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| English: Olive tree leaves, front and back sides, Bela Vista, Lisboa, Portugal. Upper leaf: Front side. Lower leaf: Back side. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
By Bob Barney
The Olive Tree.......For one thing, it is the first botanical mentioned in the Bible. ... After the Great Flood we didn't hear too much about the olive leaf for a long time. ... there is an angelic vision of a "tree of life" whose leaves "were for the healing of the nations. "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." (Genesis 8 : 11). In Ezekiel 47 : 12, God speaks of the olive tree saying:
"The fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.".. In Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, there is an angelic
vision of a "tree of life" whose leaves "were for the healing of the
nations." Today, as modern medicine increasingly embraces phytochemicals
it is interesting to speculate about the biblical "tree of life."
The ancient Egyptians may be been the first to put the olive leaf to
practical use. They regarded it as a symbol of heavenly power, and in
keeping with that belief, they extracted its oil and used it to mummify
their kings.
It is documented that the olive tree can live thousands of years and is
disease resistant. Two giant olive trees in the town of Arraba and five
trees in Deir Hanna (both in Israel’s Galilee region) have been
determined to be over 3000 years old, and all continue to produce
olives. According to scientific surveys, there are tens of ancient olive
trees throughout Israel that are 1600-2000 years old; several trees in
the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem are claimed to date back to the
time of Jesus. As with
other common symbols in Israel, the characteristics of the olive tree
are used by the writers of the Bible to tell us more about God, about
Israel, and our relationship to both. Olive trees, their fruit, and the oil of their fruit have long played an
important role in the daily life of Israel. For nearly 6,000 years,
olives have been eaten as a Mediterranean staple food and olive oil has
been used for cooking, in lamps for light (Ex. 27:20, Lev. 24:2), for
medicine, and for anointing oil in religious ceremonies (Ex. 30:24-25).
By the time of the Roman conquest of Judea, the olive had become one of
the most basic dietary items, even of the poor.
Olive oil
was so plentiful in Israel that it was one of the products regularly
exported. Solomon sent the King of Tyre 100,000 gallons (378,533 liters)
of olive oil (I Kgs. 5:11). One thousand years later, during the time
of Jesus, olive oil is mentioned in writings of that day as the
only export of the Jerusalem region. The Mount of Olives, located just
east of the Old City of Jerusalem, attests to the prevalence of olive
trees around the city. Also, it was in the Garden of Gethsemane (Gat
Shemen in Hebrew, literally, the place of the "olive press"), where Jesus spent much of His time in Jerusalem with His disciples. "Coming
out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His
disciples also followed Him" (Luke 22:39).
Psalms 52:8 says, "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercies of God forever and ever."
Psalms
128:3 says, "Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart
of your house; Your children like olive plants all around your table."
Christians are simply the wild branches grafted in among the natural
branches to "became a partaker with them of the root and fatness of the
olive tree," which God established (Rom. 11:17).
The first formal medical mention of the olive leaf - an account describing
its ability to cure severe cases of fever and malaria -- ocurred about
150
years ago. In 1854, the Pharmaceutical Journal carried a report by
one
Daniel Hanbury and contained the following simple healing recipe:
Boil a handful of leaves in a quart of water down to half its original
volume. Then administer the liquid in the amount of a wineglass every
3 or
4 hours until the fever is cured.The author said he discovered the effective tincture in 1843 and had
used
it successfully. This method became well known in England for treating
sick Britons returning from His or Her Majesty's tropical colonies.
The
author believed that a bitter substance in the leaves was the key healing
ingredient.
He was right.
Decades later, scientists isolated a bitter substance from the leaf
and
named it oleuropein. It was found to be one ingredient in a compound
produced by the olive tree that makes it particularly robust and resistant
against insect and bacterial damage. From a technical angle, oleuropein
is
an iridoid, a structural class of chemical compounds found in plants.
It
is present in olive oil, throughout the olive tree, and is, in fact,
the
bitter material that is eliminated from the olives when they are cured.
In 1962, an Italian researcher reported that oleuropein lowered blood
pressure in animals. This triggered a flurry of scientific interest
in the
olive leaf.Other European researchers confirmed this interesting finding. In
addition, they found it could also increase blood flow in the coronary
arteries, relieve arrhythmias, and prevent intestinal muscle spasms.Around this time, a Dutch researcher determined the active ingredient
in
oleuropein to be a substance he called elenolic acid. It was found
to have
a powerful anti-bacterial effect.
By the late 1960's, research by scientists at Upjohn, a major American
pharmaceutical company, showed that elenolic acid also inhibited the
growth of viruses. In fact, it stopped every virus that it was tested
against. Among others, the substance was found to counteract a variety
of
viruses associated with the common cold of humans.Moreover, a number of laboratory experiments at this time with calcium
elenolate, a salt of elenolic acid, demonstrated a strong effect against
not just viruses, but bacteria and parasitic protozoans as well.The compound worked effectively at low concentrations without any harmful
influence on host cell mechanisms, the American researchers concluded.
That meant they believed it to be extremely safe and non-toxic, even
at
high doses.
In a series of experiments, oleuropein was found to inactivate bacteria
by
apparently dissolving the outer lining of microbes.At the University of Milan Pharacological Sciences, researchers found
that
oleuropein inhibited oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, the so-called
"bad cholesterol" involved in heart and aterial disease. This revelation,
if confirmed by further research, suggests that oleuropein may contain
antioxidant properties similar to other phytochemical compounds. Medical
researcher Morton Walker, D.P.M., writing about olive leaf extract
in the
July 1996 issue of the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, comments
that the intake of flavonoids "is correlated with a lower incidence
of
cardiovascular disease indicated that the daily intake of olive oil
and/or
olive leaf extract containing phenols will likely bring on a similar
result." At the present time, the cardiovascular research community
is
excited about such actions. Studies have shown that some phytochemicals
can reduce the harmful oxidation of cholesterol as well as slow down
the
accelerated clumping of blood platelets that can lead to dangerous
clots.At Spain's University of Granada, pharmacologists determined that olive
leaf extract causes relaxation of arterial walls in laboratory animals.
Such results suggest a possible benefit for hypertension, an effect
first
mentioned by researchers more than 30 years ago.
For the record, the researchers at Upjohn found calcium elenolate
effective in test tube experiments against the following viruses: herpes,
vaccinia, pseudorabies, Newcastle, Coxsacloe A 21, encepthlomyocarditis,
polio 1, 2, and 3, vesicular stomititus, sindbis, reovirus, Moloney
Murine
leukemia, Rauscher Murine leukemia, Moloney sarcoma, and many influenza
and parainfluenza types.
They found it effective against these bacteria and parasitic protozoans:
lactobacillus plantarum W50, brevis 50, pediococcus cerevisiae 39,
leuconostoc mesenteroides 42, staphylococcus aureus, bacillus subtilis,
enterobacteraerogenes NRRL B-199, E. cloacae NRRL B-414, E. coli,
salamonella tyhimurium, pseudomonas fluorescens, P. solanacearum, P.
lachrymans, erwinia carotovora, E. tracheiphila, xanthomonas vesicatoria,
corynesbacterium Michiganese, plasmodium falciparum, virax and malariae. The researchers credit a number of unique properties possessed by the
olive leaf compound for the broad killing power:An ability to interfere with critical amino acid production essential
for
viruses.
An ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by inactivating
viruses or by preventing virus shedding, budding or assembly at the
cell
membrane.The ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral
replication.In the case of retroviruses, it is able to neutralize the production
of
reverse transcriptase and protease. These enzymes are essential for
a
retrovirus, such as HIV, to alter the RNA of a healthy cell.It can stimulate phagocytosis, an immune system response in which cells
ingest harmful microorganisms and foreign matter.The research suggests that this may be a "true anti-viral" compound
because it appears to selectively block an entire virus-specific system
in
the infected host. It thus appears to offer healing effects not addressed
by pharmaceutical antibiotics.
Clinically, the olive leaf extract has been used for a relatively short
time. Health professionals began using it early in 1995 when it first
became available. Although we do not have long-term perspectives as
yet,
initial results are very positive. We see a very promising and unique
herbal with multiple applications. It shows considerable therapeutic
action against many common conditions. In short, it appears to be living
up to its unique background and expectations.
From research and clinical experience to date, we can say that
supplemental olive leaf extract may be beneficial in the treatment
for
conditions caused by, or associated with, a virus, retrovirus, bacterium,
or protozoan. Among such conditions are influenza, the common cold,
meningitis, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), encephalitis, herpes I and II,
human
herpes virus 6 and 7, shingles, HIV/ARC/AIDS, chronic fatigue, hepatitis
B, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, malaria, dengue, bacteremia,
severe
diarrhea, blood poisoning, and dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical
infections.
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In
our clinic, we use olive leaf extract for a variety of infectious and
chronic
conditions. We also believe that many people who lead stressful
lives
or who may be particularly susceptible to colds and viruses may
benefit
from long-term use of olive leaf extract as a preventive agent.
As
I mentioned earlier, I am constantly surprised by unexpected benefits
reported
by patients. This indicates that we are perhaps just scratching
the
surface in our understanding of phytochemical benefits. Patients have
told
me about improved psoriasis, normalization of arrhythmias (heart beat
irregularities),
and less pain from hemorroids, toothaches and chronically
achy
joints.
I
myself cured a chronic toenail fungal infection after starting on the
supplement.
It had not responded to the many other nutrients that I take. One
woman with bad allergies reported significant improvement and a level
of
energy she hadn't felt for years.
One
elderly male with severe arrhythmia told me his condition had vastly
improved
in about eight days just from taking olive leaf extract alone. A
woman
with mild arrhythmia said her condition improved substantially while
she
took the supplement and then slowly became irregular again after she
ran
out.
We
know from the oleuropein research done in the 1960s that the
substance
improves
blood flood to the heart and acts to normalize arrhythmias.
Currently,
we are learning much about the cardiovascular benefits of the
phytochemical
compounds found in grape seeds, onions, kale, green beans,
broccoli,
and other vegetables. It will be interesting to see what
benefits
the particular phytochemicals in olive leaf extract produce for
heart
and arterial health. Phil Selinsky, a naturopathic doctor at the
Institute for Holistic Studies
in
Santa Barbara, and biochemist Arnold Takemoto, who has been
developing
patient
nutritional programs on behalf of physicians in Arizona for 15
years,
have found olive leaf extract to be an effective addition to their
array
of natural healing tools. After using the supplement in dozens of
cases for over a year, Selinsky is
impressed
with the benefits and looks forward to continued use and greater
understanding
about its most effective applications. There is no doubt that olive
leaf extract has real healing power. In a
moment
I will go into much greater detail on how it has helped patients.
It
is important to keep in mind, however, that like any nutritional
supplement
it should not be considered a cure-all or panacea. In holistic
practices
such as mine, individual supplements are part of a comprehensive
program
that includes better diet, exercise, and stress control methods.
That's
how we maximize health and minimize symptoms.
There
is always the possiblity that one ingredient, one supplement, can
fill
a large gap or particular need in the body and by itself lead to
major
improvement. We see that happen all the time. But usually it is all
the
elements in a nutritional program that work together -- like a team
of
horses
pulling a wagon -- that gets the job done most effectively.
Biochemist
Arnold Takemoto puts it this way: "Olive leaf extract is not a
single
magic-bullet. There are very few such things, especially in
non-pharmaceutical
medicine. In many cases it takes a whole lot more than
just
one ingredient to get over a particular condition. Yet I find it a
very
valuable addition against chronic fatigue syndrome and many other
viral
conditions, especially those that are more tenacious. It fills a
hole
that we haven't been able to fill before."
Takemoto
went on to say that Lisa Weinrib, M.D., one of the physicians he
works
with, treats many cases of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
syndrome.She
has noticed that patients with these problems exhibit much
improvement
from
use of the extract, according to Takemoto. "It's the missing
link
that
functions as an antiviral and antiretroviral agent by slowing down
the
organism's reproductive cycle. A slowdown...allows the patient's
immune
system to go on the attack."
Takemoto
says olive leaf extract has helped patients eliminate stubborn
viral
infections they have had for years. One patient, who had suffered
from
shingles (herpes zoster) for nine years, experienced complete relief
within
two days of starting olive leaf extract and other supplements.
More
Energy
One
of the most frequent comments we hear from patients after they start
taking
olive leaf extract is that they feel more energetic and have a
greater
sense of well-being. Many want to continue the supplement even
after
the treatment program has cleared up or reduced specific problems.
Some
patients are energized to the point that they inquire whether there
is
an "upper" in the product. There is not. It simply
generates a natural
"upper"
effect. Healthy people who take it say they also feel this
infusion
of energy.
Chronic
Fatigue
In
my experience, olive leaf extract also has helped in many chronic
fatigue
cases, even the most serious. One female patient described to me
what
she called a "really quite unbelievable" recovery within
one month of
taking
the supplement.
"For
the last few years I have not been feeling like myself. I've had
little
energy and enthusiasm for anything. This is not my usual nature. I
attributed
it to weight, unemployment and just being down. My head was
always
somewhat achy and I couldn't figure out why. The only way I could
describe
it would be as a constant low-degree headache which never left.
"I
started taking olive leaf extract and noticed an immediate elevation
of
my
spirits. What I liked about the product was that it was effective but
gentle
and didn't make me hyper or unable to sleep. Quite the contrary, I
slept
better.
"After
a few days I began to notice more energy and a stronger sense of
well-being.
The cobwebs in my brain started to diminish. I also noticed a
bad
shoulder and a bad knee started to get better. The pain associated
with
these joints remarkably improved.
For
some very sick individuals, including people with chronic fatigue
syndrome
or particularly heavy loads of virus or bacteria in their bodies,
olive
leaf extract may possibly generate detoxification symptoms -- known
as
the "die-off effect" -- that may be unpleasant.
Such
people may actually feel worse for a short time before feeling
better.
As an example, many chronic fatigue patients suffer from an
associated
depression. Patients of mine who toughed it out through
the"die-off"
period emerged highly energized and no longer depressed. If you have
ever used Nystattin to fight yeast infections, you are
probably
familiar with this situation. Nystattin kills yeast. As the body
becomes
full of dead yeast, you may experience a variety of detox
symptoms.
Symptoms may intensify to the point where you need to stop or
reduce
the dosage of the medication in order to give your body a chance to
eliminate
the toxic waste.
Olive
leaf extract is potent stuff. It can generate an internal cleansing
action
that may similarly cause significant detox symptoms. Refer to the
next
chapter about what to do if you experience such a reaction.
Die-off"
Effect
"Die-off"
symptoms can begin almost immediately after starting the
supplement.
It can hit different people in different ways. Reactions
include
extreme fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, muscle/joint achiness or
flu-like
symptoms. Severity differs also from person to person, depending
on
the extent of infection.
Keep
in mind that such symptoms are positive signs. Nevertheless, they can
be
unpleasant. Some people may not want to continue because of the
discomfort.
Others handle it better. Others experience no such effect.
Here's
what to do in case of substantial detoxification symptoms:
Reduce
the number of tablets, or even stop them altogether for a while.
You
may need a day or two, or even a week, to allow your body to process
the
"die-off."
When
you feel better, you can resume the supplement at a low dose and
increase
slowly.
Holistic
practitioners can usually provide a supportive detoxification
program
for individuals who experience a strong "die-off" response.
In my
clinic,
this program includes taking vitamin C to bowel tolerance. Such a
regimen
is best done under professional guidance. Other than the "die-off"
detoxification effect among some individuals,
olive
leaf extract appears to create no side effects. Past research with
calcium
elenolate, the derivative or oleuropein, included safety studies
with
laboratory animals. They were dosed orally and also via injection.
The
only symptom observed was a mild irritation of the mucous membrane
among
some animals at the injection site. Since olive leaf extract is
taken
orally, this observation is basically irrelevant.
The
research indicated that doses many times higher than recommended are
unlikely
to produce toxic or other adverse side effects. During 1993
testing
of the liquid form of the product against the herpes virus, there
were
no observed or reported side effects.
Potential
Against Serious Infectious Diseases
eaths
from infectious diseases, formerly on the decline, have recently
taken
an alarming upward turn in this country.
According
to federal researchers, such deaths rose by 58% from 1980 to
1992,
pushing this category of illness up behind heart disease and cancer
in
the No. 3 spot of killer diseases.
While
the AIDS epidemic accounts for most of the rise, experts say there
has
been an unusual increase in mysterious respiratory infections among
the
elderly and blood infections among people of all ages. When you
eliminate
the AIDS the death rate during the same period for all other
infectious
diseases rose by 22 percent.
The
World Health Organization (WHO), back in 1978, looked to the future
and
issued a report which contended that by the year 2000, sources other
than
Western, technological medicine would be needed in order for all
people
to have adequate health care. The organization subsequently adopted
the
report that recommended the use of traditional forms of healing and
medicine,
such as the use of herbs, to meet the demands of an factor,
exploding
global population.
As
we approach the year 2000, the wisdon -- and the urgency -- of this
advice
is obvious in the light of the serious side-effects and shortcoming
of
pharmaceutical drugs.
With
the emergence, for instance, of antibiotic-resistant bacterial
strains,
natural products such as olive leaf extract take on greater
importance.
Even if new antibiotics are developed, new infectious bacteria
would
emerge that are resistant to new drugs. In the case of herbal
medicinals,
their complex chemistry may often render them potentially more
effective
against a wide variety of microorganisms for which
pharmaceutical
drugs prove to be ineffective.
AIDS
It
will be interesting to see if olive leaf extract can benefit AIDS
cases.
We know that it inhibits the production of reverse transcriptase
and
protease, enzymes necessary for certain viruses, such as HIV, to
damage
healthy cells.
Naltrexone,
an immune-stabilizing drug used in the treatment of heroin and
alcohol
addiction. Clinical trials conducted by Bernard Bihari, MD, a New
York
City physician specializing in HIV/AIDS, demonstrated that this
preparation
stops the progression of the disease and the decline of the
immune
system in a majority of patients who take it regularly. Naltrexone
stimulates
key hormones regulating the immune system and the communication
between
the brain and immune function. No side effects have been reported.
DNCB
(dinitrochlorobenzene), a chemical used in photography labs that is
applied
in small doses on the skin. This compound acts as anti-viral agent
by
stimulating killer cell activity. An estimated 7,000 patients with
AIDS
have
used this substance for some 10 years.
A
blend of olive oil/whole lemon juice. This "grassroots"
recipe appears
to
be uniquely helpful in reversing neuropathy, swollen lymph nodes and
wasting
syndrome associated with the HIV.
A
patient had been using Naltrexone since October 1995 along with
weekly
topical applications of DNCB. He had not used the olive oil/lemon
juice
blend. In August of that year he had had a CD8 count of 700. CD8
refers
to killer T cells, which, along with so-called Natural Killer
cells,
are major immune destroyers of virus infected cells. They reduce
viral
loads and inhibit damage to the body's defenses.
In
January of 1996, his CD8 count had risen to 1380. In March of 1996
he
added
olive leaf extract at the standart dose of one capsule four times
daily.
He initially experienced a mild headache, a probably "die-off
effect."
Within days, he reported a significant increase in energy along
with
the disappearance of swollen lymph nodes. He said he felt 20 years
younger.
On March 21, his CD8 count had soared to 1920! His physician said
never
before in his career had he seen such improvement in an AIDS
patient.
One
patient reported that after finishing a bottle of olive leaf
extract,
one of three Kaposi Sarcoma lesions on his chest vanished. He
experienced
headaches and flu-like symptoms for about two weeks, again a
probable
"die-off effect." Continuing with a second bottle, he said
the
second
lesion was completely gone and the last one was "fading fast."
His
HIV viral load, as measured by PCR technology, had dropped from
160,000
to 30,000 in two months. Soon afterward, he reported that his PCR
results
for HIV were now down to 692.
An
HIV patient reported his genital herpes vanished within four days of
starting
on the olive leaf extract.
Another
patient with Kaposi's Sarcoma and retinitis added five capsules
of
olive leaf extract daily along with Naltrexone and DNCB. After doing
this,
he said that the sarcoma lesions stopped growing. This prompted him
to
stop two drugs he had been taking -- Ganciclovir and Biaxin --
because
of
severe intestinal side effects. A few days after discontinuing the
drugs,
his digestion returned to normal. He soon reported improved vision
and
that lesions were becoming lighter in color.
One
patient took the olive leaf extract by itself for about 3 1/2
months.
His HIV viral load dropped nearly in half as a result, along with
significant
improvements in his white blood cell counts. After adding
Naltrexone
and the lemon/olive oil drink, his improvement accelerated.
Herpes
I
have recommened olive leaf extract to many patients with herpes. The
results
have been encouraging.
One
man in his early 40s suffered from repeated lesions plus fatigue. In
a
week
after starting the supplement, his lesions disappeared and his energy
level
increased. He told me that olive leaf extract was the only
preparation
that had ever cleared up the herpes. "Even the most minute
blisters
are gone," he said.
A
female patient had an unusually stubborn herpetic cold sore in the
mouth
for
four months. She also suffered from cancer, thus there may have been
some
significant immune exhaustion involved. After one week with the olive
leaf,
the sore disappeared.
Flu
and Colds
Results
to date indicate that olive leaf extract may be a good weapon
against
the common cold and flu. Consider the following letter written to
me
in August of 1995 by a female patient suffering from persistent flu
symptoms:
"I
became ill with the flu in February and had several immune boosters,
extra
vitamins and three antibiotics. My fever was 102-103 every afternoon
and
this continued even after the antibiotics. I developed paralyzing
chest
and abdominal pain, being confined to the couch for weeks -- not
able
to hardly walk. My weight dropped to 84 pounds. Medical tests
revealed
nothing specifically wrong.
I
started taking olive leaf extract on July 18. Within a few days my
temperature
started dropping and it is slowly and steadily going down, so
that
some days I haven't needed to take Tylenol to reduce it. The pain is
subsiding
gradually and my appetite and strength is returning."
At
the time of her next medical examination, the woman's temperature had
been
normal for a week. She hadn't needed pain-killers for two weeks.
I
received a striking testimony from an elementary school teacher with
a
history
of asthma and vulnerability to colds and flu. She felt that olive
leaf
extract fortified her against the constant exposure to germs
circulating
throughout her classroom.
"I
used to get sick all the time," she told me. "One school
year I got
strep
throat eight times. If you sneezed at me, the chances are I would
get
sick. Not any more. When many kids in my class were coughing,
sneezing,
and blowing their noses before Christmas, I caught a slight cold
and
that's it."
Bacterial
Infections
The
ability of olive leaf extract to destroy bacteria was demonstrated
dramatically
in the case of a 64-year-old physician who had been bedridden
for
several years following a serious stroke. He also had recurrent
bladder
infections which caused considerable pain, smelly urine and fever.
All
efforts to alleviate his condition had been generally unsuccessful.
Even
a $1,000 antibiotic specially made for him had not worked. He had
constant
discomfort. His urine was cloudy "and looked like soup."
Often it
was
bloody.
After
one month on olive leaf extract, the infections had vanished. After
six
months, the condition has not recurred.
The
doctor also suffered from frequent allergies and colds and had to
take
medication
to keep these under control. The incidence and severity were
significantly
minimized with the supplement and as a result he requires
considerably
less medicine.
Naturopath
Phil Selinsky reports success against bacterial infections in a
number
of cases. These include sinus and bladder infections and oral
infections
associated with tooth or gum disease.
"Some
patients have told me that olive leaf extract took down their
dental-related
infections within hours," according to Selinsky. "They were
quite
impressed by the response."
Diabetes
Researchers
have found that the natural olive leaf compounds can decrease
the
level of blood sugar. I have had several cases in my clinic
confirming
this
finding.
One
involved a 15-year-old girl with juvenile diabetes. The teenager had
been
regularly taking 350 units of insulin daily for control. After one
month
on olive leaf extract, she was able to maintain similar control with
just
220 units. In another case, the blood sugar level of a diabetic
elderly priest
dropped
from 450 to 160 after three months. In an yet another instance,
the
blood sugar of a middle aged man stabilized at 140, down from 250,
after
one month. He reported a great increase in energy during this time.
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
A
number of patients have experienced significant easing of joint pain.
We
don't
know yetprecisely how this is happening.
A
male patient, who had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis five
years
before, had this to say: "After taking all the medicines I could
stand
with no real results, I was informed about some nutritional
supplements.
One of them was an olive leaf extract.' "After taking it for
three
weeks I noticied more flexibility in my fingers, elbows, and neck.
There
was marked relief of muscle tension surrounding my joints. Overall I
am
enjoying olive leaf extract with my daily routine."
Multiple
Symptoms
One
of our clinical observations is that olive leaf extract appears to
work
on many different levels in the body. As a result we often hear
reports
from patients that a variety of symptoms begin improving.
One
woman with chronic fatigue, frequent colds, asthma, and vaginal yeast
infections
said that all her symptoms had virtually cleared up within five
weeks.
The woman, a teacher, was able to take on new projects she wouldn't
even
begin to think were possible before.
"I
became ill in December 1993 and was diagnosed with a stomach and
prostrate
infection. I was treated with high doses of antibiotics, but
never
fully recovered. I was troubled with multiple symptoms, some of
which
were back and neck pain, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, swollen glands,
sinus
and digestive problems. I was subsequently diagnosed with
fibromyalgia
(chronic fatigue syndrome) and the physicians recommeded
Prozac-type
antidepressants and anti-inflammatory drugs. But I refused
them.
I began taking olive leaf extract along with my regular vitamin and
mineral
supplements in August of 1995 at the rate of one tablet every six
hours.
I increased the dosage after five days and began to feel better."
A
female patient, after taking olive leaf extract for a month, gave me
this
happy report: "It has improved my allergy-like psoriasis, and
symptoms of a kidney
infection.
I have been having back aches for almost a year and frequent
urination.
These have improved a lot also.
Fungus
and Yeast Infections
Earlier
I mentioned my own positive experience with olive leaf extract. I
started
taking the supplement and it completely cleared up a stubborn
toenail
fungus infection.
A
woman with an infection of the large toenail said that within 60 days
her
condition was about three-quarters healed. For five years, she had
tried
many types of medication and natural agents without help.
More
than 10 million Americans are said to have disfiguring fungal nail
infections,
a widely ignored medical problem. It is frequently found among
patients
with AIDS, cancer and diabetes, athletes, elderly individuals,
people
who spend considerable time standing or who wear the same shoes day
after
day, or who wear artificial fingernails. Drugs taken for cancer and
AIDS
lower resistance and are believed to make people more susceptible to
infection.
For
the first time in 35 years, a new drug has been approved for the
condition.
It is called Sporanox and is reported to be more effective than
previous
anti-fungal preparations. But none of these preparations come
cheap.
Patricia Anstett of the Knight-Ridder Newspapers reports that two
100-milligram
pills of Sproranox are taken daily for about three months at
a
cost of $900. Older drugs, taken for 12 months or more, cost double
or
more
that amount over the longer duration. Even with the new drug, the
condition
may return if the medication is stopped.
Olive
leaf extract may offer a natural -- and for sure, less expensive --
method
of self-treatment.
One
patient said a fungal infection of the tongue he had for 30 years
responded
virtually overnight to the olive leaf. "I had tried all kinds of
diets,
treatments and regimes but to no avail," he told me. "Within
three
weeks
on olive leaf extract the fungus disappeared!"
More
than a dozen patients with candidiasis have reported significant
improvements.
They say they have fewer infections, allergic reactions,
less
dullness and more energy. One woman said she was finally able to
clean
out her dust-ridden garage. Before olive leaf extract that would
have
been impossible for her.
"I
have seen several doctors using conventional medicine. They
prescribed
every
medication available to combat yeast, all to no avail. After less
than
three weeks of taking the olive leaf supplement, all symptoms cleared
up
and have not returned. As a sufferer of herpes simplex II, I would
experience
outbreaks several times a year. Now, I have had no more
flare-ups."
Skin
Conditions
A
chronic scalp infection that had stubbornly resisted all treatment
for
more
than 10 year responded directly to olive leaf extract within 60 days.
The
patient wrote me this detailed letter:
"The
condition would flare up causing very painful eruptions and lesions
in
my scalp, which, over time, have killed quite a few hair follicles.
Modern
medical doctors and dermatologists have been unable to eradicate
(the
condition). I had resolved my self to the fact that there was no
cure.
"I
am satisfied that I am getting some significant results from using
the
olive
leaf extract. My scalp remains a little tender, but the eruptions
have
all but ceased. I am continuing to use the product about twice a day,
and
the skin color is much healthier than it has been in recent time.
"No
matter what drug therapy my doctors have prescribed in the past, none
has
provided me with the level of relief I am currently experiencing. I
would
gladly recommend this product to others suffering chronic skin
aliments."
A
female patient reported better energy and disappearance of a rash in
30
days.
The rash occurred in winter, or during times of extreme cold.
Tropical Illnesses
Olive
leaf extract may offer considerable potential in the treatment of
tropical
infections such as malaria and dengue.
Malaria
is caused by parasitic protozoans injected into the body by
infected
mosquitoes. Protozoans, in case you are interested, are
one-celled
organisms, the simplest creatures in the animal kingdom. A
full-fledged case of malaria at a clinic in Mexico was totally cured
with
a dosage schedule of two olive leaf extract supplements every six
hours.
A clinic report said that the 34-year-old female patient made a
steady
recovery and after six months, "she was without any of the
malaria
symptoms,
not even anemia or shivers. Her breath is good. Her state of
mind
excellent and she does not show any signs of chronic or contagious
disease."
Malaria
has been reported recently in Texas and continues to be a leading
cause
of illness and deaths worldwide, particularly because of the
development
of drug-resistant strains. "It is a continuing concern in the
United
States because of increased international migration, travel, and
commerce,
" according to the publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Reports.
Another
serious tropical disease giving concern to public health officials
is
dengue fever. This ailment is also mosquito-borne, in this case
caused
by
a virus, and occurs mainly in tropical Asia and the Caribbean. It can
cause
vomiting, high fever, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain, and is
deadly
in 50 percent of the cases. Some 50 million people are affected
each
year and about half a million require hospitalization, according to
the
World Health Organization. Researchers are trying to find a vaccine
but
no breakthroughs have occurred yet.
In
1995, large outbreaks of dengue were reported by health authorities
in
12
Latin American and Caribbean countries.
Dosages
Olive
leaf extract is currently available in the form of 500 mg. tablets.
The
routine dosage is one tablet every six hours or four throughout the
day.
Take the supplement between meals for best results.
In
the case of bad colds or flu, you can use two tablets every six
hours.
For
acute infections, some individuals have taken more -- three and even
four
every six hours -- and reported rapid relief.
If
you encounter a "die-off" effect, cut back on the number of
tablets you
are
taking or temporarily discontinue them. See the section on "die-off
effect."
For
healthy folks seeking more energy or the prevention benefits of olive
leaf
extract, we suggest one or two tablets a day. The younger and cleaner
the
body, the more responsive it is to supplements such as this. When a
person
becomes older and more toxic, more of the supplement is required to
do
the job.
Recipe
to make your own tea from leaves:
10g
Olive leaf tea.
2
quarts water.
Boil
two quarts of good water, place olive leaf tea (alone or mixed with
other herbs/teas) in a tea cozy or directly into the boiling water.
Immediately reduce heat to a high simmer and let tea brew for
approximately fifteen minutes. Stir tea occasionally, strain to drink
and/or refrigerate. Tea should be a medium amber color with a
slightly bitter taste. To combat a specific ailment, sip refrigerated
or re-heated tea and consume entire two quarts over a three day
period.
Dr. James R. Privitera, M.D. earned
his medical degree at Creighton
University and completed an Internship in Internal Medicine at Providence
Hospital in Seattle, Washintion and his residency at Presbyterian Hospital
in
San Francisco, CA. Following a Clinical Fellowship in allergy, immunology
and rheumatolgy at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, he entered private practice
in
allergy and nutrition in Covina, California where he practices today.
Affiliated with the American Preventive Medical Association and the
International College of Applied Nutrition, among others, Dr. Privitera
has served on the boards of several top health organizations including
the
National Health Federation. A pioneer in dark field microscopy, Dr.
Privitera has been asked to consult to some of our nations's leading
vitamin manufacturers. He has a book soon to be released entitled "Silent
Clots - the Nation's Biggest Killer".
References
Cruess WV, and Alsberg CL, The bitter glucoside of the olive. J. Amer.
Chem. Soc. 1934; 56:2115-7.
Samuelsson G, The blood pressure lowering factor in leaves of Olea
Europaea. Farmacevtisk Revy, 1951; 15: 229-39
Veer WLC et al, A compound isolated from olea europaea. Recueil, 1957;
76:839-40
Panizzi L et al, The constitution of oleuropein, a bitter glucoside
of the
olive with hypotensive action. Gazz. Chim. Ital; 1960; 90:1449-85.
Petkov V and Manolov P, Pharmacological analysis of the iridoid
oleuropein. Drug Res., 1972; 22(9); 1476-86.
Juven B et al, Studies on the mechanism of the antimicrobial action
of
oleuropein. J. Appl. Bact., 1972; 35:559-67.
Kubo I et al, A mutichemical defense mechanism of bitter olive olea
europaea (Oleaceae)-- Is oleuropein a phytoalexin precursor? J. Chem.
Ecol
1985; 11(2):251-63.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Society of Pharmaceutical
Industries of Tunis, Hypotension, hypoglycemia and hypouricemia recorded
after repeated administration of aqueous leaf extract of Olea europaea,
Belgian Pharmacology Journal, March-April 1994; 49(2), 101-8.
Copyright © 1996 by James. R. Privitera
SOURCE:
http://falconblanco.com/health/supplements/oliveleaf.htm
Where to Buy OLIVE LEAVES!!! (This is not a paid advertisement and The Plain Truth can not endorse this store....
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Olivus® Olive Leaf from the Tree of HEALTH:
Antioxidant • Increase energy • Heart Health • Extra immune response
One
is that on a microscopic level, the diatomaceous earth particles are
very sharp looking. These particles stick to an insect and get stuck
between its exoskeleton joints. As the insect moves, it gets physically
cut up.
Why
is it that so many children are afflicted with autism, ADHD, dyslexia
and other developmental disabilities? Some people speculate that it's
simply that the disorders are diagnosed more often than they once were
but a study by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai suggest otherwise.
(2)
