Olive Leaf Extract - Health Benefits

Olive Leaf Extract - Health Benefits

gastroprotective (protects digestive system)

neuroprotective (protects central nervous system)

antimicrobial (inhibits microorganism growth)

anticancer (reduces risk of cancer)

anti-inflammatory (reduces risk of inflammation)

antinociceptive (reduces pain stimuli)

antioxidant (prevents oxidation or cell damage)

I was trying to think of herbal remedies that people don't hear about very often and I came up with the olive leaf. 

Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that it is almost the olive harvest here in the middle east, but I can't say for certain. 

All though the olives on the tree right in front of my house are looking nice and juicy, just about ready to be picked.

Last year was actually the first time that I actually pickled some, they came out pretty good, but this year they are going to be even better because I got some really good tips from friends on how to do it better. 

Yes back to the olive leaf.

A bunch of years ago I made an alcohol extract for my mother to help her with her sugar levels. 

Just for your general knowledge olive leaf extract is made using 90% alcohol. 

The extract that I had made for my mother back then was able to keep her blood sugar balanced for a while and the effects were very noticable in her blood work.

The list of health benefits that I have written at the top of this post is from a post that i read in healthline.com here is the link if you would like to go through it yourself. 

https://www.healthline.com/health/olive-leaf-extract

After reading an additional article I find the research pointing to the effects of olive leaf on heart health, inflammation, blood sugar levels and antimicrobials has the most amount of scientific backing. 

But it is very important to realise that the other health claims for olive leaf are very likely true as well just that there have not been documented clinical research done on them. 

 

Herbs That Help Stop Bleeding

Herbs that help stop bleeding are also known as astringents.

The way that they work is they cause a tightening of the tissue.

Many well known astringents are also referred to as warrior herbs because those wounded in battle knew which herbs that grew wild could help to stop the bleeding.

The four that are mentioned in the picture at the top are just a few of very many herbs that can be used to stop bleeding.

Lavender oil is a great fix for small cuts and burns and is also soothing.

Aloe Vera sap can be used fresh.

And chamomile and yarrow can be made into a poultice, wrapped in a clean cloth and applied directly to the skin.

Cardiotonic Herbs

 

The inspiration for this post came after a friend of mine, a very young guy not even thirty years old, had a minor heart attack.

He is doing fine and the doctors don't have any clear diagnosis of what caused it. 

I really would like to suggest that he take Hawthorn berries, even just for a few months to help strengthen his heart. 

But the truth be told I don't fully understand how these plants help and affect the heart. 

Even after going through the research that has been done on these plants it is hard to understand the mechanism behind their effects on improving cardio health. 

Hawthorn is still at the top of the list of Cardiotonic herbs, while garlic even though I did not add it as one of the three cardiotonic herbs, is by many considered to be a cardiotonic as well. 

The second on the list of cardiotonic herbs is motherwort, the latin name for this plant is Leonurus cardiaca, so even the name implies its use as cardiotonic.

I found some very in depth research into effects of Motherwort that show how it actually helps protect the heart. 

Here is the link to that.

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2019/4303215/

The last on my list of cardiotonics is Convallaria, also known commonly as “Lily of the valley”.

The reason that I put it at the bottom of the list is because it seems to work like foxglove which is a strong heart stimulant and needs to be used with care.