condition.

General Use

Traditionally, olive leaf extract has been used as an antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral treatment. This means that some manufacturers recommend using olive leaf supplements for everything from nasal congestion to bowel problems. The active ingredient in olive leaf is oleuropein, a substance that can destroy microbes in a test-tube environment, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. Whether this action works in any meaningful way in the human body is still unclear at the time of publication.

Painkiller

Some animal studies appear to show that olive leaf supplements act as a painkiller. However, there are no reliable human studies that support the supplement's effectiveness as a painkiller. In a study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" in 2010, scientists measured the effects of olive leaf extract on pain response in rats. They concluded that the extract lowered the pain response in rats, meaning that it had some analgesic effect. Further studies with human subjects are needed to show that the supplement could be a useful alternative to existing pain-relieving medication.

Antifungal

Olive leaf extract may have some antifungal properties. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests that olive leaf extract in doses of 250 to 500 mg up to three times a day may help combat the fungal infection histoplasmosis. The infection attacks the lungs, leading to breathing problems and flu-like symptoms. However, olive leaf supplement may not work as a single treatment for histoplasmosis. Ask your doctor for appropriate medication and use olive leaf alongside those, if your doctor agrees that it's safe to do so.

Blood Pressure

A study published in the "Belgian Journal of Pharmacy" in 1996 suggests that olive leaf extract may lower blood pressure in humans. Scientists measured two small groups of subjects: 18 were already undergoing treatment for hypertension, and 12 others had just been diagnosed with the condition. In all cases, taking olive leaf for three months appeared to help lower blood pressure. Although this is one of the few olive leaf trials to use human subjects, the NYU Langone Medical Center calls the study poorly designed and limited.

References

Article reviewed by TimDog Last updated on: Aug 18, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments