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In other areas of the world, healers used herbs and other plants that were available to them. Modern scientific research has shown that many plants have medicinal activity. The benefits of olive leaf extract include reducing inflammation and treating infection, preventing infection and strengthening the immune system. It has been used to reduce high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and high cholesterol levels.
Traditional healers in China did not have regular access to the olive leaf benefit, but they did have an abundance of green tea leaves. Modern research has shown that antioxidants and other compounds present in the leaves have anti-inflammatory activity. The tea has been used for eliminating indigestion, supporting heart health, reducing cholesterol, treating warts and improving brain function.
Native American people were not aware of the olive leaf benefit, but they did have milk thistle. The seeds were used to treat a variety of ailments, but it was particularly valued as a liver strengthener. Modern studies have come up with various conclusions over the years, but potentially, it can be used to lower cholesterol and reduce insulin resistance, a major factor in type II diabetes.
Fruits, berries, seeds, spices and plants of all kinds have medicinal uses. These natural cures are not a part of mainstream medical treatments, because modern man had thought he had moved beyond the use of “folk remedies”. As it turns out, those folk remedies are safer and just as, if not more effective, than modern-day prescription drugs. In fact, many of the popular prescription drugs are simply synthetic versions of naturally occurring compounds.
A drug company can receive a patent for a synthetic compound. Naturally occurring ones can only be patented if they are combined in a unique way or isolated and extracted using a unique process. For example, one company holds a patent on a compound called “Opti-sharp”. It contains antioxidants found in marigold that are known to protect the health of the eyes and improve vision.
Knowing the benefits of olive leaf extract to those that suffer from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, one company has patented a concentrated extract called EFLA and shown that a 1000mg dose significantly lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. As far as a daily supplement goes, that dosage is too high. You can get the olive leaf benefit in a much lower dose, if the supplement is well designed.
Why not get the combined benefits of olive leaf extract, green tea, milk thistle and a variety of other plants and nutrients? Plain old magnesium has been shown to help lower blood pressure. Vitamin D has anti-cancer activity, a possible olive leaf benefit.
Studies in the US and Canada have shown that are vegetables and fruits are not as nutritious as they were even 50 years ago. It is nearly impossible to meet even basic nutritional requirements through diet alone. But, if you take the right supplement, you can prevent nutritional deficiencies and get the benefits of olive leaf extract, at the same time.
A kilogram is equivalent to a little more than two pounds. So, we might be able to extrapolate this and say that 75 grams would be non-toxic to a human weighing over 150 pounds, but that is probably stretching it. It has been shown that a concentrated extract of 1000mg reduces blood pressure. Thus, there are warnings concerning olive leaf toxicity to persons with chronic hypotension or low blood pressure.
Low blood pressure is not a very common ailment. High blood pressure or hypertension is much more common. High cholesterol is also a common problem, particularly in the US. About 20% of Americans over the age of 20 have unhealthy cholesterol levels. Typically, the problem is low levels of good cholesterols (HDL) when compared with LDL or bad cholesterol. HDL carries bad cholesterol away from the heart and arteries, transporting it back to the liver for excretion or reuse.
Extracts from olive leaves and other plants, such as green tea, have been shown to lower total cholesterol count and improve the ratio of HDL to LDL. Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil have similar properties, but fish oil should not be taken before surgery or in people that have a tendency to bleed freely, as it reduces clotting.
Extracts form olive leaves have also been shown to reduce blood glucose levels. Extracts from green tea have been shown to promote insulin sensitivity. Many plants have been used historically to treat type II diabetes, including Banaba, gymnema sylvestre and bitter melon. Curcumin, found in turmeric, also has proven benefits for that purpose.
But, while the effects of these plants would be advantageous to some people, it could be a cause for concern for hypoglycemic people, because their blood sugar levels are already low. So, while there is no evidence of any olive leaf toxicity, even at high doses for a healthy individual, those with health problems should carefully monitor their condition and use these plants sparingly.
For those of you that would rather use natural extracts instead of prescription drugs (which are typically accompanied by an array of unwanted side effects), your best choice is to consult with a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine or an ND. An ND is aware of, and in some areas can prescribe drugs, but he or she is also familiar with the health benefits of botanicals and would better be able to evaluate the olive leaf toxicity for your specific condition.
There is one health supplement on the market that was researched and developed with the help of an ND, a nutritionist and a team of scientists. The daily dosage that they have come up with is 50mg per day to help strengthen the immune system and contribute to good health. With a dosage like that, there would be no need to worry about olive leaf toxicity.