Olea europaea

Latin Binomial
Olea europaea

Common Names
Olive, olive tree, olivier

Species Used

Family
Oleaceae

Habitat
Mediterranean: wild and cultivated

Botanical Description
Olive is an evergreen tree that can reach heights of 30 ft. The gray-colored trunk is heavily grooved and the leaves are small and "leathery." Olive flowers are greenish-white clusters and the well-known fruit is green and only turns black when ripe.

Parts Used
Leaves and oil. The pickled fruit is also eaten as a food.

Historical Uses

Constituents
Leaves: Iridoid monoterpenes (6-9% oleoropine, oleoroside, oleoside, etc.), triterpenes (oleanolic acid, maslinic acid, etc.), flavonoids, chalcones, oleasterol, leine.
Oil: Mono-unsaturated fatty acids (56-83% oleic acid, 8-20% palmitic acid, 4-20% linoleic acid, etc.), 0.125-0.25% steroidal compounds, tocopherols. Mono-unsaturated fats reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol that normally deposits in the arteries. They also do not deplete the high-density lipoproteins (HDL) which deposit cholesterol in the liver to be broken down.
Fruits: Many of the same as the oil, but also some protein and many vitamins and minerals: vitamin E, many B vitamins, beta-carotene, zinc, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. Olives are also high in sodium.

Medicinal Actions
Leaves: Hypotensive, circulatory tonic, mild diuretic, astringent, antimicrobial, febrifuge, antioxidant & radioprotective
Oil: Demulcent, emollient, cholesterol lowering, antineoplastic, mild laxative, hepatic, chologogue

Medicinal Uses
Leaves:

Diabetes mellitus
High blood pressure
Arteriosclerosis
Arrhythmia
Rheumatism and gout
Viral and bacterial infections (esp. flu, herpes, or infections of the gut or respiratory system)

Oil:

Digestive tract problems (internal)
Constipation
Cholitis
Flatulence
Gastrointestinal ulcers
Diabetes mellitus (internal)
Atherosclerosis (Cultures that consume olive oil as their primary cooking oil have lower incidents of heart disease)
Dry skin, cradle cap, stretch marks, psoriasis, sunburn, stings, eczema, rheumatism. (external)

Fruit:

Diarrhea
Bloody sputum

Please Note: The information contained in this section of the web site is directed toward people with technical knowledge in the botanical medicine field. We provide this information as a service to naturopathic physicians, pharmacognocists, pharmacists, midwives, plant chemists and medical herbalists and we encourage health professionals to obtain a more general education in the area before applying treatments to themselves or their patients. Bastyr University assumes no responsibility for the results obtained from using this information. If you have a serious or lingering health concern, it is important to discuss it with a health care provider.

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