Olive Leaf Extract

A New/Old Healing Bonanza for Mankind

by Jame !" #rivitera$ M"%"
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&N'!O%()'&ON
Science has long stalked the chemical world within plants to uncover their
amazing healing secrets. Lately, these investigations have yielded discovery
after discovery of natural compounds with promising health and medical
potential.
Some of these compounds stimulate the production of anti-cancer enzymes in
the body. Others bind and neutralize certain carcinogenic chemicals. Other have
antioidant effects,protecting the body from oidation damage caused by
harmful molecular fragments known as free radicals that contribute to aging and
illness.
!hese natural compunds are found abundantly in roots, stems, leaves, fruits and
vegetables. !hey go by a variety of scientific names like polyphenols, flavonoids,
flavonols, pycnogenols, glucosinolates, isoprenoids, carotenoids, tocotrienols
and proanthocyanadins. !o keep things simple and pronounceable, we will "ust
call them phytochemicals or phytonutrients. #hyto stems from the $reek word
for plant.
!he volume of current research is intense. Some eperts say these compounds
may offer the best protection we know of against the diseases that plague us
today. !here%s much yet to learn about the tissue-specific way they work. &ut
with time, these phytonutrients, in the form of supplements or medical
preparations, may play a ma"or role in anti-aging medicine and how we prevent
and treat disease.
'mong the many phytochemicals that have interested me, as a clinician, is
oleuropein (pronounced oh-lee-or-oh-pin), a substance found in the olive leaf. *,
as well as other health practitioners, have found that a natural supplement of
olive leaf etract contains substantial medicinal benefits. 'mong them, boosting
the energy among patients and aiding in the treatment of herpes and other viral
conditions, flu and colds, fungal infections, chronic fatigue and allergies. * have
also been surprised by unepected results generated by this supplement.
'*e Olive Leaf in Hitory and Medicine
*t is hard to avoid the conclusion that there is something very special about the
olive leaf. +or one thing, it is the first botanical mentioned in the &ible.
,'nd the dove came in to him in the evening, and lo, in her mouth was an olive
leafplucked off. So -oah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.,
($enesis . / 00)
'fter the $reat +lood we didn%t hear too much about the olive leaf for a long
time. Obviously this was a hard act to follow.
*n a much later biblical time (1zekiel 23 / 04), $od speaks of a tree/ ,!he fruit
thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.,
5as it the olive tree6
*n 7evelations, at the very end of the -ew !estament, there is an angelic vision
of a ,tree of life, whose leaves ,were for the healing of the nations., !oday, as
modern medicine increasingly embraces phytochemicals it is interesting to
speculate about the biblical ,tree of life.,
'gain, was it perhaps the olive tree6
!he ancient 1gyptians may be been the first to put the olive leaf to practical use.
!hey regarded it as a symbol of heavenly power, and in keeping with that belief,
they etracted its oil and used it to mummify their kings.
Later cultures found the leaf was better utilized for the living than the dead. Over
the ages, there is documentation that it was a popular folk remedy for combating
fevers.
!he first formal medical mention of the olive leaf - an account describing its
ability to cure severe cases of fever and malaria -- ocurred about 089 years ago.
*n 0.82, the #harmaceutical :ournal carried a report by one ;aniel Hanbury and
contained the following simple healing recipe/
Boil a *andf+l of leave in a ,+art of water down to *alf it original vol+me"
'*en adminiter t*e li,+id in t*e amo+nt of a winegla every - or . *o+r
+ntil t*e fever i c+red"
!he author said he discovered the effective tincture in 0.2< and had used it
successfully. !his method became well known in 1ngland for treating sick
&ritons returning from His or Her =a"esty%s tropical colonies. !he author
believed that a bitter substance in the leaves wasthe key healing ingredient.
He was right.
;ecades later, scientists isolated a bitter substance from the leaf and named it
oleuropein. *t 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. +rom a technical angle, oleuropein is an iridoid, a structural
class of chemical compounds found in plants. *t 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.>
*n 0?@4, an *talian researcher reported that oleuropein lowered blood pressure
in animals. !his triggered a flurry of scientific interest in the olive leaf.
Other 1uropean researchers confirmed this interesting finding. *n addition, they
found it could also increase blood flow in the coronary arteries, relieve
arrhythmias, and prevent intestinal muscle spasms.
'round this time, a ;utch researcher determined the active ingredient in
oleuropein to be a substance he called elenolic acid. *t was found to have a
powerful anti-bacterial effect.
&y the late 0?@9%s, research by scientists at Ap"ohn, a ma"or 'merican
pharmaceutical company, showed that elenolic acid also inhibited the growth of
viruses. *n fact, it stopped every virus that it was tested against. 'mong others,
the substance was found to counteract a variety of viruses associated with the
common cold of humans.
=oreover, a number of laboratory eperiments at this time with calcium
elenolate, a salt of elenolic acid, demonstrated a strong effect against not "ust
viruses, but bacteria and parasitic protozoans as well.
!he compound worked effectively at low concentrations without any harmful
influence on host cell mechanisms, the 'merican researchers concluded. !hat
meant they believed it to be etremely safe and non-toic, even at high doses.
+ollowing test tube eperiments, the pharmaceutical company launched animal
tests. 1periments showed the compound was indeed etremely well tolerated.
!here was a hitch, however. *n the body of an animal, the substance rapidly
attached to protein in blood serum. +or all intents and purposes, this meant
calcium elenolate was of no use. !he binding action essentially took it ,out of
action,, rendering it ineffective. 's a result of this obstacle, research into the
compound as a potential virus and bacteria killing pharmaceutical drug was
dropped.
-evertheless, research and interest in olive leaf etracts has moved forward,
primarily in 1urope. 'mong the most recent findings are these/
*n a series of eperiments, oleuropein was found to inactivate bacteria by
apparently dissolving the outer lining of microbes.
't the Aniversity of =ilan #haracological Sciences, researchers found
that oleuropein inhibited oidation of low-density lipoproteins, the so-called
,bad cholesterol, involved in heart and aterial disease. !his revelation, if
confirmed by further research, suggests that oleuropein may contain
antioidant properties similar to other phytochemical compounds. =edical
researcher =orton 5alker, ;.#.=., writing about olive leaf etract in the
:uly 0??@ issue of the !ownsend Letter for ;octors and #atients,
comments that the intake of flavonoids ,is correlated with a lower
incidence of cardiovascular disease indicated that the daily intake of olive
oil andBor olive leaf etract containing phenols will likely bring on a similar
result., 't the present time, the cardiovascular research community is
ecited about such actions. Studies have shown that some
phytochemicals can reduce the harmful oidation of cholesterol as well as
slow down the accelerated clumping of blood platelets that can lead to
dangerous clots.
't Spain%s Aniversity of $ranada, pharmacologists determined that olive
leaf etract causes relaation of arterial walls in laboratory animals. Such
results suggest a possible benefit for hypertension, an effect first
mentioned by researchers more than <9 years ago.
*n !unis, researchers found that aCueous etract of olive leaves reduced
hypertension, blood sugar, and the level of uric acid in rodents. !his
finding again indicates potential in the treatment of hypertension, as well
as diabetes and heart disease. 'n elevated uric acid level is a risk factor
for heart disease.
7emember the biochemical snag mentioned earlier -- that elenolic acid binds
with proteins in the body to nullify any therapeutic use6 !he problem has been
overcome and the door opened for the development of effective olive leaf etract
supplements.
Such products are now available, containing oleuropein and synergistic olive
leaf etracts, including flavonoids.
!he medicinal firepower is there.
!he safety is there.
!he added benefit of other phytochemicals is there. *n short, we now have an
eciting new herbal with a promising future.
Olive Leaf /ire0ower
+or the record, the researchers at Ap"ohn found calcium elenolate effective in
test tube eperiments against the following viruses/ *er0e$ vaccinia$
0e+dorabie$ Newcatle$ )oxacloe A 12$ ence0t*lomyocarditi$ 0olio 2$
1$ and -$ veic+lar tomitit+$ indbi$ reovir+$ Moloney M+rine le+kemia$
!a+c*er M+rine le+kemia$ Moloney arcoma$ and many influenza and
parainfluenza types.
!hey found it effective against these bacteria and parasitic
protozoans/ lactobacill+ 0lantar+m 345$ brevi 45$ 0ediococc+
cereviiae -6$ le+conotoc meenteroide .1$ ta0*ylococc+ a+re+$
bacill+ +btili$ enterobacteraerogene N!!L B7266$ E" cloacae N!!L B7
.2.$ E" coli$ alamonella ty*im+ri+m$ 0e+domona fl+orecen$ #"
olanacear+m$ #" lac*ryman$ erwinia carotovora$ E" trac*ei0*ila$
xant*omona veicatoria$ corynebacteri+m Mic*iganee$ 0lamodi+m
falci0ar+m$ virax and malariae.
!he researchers credit a number of uniCue properties possessed by the olive
leaf compound for the broad killing power/
'n ability to interfere with critical amino acid production essential for
viruses.
'n ability to contain viral infection andBor spread by inactivating viruses or
by preventing virus shedding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane.
!he ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral replication.
*n the case of retroviruses, it is able to neutralize the production of
reverse transcriptase and protease. !hese enzymes are essential for a
retrovirus, such as H*D, to alter the 7-' of a healthy cell.
*t can stimulate phagocytosis, an immune system response in which cells
ingest harmful microorganisms and foreign matter.
!he 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.
*t thus appears to offer healing effects not addressed by pharmaceutical
antibiotics.
)linical #er0ective
Elinically, the olive leaf etract has been used for a relatively short time. Health
professionals began using it early in 0??8 when it first became available.
'lthough we do not have long-term perspectives as yet, initial results are very
positive. 5e see a very promising and uniCue herbal with multiple applications.
*t shows considerable therapeutic action against many common conditions. *n
short, it appears to be living up to its uniCue background and epectations.
+rom research and clinical eperience to date, we can say that supplemental
olive leaf etract may be beneficial in the treatment for conditions caused by, or
associated with, a virus, retrovirus, bacterium, or protozoan. 'mong such
conditions are influenza, the common cold, meningitis, 1pstein-&arr Dirus (1&D),
encephalitis, herpes * and **, human herpes virus @ and 3, shingles,
H*DB'7EB'*;S, chronic fatigue, hepatitis &, pneumonia, tuberculosis,
gonorrhea, malaria, dengue, bacteremia, severe diarrhea, blood poisoning, and
dental, ear, urinary tract and surgical infections.
*n our clinic, we use olive leaf etract for a variety of infectious and chronic
conditions. 5e 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 etract as a preventive agent.
's * mentioned earlier, * am constantly surprised by unepected benefits
reported by patients. !his indicates that we are perhaps "ust scratching the
surface in our understanding of phytochemical benefits. #atients have told me
about improved psoriasis, normalization of arrhythmias (heart beat
irregularities), and less pain from hemorroids, toothaches and chronically achy
"oints.
* myself cured a chronic toenail fungal infection after starting on the supplement.
*t had not responded to the many other nutrients that * 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 "ust from taking olive leaf etract alone. ' woman
with mild arrhythmia said her condition improved substantially while she took the
supplement and then slowly became irregular again after she ran out.
5e know from the oleuropein research done in the 0?@9s that the substance
improves blood flood to the heart and acts to normalize arrhythmias. Eurrently,
we are learning much about the cardiovascular benefits of the phytochemical
compounds found in grape seeds, onions, kale, green beans, broccoli, and other
vegetables. *t will be interesting to see what benefits the particular
phytochemicals in olive leaf etract produce for heart and arterial health.
#hil Selinsky, a naturopathic doctor at the *nstitute for Holistic Studies in Santa
&arbara, and biochemist 'rnold !akemoto, who has been developing patient
nutritional programs on behalf of physicians in 'rizona for 08 years, have found
olive leaf etract to be an effective addition to their array of natural healing tools.
'fter 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.
!here is no doubt that olive leaf etract has real healing power. *n a moment *
will go into much greater detail on how it has helped patients.
*t is important to keep in mind, however, that like any nutritional supplement it
should not be considered a cure-all or panacea. *n holistic practices such as
mine, individual supplements are part of a comprehensive program that includes
better diet, eercise, and stress control methods. !hat%s how we maimize
health and minimize symptoms.
*n such a program, a patient may start with supplement F, G and H, get involved
in an eercise program, and eperience perhaps 89 percent relief for a given
condition. !hat%s a lot of relief but then we keep trying to improve the situation.
5e now add another supplement, let%s say the olive leaf etract, and we get
another degree of improvement, often Cuite large. *n this manner, we continually
tailor the program of an individual patient for the best results. 'nd in this scheme
of things, olive leaf etract is making a very positive contribution. *t complements
all the good things patients are doing.
!here 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 ma"or improvement.
5e see that happen all the time. &ut usually it is all the elements in a nutritional
program that work together -- like a team of horses pulling a wagon -- that gets
the "ob done most effectively.
&iochemist 'rnold !akemoto puts it this way/ ,Olive leaf etract is not a single
magic-bullet. !here are very few such things, especially in non-pharmaceutical
medicine. *n many cases it takes a whole lot more than "ust one ingredient to get
over a particular condition. Get * find it a very valuable addition against chronic
fatigue syndrome and many other viral conditions, especially those that are
more tenacious. *t fills a hole that we haven%t been able to fill before.,
*n the !ownsend Letter article, !akemoto told =orton 5alker that he has ,yet to
discover another herbal substance that accomplishes antimicrobially what this
substance achieves.,
!akemoto went on to say that Lisa 5einrib, =.;., one of the physicians he
works with, treats many cases of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
She has noticed that patients with these problems ehibit much improvement
from use of the etract, according to !akemoto. ,*t%s the missing link that
functions as an antiviral and antiretroviral agent by slowing down the organism%s
reproductive cycle. ' slowdown...allows the patient%s immune system to go on
the attack.,
!akemoto says olive leaf etract has helped patients eliminate stubborn viral
infections they have had for years. One patient, who had suffered from shingles
(herpes zoster) for nine years, eperienced complete relief within two days of
starting olive leaf etract and other supplements.
,*n my approach,, !akemoto says, ,* target key antibody responses for specific
viruses, stimulate the immune system, and with olive leaf etract attempt to
inhibit the reproduction of the virus. *t takes everything to get over some of these
real chronic conditions.,
More Energy
One of the most freCuent comments we hear from patients after they start taking
olive leaf etract is that they feel more energetic and have a greater sense of
well-being. =any 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 inCuire whether there is an
,upper, in the product. !here is not. *t simply generates a natural ,upper, effect.
Healthy people who take it say they also feel this infusion of energy.
One of my patients is an 0.-year-old professional ice-skater who says that one
or two olive leaf etract tablets a day helps her sustain the high energy level she
needs for practice and performance.
*n my clinic, as in many others, fatigue is the -o. 0 complaint. * am not refering
to serious chronic fatigue situations but "ust routine tiredness, likely caused by a
combination of consuming a dead food diet and not eercising. !he average
person, of course, is not going to change eating habits and is not going to go on
a regular eercise program. *n such cases, the olive leaf etract looks like a
good source of pep for the pepless.
)*ronic /atig+e
*n my eperience, olive leaf etract also has helped in many chronic fatigue
cases, even the most serious. One female patient described to me what she
called a ,really Cuite unbelievable, recovery within one month of taking the
supplement.
,+or the last few years * have not been feeling like myself. *%ve had little energy
and enthusiasm for anything. !his is not my usual nature. * attributed it to
weight, unemployment and "ust being down. =y head was always somewhat
achy and * couldn%t figure out why. !he only way * could describe it would be as
a constant low-degree headache which never left.
,* started taking olive leaf etract and noticed an immediate elevation of my
spirits. 5hat * liked about the product was that it was effective but gentle and
didn%t make me hyper or unable to sleep. Iuite the contrary, * slept better.
,'fter a few days * began to notice more energy and a stronger sense of well-
being. !he cobwebs in my brain started to diminish. * also noticed a bad
shoulder and a bad knee started to get better. !he pain associated with these
"oints remarkably improved.
,!he only side-effects * had were a couple of headaches in the beginning which
disappeared with some aspirin. * started to feel much, much better. *t was
amazing to see the fatigue disappear and my general health improve. * couldnJt
believe * felt so well. * stopped taking the product after <9 days and eperienced
no withdrawal or anything. * simply felt better and that has stayed the same for
the last @9 days without the product.,
'nother female patient with 1pstein-&arr Dirus reported that the supplement
,has helped me very much in overcoming the tiredness * feel. *t has given me
energy.,
+or some very sick individuals, including people with chronic fatigue syndrome
or particularly heavy loads of virus or bacteria in their bodies, olive leaf etract
may possibly generate detoification symptoms -- known as the ,die-off effect, --
that may be unpleasant.
Such people may actually feel worse for a short time before feeling better. 's an
eample, many chronic fatigue patients suffer from an associated depression.
#atients of mine who toughed it out through the,die-off, period emerged highly
energized and no longer depressed.
!he ,die-off effect,, or Herheimer 7eaction as it is medically called, refers to
symptoms generated by a detoification process. *f you are sick and use this
product, you should be aware of the possibility. +or this reason it may be
advisable to consult first with a holistic health practitioner before using it.
*f you have ever used -ystattin to fight yeast infections, you are probably
familiar with this situation. -ystattin kills yeast. 's the body becomes full of dead
yeast, you may eperience a variety of deto 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 toic waste.
Olive leaf etract is potent stuff. *t can generate an internal cleansing action that
may similarly cause significant deto symptoms. 7efer to the net chapter about
what to do if you eperience such a reaction.
8%ie7off8 Effect
,;ie-off, symptoms can begin almost immediately after starting the supplement.
*t can hit different people in different ways. 7eactions include etreme fatigue,
diarrhea, headaches, muscleB"oint achiness or flu-like symptoms. Severity differs
also from person to person, depending on the etent of infection.
Keep in mind that such symptoms are positive signs. -evertheless, they can be
unpleasant. Some people may not want to continue because of the discomfort.
Others handle it better. Others eperience no such effect.
Here%s what to do in case of substantial detoification symptoms/
7educe the number of tablets, or even stop them altogether for a while.
Gou may need a day or two, or even a week, to allow your body to
process the ,die-off.,
5hen you feel better, you can resume the supplement at a low dose and
increase slowly.
Holistic practitioners can usually provide a supportive detoification
program for individuals who eperience a strong ,die-off, response. *n my
clinic, this program includes taking vitamin E to bowel tolerance. Such a
regimen is best done under professional guidance.
Other than the ,die-off, detoification effect among some individuals, olive leaf
etract appears to create no side effects. #ast research with calcium elenolate,
the derivative or oleuropein, included safety studies with laboratory animals.
!hey were dosed orally and also via in"ection. !he only symptom observed was
a mild irritation of the mucous membrane among some animals at the in"ection
site. Since olive leaf etract is taken orally, this observation is basically
irrelevant.
!he research indicated that doses many times higher than recommended are
unlikely to produce toic or other adverse side effects. ;uring 0??< testing of the
liCuid form of the product against the herpes virus, there were no observed or
reported side effects.
#otential Againt 9erio+ &nfectio+ %ieae
;eaths from infectious diseases, formerly on the decline, have recently taken an
alarming upward turn in this country.
'ccording to federal researchers, such deaths rose by 8.L from 0?.9 to 0??4,
pushing this category of illness up behind heart disease and cancer in the -o. <
spot of killer diseases.
5hile the '*;S epidemic accounts for most of the rise, eperts say there has
been an unusual increase in mysterious respiratory infections among the elderly
and blood infections among people of all ages. 5hen you eliminate the '*;S the
death rate during the same period for all other infectious diseases rose by 44
percent.
!he 5orld Health Organization (5HO), back in 0?3., looked to the future and
issued a report which contended that by the year 4999, sources other than
5estern, technological medicine would be needed in order for all people to have
adeCuate health care. !he organization subseCuently 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, eploding global population.
's we approach the year 4999, the wisdon -- and the urgency -- of this advice is
obvious in the light of the serious side-effects and shortcoming of
pharmaceutical drugs.
5ith the emergence, for instance, of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, natural
products such as olive leaf etract take on greater importance. 1ven if new
antibiotics are developed, new infectious bacteria would emerge that are
resistant to new drugs. *n the case of herbal medicinals, their comple chemistry
may often render them potentially more effective against a wide variety of
microorganisms for which pharmaceutical drugs prove to be ineffective.
A&%9
*t will be interesting to see if olive leaf etract can benefit '*;S cases. 5e know
that it inhibits the production of reverse transcriptase and protease, enzymes
necessary for certain viruses, such as H*D, to damage healthy cells.
*nformal, preliminary reports are promising.
=ark Konlee, editor of ,#ositive Health -ews,, a newletter on alternative
treatments that circulates widely in the '*;S community, has reported eciting
initial results with olive leaf etract, either in the tablet supplement form or
directly as a tea brewed from leaves, in combination with other ingredients.
!hose other ingredients, according to Konlee, have been found to be highly
beneficial over the years. !hey include/
-altreone, an immune-stabilizing drug used in the treatment of heroin
and alcohol addiction. Elinical trials conducted by &ernard &ihari, =;, a
-ew Gork Eity physician specializing in H*DB'*;S, demonstrated that this
preparation stops the progression of the disease and the decline of the
immune system in a ma"ority of patients who take it regularly. -altreone
stimulates key hormones regulating the immune system and the
communication between the brain and immune function. -o side effects
have been reported.
;-E& (dinitrochlorobenzene), a chemical used in photography labs that
is applied in small doses on the skin. !his compound acts as anti-viral
agent by stimulating killer cell activity. 'n estimated 3,999 patients with
'*;S have used this substance for some 09 years.
' blend of olive oilBwhole lemon "uice. !his ,grassroots, recipe appears to
be uniCuely helpful in reversing neuropathy, swollen lymph nodes and
wasting syndrome associated with the H*D.
+or more specifics on this approach, interested individuals may contact ,Keep
Hope 'live,, #.O. &o 43920, 5est 'llis, 5* 8<443, or by phone at 202-82.-
2<22.
Konlee reports that the combination, with added olive leaf etract, ,has
producted stunning results,, including viral loads dropping dramatically within a
month. 'mong the cases he describes are these/
0. ' patient had been using -altreone since October 0??8 along with weekly
topical applications of ;-E&. He had not used the olive oilBlemon "uice blend. *n
'ugust of that year he had had a E;. count of 399. E;. refers to killer ! cells,
which, along with so-called -atural Killer cells, are ma"or immune destroyers of
virus infected cells. !hey reduce viral loads and inhibit damage to the body%s
defenses.
*n :anuary of 0??@, his E;. count had risen to 0<.9. *n =arch of 0??@ he
added olive leaf etract at the standart dose of one capsule four times daily. He
initially eperienced a mild headache, a probably ,die-off effect., 5ithin days, he
reported a significant increase in energy along with the disappearance of
swollen lymph nodes. He said he felt 49 years younger. On =arch 40, his E;.
count had soared to 0?49M His physician said never before in his career had he
seen such improvement in an '*;S patient.
4. One patient reported that after finishing a bottle of olive leaf etract, one of
three Kaposi Sarcoma lesions on his chest vanished. He eperienced
headaches and flu-like symptoms for about two weeks, again a probable ,die-off
effect., Eontinuing with a second bottle, he said the second lesion was
completely gone and the last one was ,fading fast.,
His H*D viral load, as measured by #E7 technology, had dropped from 0@9,999
to <9,999 in two months. Soon afterward, he reported that his #E7 results for
H*D were now down to @?4.
<. 'n H*D patient reported his genital herpes vanished within four days of
starting on the olive leaf etract.
2. 'nother patient with Kaposi%s Sarcoma and retinitis added five capsules of
olive leaf etract daily along with -altreone and ;-E&. 'fter doing this, he said
that the sarcoma lesions stopped growing. !his prompted him to stop two drugs
he had been taking -- $anciclovir and &iain -- because of severe intestinal side
effects. ' few days after discontinuing the drugs, his digestion returned to
normal. He soon reported improved vision and that lesions were becoming
lighter in color.
8. One patient took the olive leaf etract by itself for about < 0B4 months. His H*D
viral load dropped nearly in half as a result, along with significant improvements
in his white blood cell counts. 'fter adding -altreone and the lemonBolive oil
drink, his improvement accelerated.
Her0e
* have recommened olive leaf etract to many patients with herpes. !he results
have been encouraging.
One man in his early 29s suffered from repeated lesions plus fatigue. *n a week
after starting the supplement, his lesions disappeared and his energy level
increased. He told me that olive leaf etract was the only preparation that had
ever cleared up the herpes. ,1ven the most minute blisters are gone,, he said.
' 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 ehaustion involved. 'fter one week with the olive leaf, the
sore disappeared.
!hese and other similar clinical successes are consistent with a private 0??<
herpes study in humans. *n that investigation, a weaker and ethanol (alcohol-
based) form of olive leaf etract was used by si individuals with herpes.
'll reported symptomatic relief.
!hree said their lesions disappeared within 2. hours. !he remaining three, who
eperienced no improvement, then received a stronger dose. One said that
three days later, most of the lesions were gone. !he other two also reported
doing better.
'll si sub"ects said the olive leaf etract produced better results than 'cyclovir,
a medication they had previously used.
/l+ and )old
7esults to date indicate that olive leaf etract may be a good weapon against
the common cold and flu. Eonsider the following letter written to me in 'ugust of
0??8 by a female patient suffering from persistent flu symptoms/
,* became ill with the flu in +ebruary and had several immune boosters, etra
vitamins and three antibiotics. =y fever was 094-09< every afternoon and this
continued even after the antibiotics. * developed paralyzing chest and abdominal
pain, being confined to the couch for weeks -- not able to hardly walk. =y weight
dropped to .2 pounds. =edical tests revealed nothing specifically wrong.
* started taking olive leaf etract on :uly 0.. 5ithin a few days my temperature
started dropping and it is slowly and steadily going down, so that some days *
haven%t needed to take !ylenol to reduce it. !he pain is subsiding gradually and
my appetite and strength is returning.,
't the time of her net medical eamination, the woman%s temperature had been
normal for a week. She hadn%t needed pain-killers for two weeks.
* 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 etract
fortified her against the constant eposure to germs circulating throughout her
classroom.
,* used to get sick all the time,, she told me. ,One school year * got strep throat
eight times. *f you sneezed at me, the chances are * would get sick. -ot any
more. 5hen many kids in my class were coughing, sneezing, and blowing their
noses before Ehristmas, * caught a slight cold and that%s it.,
Bacterial &nfection
!he ability of olive leaf etract to destroy bacteria was demonstrated
dramatically in the case of a @2-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.
'll efforts to alleviate his condition had been generally unsuccessful. 1ven a
N0,999 antibiotic specially made for him had not worked. He had constant
discomfort. His urine was cloudy ,and looked like soup., Often it was bloody.
'fter one month on olive leaf etract, the infections had vanished. 'fter si
months, the condition has not recurred.
!he doctor also suffered from freCuent allergies and colds and had to take
medication to keep these under control. !he incidence and severity were
significantly minimized with the supplement and as a result he reCuires
considerably less medicine.
-aturopath #hil Selinsky reports success against bacterial infections in a
number of cases. !hese include sinus and bladder infections and oral infections
associated with tooth or gum disease.
,Some patients have told me that olive leaf etract took down their dental-
related infections within hours,, according to Selinsky. ,!hey were Cuite
impressed by the response.,
!he general recommendation for olive leaf etract is four tablets daily. +or these
kind of infections, Selinsky recommends patients begin with two tablets followed
by another every four hours.
,!hat usually gets you on top of the situation,, he says. +or more serious
infections, tablets can be taken at shorter intervals.
One night a patient of mine developed swelling and intense pain from an
abscess and decided to take several tablets at one time. *t reduced the pain. *n
the morning, when the pain returned, he took a ,handful, of tablets -- about eight
or nine, he guesses. 'n hour-and-a-half later, the pain and swelling were gone.
!he pain did not return but a dental eamination determined that the involved
tooth had to go.
%iabete
7esearchers have found that the natural olive leaf compounds can decrease the
level of blood sugar. * have had several cases in my clinic confirming this
finding.
One involved a 08-year-old girl with "uvenile diabetes. !he teenager had been
regularly taking <89 units of insulin daily for control. 'fter one month on olive
leaf etract, she was able to maintain similar control with "ust 449 units.
*n another case, the blood sugar level of a diabetic elderly priest dropped from
289 to 0@9 after three months. *n an yet another instance, the blood sugar of a
middle aged man stabilized at 029, down from 489, after one month. He
reported a great increase in energy during this time.
!hese results are eciting. * look forward to more opportunities to gauge the
benefits of olive leaf for diabetics. 5ill it generate improved blood flow and
antioidant effects to help against the destructive vascular complications of
diabetes that contribute to stroke, heart disease and peripheral circulatory
problems6
!ime will tell.
!*e+matoid Art*riti
' number of patients have eperienced significant easing of "oint pain. 5e don%t
know yetprecisely how this is happening.
' male patient, who had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis five years
before, had this to say/ ,'fter taking all the medicines * could stand with no real
results, * was informed about some nutritional supplements. One of them was an
olive leaf etract.% ,'fter taking it for three weeks * noticied more fleibility in my
fingers, elbows, and neck. !here was marked relief of muscle tension
surrounding my "oints. Overall * am en"oying olive leaf etract with my daily
routine.,
M+lti0le 9ym0tom
One of our clinical observations is that olive leaf etract appears to work on
many different levels in the body. 's a result we often hear reports from patients
that a variety of symptoms begin improving.
One woman with chronic fatigue, freCuent colds, asthma, and vaginal yeast
infections said that all her symptoms had virtually cleared up within five weeks.
!he woman, a teacher, was able to take on new pro"ects she wouldn%t even
begin to think were possible before.
' male patient wrote a detailed letter about his eperience/
,* became ill in ;ecember 0??< and was diagnosed with a stomach and
prostrate infection. * was treated with high doses of antibiotics, but never fully
recovered. * was troubled with multiple symptoms, some of which were back and
neck pain, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, swollen glands, sinus and digestive
problems. * was subseCuently diagnosed with fibromyalgia (chronic fatigue
syndrome) and the physicians recommeded #rozac-type antidepressants and
anti-inflammatory drugs. &ut * refused them. * began taking olive leaf etract
along with my regular vitamin and mineral supplements in 'ugust of 0??8 at the
rate of one tablet every si hours. * increased the dosage after five days and
began to feel better.,
,* tried different dosages for a number of days until * found the optimum amount
for me. !oday * take three tablets four times a day. =y overall health has greatly
improved and so has my energy and disposition. One very interesting thing has
occurred. =y finger nails were infected, by whatever infection * had, leaving
them wrinkled looking. -ow they are slowly returning to their normal shape.,
' female patient, after taking olive leaf etract for a month, gave me this happy
report/
,*t has improved my allergy-like psoriasis, and symptoms of a kidney infection. *
have been having back aches for almost a year and freCuent urination. !hese
have improved a lot also.
/+ng+ and :eat &nfection
1arlier * mentioned my own positive eperience with olive leaf etract. * started
taking the supplement and it completely cleared up a stubborn toenail fungus
infection. ' number of other patients have told me similar stories.
' woman with an infection of the large toenail said that within @9 days her
condition was about three-Cuarters healed. +or five years, she had tried many
types of medication and natural agents without help.
=ore than 09 million 'mericans are said to have disfiguring fungal nail
infections, a widely ignored medical problem. *t is freCuently found among
patients with '*;S, 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. ;rugs taken for cancer and '*;S lower
resistance and are believed to make people more susceptible to infection.
+or the first time in <8 years, a new drug has been approved for the condition. *t
is called Sporano and is reported to be more effective than previous anti-fungal
preparations. &ut none of these preparations come cheap. #atricia 'nstett of the
Knight-7idder -ewspapers reports that two 099-milligram pills of Sprorano are
taken daily for about three months at a cost of N?99. Older drugs, taken for 04
months or more, cost double or more that amount over the longer duration.
1ven with the new drug, the condition may return if the medication is stopped.
Olive leaf etract may offer a natural -- and for sure, less epensive -- method of
self-treatment.
One patient said a fungal infection of the tongue he had for <9 years responded
virtually overnight to the olive leaf. ,* had tried all kinds of diets, treatments and
regimes but to no avail,, he told me. ,5ithin three weeks on olive leaf etract the
fungus disappearedM,
=ore than a dozen patients with candidiasis have reported significant
improvements. !hey 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. &efore olive leaf etract that would have been impossible
for her.
One <@-year-old woman, who had suffered repeated vaginal yeast infections for
several years, told me this account of her eperience with olive leaf etract/
,* have seen several doctors using conventional medicine. !hey prescribed
every medication available to combat yeast, all to no avail. 'fter less than three
weeks of taking the olive leaf supplement, all symptoms cleared up and have
not returned. 's a sufferer of herpes simple **, * would eperience outbreaks
several times a year. -ow, * have had no more flare-ups.,
9kin )ondition
' chronic scalp infection that had stubbornly resisted all treatment for more than
09 year responded directly to olive leaf etract within @9 days. !he patient wrote
me this detailed letter/
,!he condition would flare up causing very painful eruptions and lesions in my
scalp, which, over time, have killed Cuite a few hair follicles. =odern medical
doctors and dermatologists have been unable to eradicate (the condition). * had
resolved my self to the fact that there was no cure.
,* am satisfied that * am getting some significant results from using the olive leaf
etract. =y scalp remains a little tender, but the eruptions have all but ceased. *
am continuing to use the product about twice a day, and the skin color is much
healthier than it has been in recent time.
,-o matter what drug therapy my doctors have prescribed in the past, none has
provided me with the level of relief * am currently eperiencing. * would gladly
recommend this product to others suffering chronic skin aliments.,
' female patient reported better energy and disappearance of a rash in <9 days.
!he rash occurred in winter, or during times of etreme cold.
'ro0ical &llnee
Olive leaf etract may offer considerable potential in the treatment of tropical
infections such as malaria and dengue.
=alaria is caused by parasitic protozoans in"ected into the body by infected
mosCuitoes. #rotozoans, in case you are interested, are one-celled organisms,
the simplest creatures in the animal kingdom.
's far back as 0.43, reports have appeared in medical literature indicating the
benefits of olive leaf etract in the treatment of malaria. *n 0?9@, one report
stated that olive leaves were, in fact, superior to Cuinine for malarial infections.
Iuinine was preferred, however, because it was easier to administer. *n studies
performed by the Ap"ohn company, calcium elenolate, the substance within
oleuropein, was found to be effective against the malaria protozoa.
-ow in tablet form, there may be renewed interest in olive leaf etract as an
anti-malarial agent. #reliminary reports from Latin 'merica are promising.
' full-fledged case of malaria at a clinic in =eico was totally cured with a
dosage schedule of two olive leaf etract supplements every si hours. ' clinic
report said that the <2-year-old female patient made a steady recovery and after
si months, ,she was without any of the malaria symptoms, not even anemia or
shivers. Her breath is good. Her state of mind ecellent and she does not show
any signs of chronic or contagious disease.,
=alaria has been reported recently in !eas and continues to be a leading
cause of illness and deaths worldwide, particularly because of the development
of drug-resistant strains. ,*t is a continuing concern in the Anited States because
of increased international migration, travel, and commerce, , according to the
publication Morbidity and Mortality 3eekly !e0ort.
'nother serious tropical disease giving concern to public health officials is
dengue fever. !his ailment is also mosCuito-borne, in this case caused by a
virus, and occurs mainly in tropical 'sia and the Earibbean. *t can cause
vomiting, high fever, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain, and is deadly in 89
percent of the cases. Some 89 million people are affected each year and about
half a million reCuire hospitalization, according to the 5orld Health Organization.
7esearchers are trying to find a vaccine but no breakthroughs have occurred
yet.
*n 0??8, large outbreaks of dengue were reported by health authorities in 04
Latin 'merican and Earibbean countries.
%oage
Olive leaf etract is currently available in the form of 899 mg. tablets. !he routine
dosage is one tablet every si hours or four throughout the day. !ake the
supplement between meals for best results.
*n the case of bad colds or flu, you can use two tablets every si hours. +or
acute infections, some individuals have taken more -- three and even four every
si hours -- and reported rapid relief.
*f 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.,
+or healthy folks seeking more energy or the prevention benefits of olive leaf
etract, we suggest one or two tablets a day. !he younger and cleaner the body,
the more responsive it is to supplements such as this. 5hen a person becomes
older and more toic, more of the supplement is reCuired to do the "ob.

%r" Jame !" #rivitera$ M"%"
;r. #rivitera, =.;. earned his medical degree at Ereighton Aniversity and
completed an *nternship in *nternal =edicine at #rovidence Hospital in Seattle,
5ashintion and his residency at #resbyterian Hospital in San +rancisco, E'.
+ollowing a Elinical +ellowship in allergy, immunology and rheumatolgy at
Scripps Elinic in La :olla, he entered private practice in allergy and nutrition in
Eovina, Ealifornia where he practices today. 'ffiliated with the 'merican
#reventive =edical 'ssociation and the *nternational Eollege of 'pplied
-utrition, among others, ;r. #rivitera has served on the boards of several top
health organizations including the -ational Health +ederation. ' pioneer in dark
field microscopy, ;r. #rivitera has been asked to consult to some of our
nations%s leading vitamin manufacturers. He has a book soon to be released
entitled ,Silent Elots - the -ation%s &iggest Killer,.
!eference
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Soc. 0?<2O 8@/4008-3.
Samuelsson $, !he blood pressure lowering factor in leaves of Olea
1uropaea. Farmacevtisk Revy, 0?80O 08/ 44?-<?
Deer 5LE et al, ' compound isolated from olea europaea. Recueil, 0?83O
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#anizzi L et al, !he constitution of oleuropein, a bitter glucoside of the olive with
hypotensive action. Gazz. Chim. ItalO 0?@9O ?9/022?-.8.
7enis H1, *n vitro antiviral activity of calcium elenolate. Antimicrob. Agents
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1lliott $' et al, #reliminary studies with calcium elenolate, an antiviral
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#etkov D and =anolov #, #harmacological analysis of the iridoid
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Hirschman SH, *nactivation of ;-' polymerases of =urine Leukaemia viruses
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Heinze :1 et al, Specificity of the antiviral agent calcium elenolate. Antimicrob.
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Kubo * et al, ' mutichemical defense mechanism of bitter olive olea europaea
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$ariboldi # et al, Secoiridoids from olea europaea, $hytochem., 0?.@O 48(2).@8-
@?.
Harzuelo ' et al, Dasodilator effect of olive leaf, $lanta %e&., 0??0O 83 (8),203-?.
;epartment of #harmacology and !oicology, Society of #harmaceutical
*ndustries of !unis, Hypotension, hypoglycemia and hypouricemia recorded after
repeated administration of aCueous leaf etract of Olea europaea, elgian
$harmacology Journal, =arch-'pril 0??2O 2?(4), 090-..
Disioli + and $alli E, Oleuropein protects low density liproprotein from
oidation, 'i(e Sciences, 0??2O 88(42), 0?@8-30.
Eopyright P 0??@ by :ames. 7. #rivitera