The Olive leaf is one of the most underrated and overlooked herbs yet it is one of the most beneficial. I enjoy a cup or two in the evening before bed to help stave off illness. It makes a pleasant tasting tea that is slightly sweet and just a little woodsy. I add a little raw organic honey and it is a very nice bed time tea.
The olive leaf has some pretty amazing properties. It is:
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-viral
- Anti-septic
- Anti-parasitic
- Astringent
- Immune boosting
It has been used for a variety of conditions including stabilizing blood sugar levels, fighting infection, lowering blood pressure, treating candida, treating parasites, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and other issues.
This article lists the numerous conditions that it treats under the ‘Indicated For’ section.
Olive leaves are powerful against viruses and bacterial infections in the body. This is because they contain compounds that have been shown to be extremely effective in fighting these infections as well as protecting the body against them.
I have found myself coming down with a cold and taken a few cups of olive leaf tea. It significantly shortened my illness and my symptoms were far milder. Recently, I found myself getting sick. I had a sore throat, headache, sneezing, runny nose and swollen glands. I started drinking olive leaf tea, had 4 cups that afternoon and evening, then several more the next day. By the following afternoon my symptoms were gone.
You can get the benefits of olive leaves in the form of a tea or tincture.
For general health:
- Tincture – take 1-2 tablespoons a day before meals.
- Tea – steep 6 or 8 leaves in a cup of hot water. Add raw organic honey and let steep for about 10 minutes. Take 1-2 cups a day.
To fight illness or infection:
- Tincture – take 2 teaspoons every 6 hours.
- Tea – steep 8 leaves in a cup of hot water and add raw organic honey. Let steep for 10 minutes and drink every 2-4 hours.
Olive leaves do lower your blood sugar so if you are diabetic you should be careful. It is a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking it.
Natural Health Digest 