Olea europaea L.
Oleaceae
- Olive Tree
- zaitoun زيتون
- זַיִת אֵירוֹפִּי
- zayit eiropi
Tree
- Mediterranean maquis and forest
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distribution and other botanical details.
Medicinal Complaints / Uses
Olea europaea L.
System/State | Traditional Complaint/Use |
Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/ Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cancer | Cancer |
Anti-carcinogenic | 1. Apply oil locally to wound (caused by cancer surgery) until recovery. |
Fruit | B |
Cardiovascular | High blood pressure (Hypertension) |
Hypotensive | 1. Decoct leaves in water & drink x3 cups/day.(Z) |
Fruit, Inflorescence, Leaf | Z, B |
Child Health | Strengthen bones in infants |
Nutritive | Apply oil daily to skin all over child`s body. |
Fruit | B |
Dermatological | Dandruff/ hair strengthener |
Anti-dandruff, Hair restorer | Apply oil to hair roots. |
Fruit | Z |
Dermatological | Eczema on hands |
Anti-inflammatory | Squeeze fruit, remove oil & use remaining liquid ( "A'kar") to rub on hands. |
Fruit | Z |
Dermatological | Hair loss |
Hair restorer | Massage oil externally on affected area as required. |
Fruit | B |
Dermatological | Itch (pruritis) |
Anti-pruritic | 1. Mix olive oil + "'araq" (anise liquor) + kerosene + lemon juice + little salt & apply to whole body. |
Fruit | Z |
Dermatological | Open boil |
Anti-Infective, Vulnerary | Extract non-volatile oil (see NOTES 1) from fruit peel & add to any of the following: 1. Warm gum resin of Ferula asa-foetida + Cera flava (beeswax spread on a cloth) & apply to boil. |
Fruit | Z |
Dermatological | Ringworm on head (Tinea capitis) causing hair loss |
Anti-fungal | Mix oil + sheep dung or cook olive oil + scorpions after removing sting. Make shallow scratches on head with razor blade & apply to head. (See CAUTIONS |
Fruit | Z |
Dermatological | Skin diseases |
Non-specific | Steep ground fruits in solution of cooking salt in water for 5 mths; filter & apply filtrate externally as lotion. |
Fruit | Z |
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) | Ear inflammation |
Anti-Infective | 1.Apply oil externally to affected area.(B) |
Fruit | B, Z |
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) | Tinnitus, deafness |
Anti-tinnitus | 1. Extract non-volatile oil, (see NOTES 1) from olive peels & apply as ear drops. |
Fruit | Z |
Endocrine/ Metabolic | Diabetes mellitus |
Hypoglycemic | 1. Decoct leaves & inflorescence or leaves alone in water & drink x3 cups/day (Z). |
Fruit, Inflorescence, Leaf | Z, B |
Gastrointestinal | Chronic dysentery; |
Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal | Cook Eminium spiculatum in water then fry in olive oil; add lemon juice & eat. |
Fruit | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Constipation |
Laxative | 1. Drink mixture of olive oil + sugar before bedtime . |
Fruit | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Flatulence |
Carminative | Apply oil to abdomen as required. |
Fruit | B |
Gastrointestinal | Food poisoning |
Anti-Infective | Drink x1 cup of oil. |
Fruit | B |
Gastrointestinal | Gastric acidity |
Antacid | Use crushed leaves. (Admin. not specified.) |
Leaf | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Haemorrhoids |
Anti-haemorrhoidal | Boil Nerium oleander flowers in olive oil & spread on anus. |
Fruit | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Improve appetite |
Stomachic | Eat fruits pickled in salt or vinegar. |
Fruit | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Inflammation stomach & digestive tract |
Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent | 1.Decoct leaves in water & drink x3 cups/day. |
Fruit, Leaf | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Jaundice |
Hepatic | Use crushed leaves. (Admin. not specified.) |
Leaf | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Nausea & vomiting |
Anti-emetic | Eat fruits pickled in salt or vinegar. |
Fruit | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Regulate gastric function |
Stomachic | 1.Eat fruits pickled in salt or vinegar. |
Fruit | Z |
Gastrointestinal | Regulate hepatic/ biliary function |
Chologogue, Hepatic | Drink x1 cup oil on empty stomach mornings. |
Fruit | Z |
General | Fever |
Anti-pyretic | Warm non-volatile oil extracted from olive peels (see NOTES 1) & rub over body. |
Fruit | Z |
General | Prevent all diseases |
Panacea | Drink x1 cup of oil on empty stomach mornings. |
Fruit | Z |
Haematology | Regulate spleen function |
Alterative | Drink x1 cup of oil on empty stomach mornings. |
Fruit | Z |
Infectious Diseases | Malaria |
Anti-malarial | Cook in water young olive branches + Cinchona sp. + Artemisia arborescens + magnesium sulphate + sour lemon; drink mornings. |
Branch /twig | Z |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Kidney inflammation |
Anti-inflammatory | Drink 1 full cup of oil x2 /day. |
Fruit | Z |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Kidney stones |
Anti-lithic | Drink x1 cup of oil mornings until cured. |
Fruit | B |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Kidney stones/ sand |
Anti-lithic | 1. Extract non-volatile oil (see NOTES 1) from fruit peels & drink x1 cup mornings. |
Fruit | Z |
Kidney & Urinary Tract | Urinary obstruction |
Deobstruent | Drink x1 cup of oil on empty stomach mornings. |
Fruit | Z |
Mens Health/ Sexuality | Male sexual frigidity |
Aphrodisiac | Extract non-volatile oil (see NOTES 1) from fruit peels & drink x1 cup mornings. |
Fruit | Z |
Mental health | Soothe nerves |
Anxiolytic | Boil leaves in water & drink x3 cups/day. |
Leaf | Z |
Musculoskeletal/ Joints | Muscle contraction & spasms of legs/ feet (B) Muscle cramps in face & body (Z) |
Anti-spasmodic, Muscle relaxant | 1.Massage oil externally over affected area as needed. (B) |
Fruit | B, Z |
Musculoskeletal/ Joints | Reset & mend an incorrectly healed bone fracture |
Vulnerary | Cook aerial parts of Thymbra?capitata + leaves/young branches of "kharub" (Ceratonia siliqua) + branches of "el-ghar" (Laurus nobilis) + branches of olive (Olea) + branches of "saris" (Pistacia lentiscus) + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa); hold broken limb over steam for few minutes. After removing bone can be re-broken with a light tap. |
Branch /twig | Z |
Musculoskeletal/ Joints | Rheumatic pain in back/legs/arms |
Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory | 1. Decoct root in water & massage externally. |
Fruit, Root | Z |
Nervous System | Migraine |
Analgesic | Boil non-volatile oil (see NOTES 1) from fruit peels (can use vinegar instead of olive oil) + ground, roasted seeds of Nigella sativa & inhale through nose. |
Fruit | Z |
Nervous System | Paralysis |
Nervine | 1. Cook 1 cup olive oil + 200 mg Ruta bracteosa in x3 cups of water & drink mornings. |
Fruit | Z |
Opthalmic | Eye lesions |
Non-specific | Use crushed fresh fruit. (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
Opthalmic | Strengthen vision |
Visual health | Prepare salve from oil. (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
Oral Health | Bad breath/ whiten & strengthen teeth & gums |
Anti-caries, Anti-gum disease, Mouth wash | 1. Cook olive leaves in water + mulberry (Morus sp.) leaves & drink. |
Fruit, Leaf | Z |
Oral Health | Toothache & dental caries |
Analgesic, Anti-caries | 1. Decoct root in water & gargle x3/day or as necessary. |
Branch /twig, Leaf, Root | Z |
Pain Relief | Pain |
Analgesic | Prepare salve from oil. (Admin. not specified.) |
Fruit | Z |
Respiratory | Colds |
Anti-Infective | Crush leaves (Admin. not specified.) |
Leaf | Z |
Respiratory | Cough |
Anti-tussive | 1.Mix olive oil + jam + honey & drink before sleeping. (Z) |
Fruit | Z, B |
Respiratory | Pulmonary diseases |
Pectoral | Inhale incense made of olive pits (seeds). |
Seed | Z |
Surgical/ Trauma | Bleeding |
Haemostatic | Apply oil externaly as poultice over wound. |
Fruit | B |
Venoms, Bites & Stings | Dog bite |
Anti-Infective, Vulnerary | Warm olive oil + ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) + cooking salt & apply to bite. |
Fruit | Z |
Venoms, Bites & Stings | Scorpion sting |
Anti-venom | Kill several scorpions, immerse in olive oil & allow to stand. This mixture can be applied to scorpion sting. (See CAUTIONS |
Fruit | Z |
Women`s Health | Induce & alleviate labour |
Oxytocic, Parturient | Decoct resin & drink. |
Resin | Z |
Women`s Health | Reduce amount/ duration of menstrual bleeding |
Emmenagogue | Decoct leaves in water: 1. Drink x2 cups/day. or |
Leaf | Z |
Wound Healing | Burn & sunburn |
Vulnerary | Extract non-volatile oil from olive peels (see NOTES 1) & apply to burn + any of the following ingredients (see also individula plants) : 1. Verbascum sinuatum (mix ground, dried powdered leaves + olive oil & apply) |
Fruit | Z |
Wound Healing | Wound healing |
Vulnerary | Crush leaves (Admin. not specified.) |
Leaf | Z |
Other Uses
Olea europaea L.
System/State | Complaint / Use | Activity / Interpretation | Traditional Preparation/Administration |
Parts Used | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cosmetic | Emollient /massage oil/ skin softener |
Emollient | 1. Use oil as basis for oily decoctions, salves & ointments. |
Fruit | Z |
Industrial | Solvent for preparing traditional formulas/ salves |
Preservative / solvent | Add to olive oil small pieces of plant to be used medicinally; steep for 4 weeks in sunlight & filter through cloth. (Preparation keeps for 1yr only, after which the oil becomes rancid). (See CAUTIONS |
Fruit | Z |
The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.
2. In the recipes using olive oil for burns, ringworm etc.; addition of dung from various animals (e.g. camels) was an historical but long discredited way to treat these problems. It is highly dangerous & not recommended.
3. Z notes that some preparations using olive oil keep only for 1 year after which the oil becomes rancid.