It’s well known that olive oil is very good for us. Consequently, there’s a huge global demand for this food, even in places where it traditionally hasn’t been consumed. Recently, a lot more attention is being paid to the leaf of the olive tree.
Olive Leaf Supplement Benefits
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I do need to stress that I’m not suggesting that olive leaf extract is a cure for cancer. I’m only passing along already published information. The evidence I’m citing is on cells observed in a lab.
At least two potent anti-cancer compounds have been identified in olive leaf extract. There may even be more. With medicinal plants, it’s believed many substances work in synergy.
The olive leaf has a significant history, dating back to Biblical times. When Noah was wondering if the waters of the Great Flood had receded, he received a sign in the form of an olive branch, carried by a dove.
As with so many other plants mentioned in the Bible, modern researchers are coming to realize that they may have powerful medicinal compounds, very applicable today.
For instance, cancer in the United States has reached epidemic levels. For the year 2015, we can expect an additional 1.65 million new cases and 589,430 deaths. One of the leading types of malignancies is breast cancer, which will be found in 231,840 women.
The standards treatments for this disease are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, which is toxic and can cause potentially lethal side effects. One would think that all efforts should be directed at exploring alternative means of fighting cancer, such as natural olive leaf extract, which has been shown to obliterate breast cancer cells, at least in the laboratory. (I do need to stress that what happens in the lab may not happen in the body. So, at this time, no one is saying that olive leaf extract is a cure for cancer.)
Olive leaf is a medicine that’s been safely used for thousands of years, dating at least back to the time of Hippocrates. This famous physician used olive leaf to treat muscle cramps and digestive complaints. Many botanical medicines have wide ranging benefits, and affect the body on a number of levels.
Olive Leaf and Breast Cancer
Please understand that I’m not a licensed healthcare professional. So I can’t give medical advice. I also don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking that olive leaf extract alone is a cure for cancer. The opinions expressed here are solely my own, and should not dissuade anyone from seeking proper medical care.
All I can do is pass along information that’s already published. As someone who suffers from an incurable nerve disease, which is well controlled with natural remedies, I have a big interest in holistic healing.
Multiple papers have been published showing that olive leaf extract has potential to be an effective weapon in the battle against breast cancer cells, as well as other malignancies. These are studies on cells in a lab. This research is different from clinical trials in humans.
Here is what some researchers have discovered:
- In 2009, a paper was published in the medical journal Cytotechnology. It found that two compounds found in olive leaf extract, oleuropein and hydroxytryosol, were lethal to breast cancer cells in the laboratory. It’s possible the whole extract would be just as effective (and possibly even more so) against these strains. One trend is that researchers tend to use certain active ingredients, instead of the herb itself. Most herbalists believe this eliminates many other beneficial components.
- Other parts of the olive plant have cancer-fighting potential as well. Another paper, published in the Journal of Nutrition, found that olive oil kills human leukemia cells.
Health Benefits Olive Leaf Extract
Researchers have long known that olive leaf extract can kill a wide range of pathogens. In fact, it is one of the potent natural germ killers that’s known. It can fight viruses, bacteria and harmful fungi.
Consequently, olive leaf is often recommended by both alternative and mainstream medical professionals for people battling chronic yeast infections and HIV. This herb is often part of various natural cancer treatment protocols.
On its website, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a standardized extract as immune support for people suffering from histoplasmosis, a fungal infection. This disease can be dangerous for babies, the elderly and anyone with a weakened immune system.
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Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not take herbal remedies, unless under the direction of a health care professional.
I’m not a healthcare professional, so all of the above statements are my personal opinion, and are not intended as medical advice.
