Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Olea europaea L.

Family

Oleaceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Olive Tree

Arabic Name(s)

zaitoun زيتون

Hebrew Name(s)

zayit eiropi

זַיִת אֵירוֹפִּי

Life Form

Tree

Habitat

Mediterranean maquis and forest

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Other Uses

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. 2. Add 250 mg of ground black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) + 250 mg olive oil to 500 mg of honey; take x2 teaspoons/day until well. 3. Extract oil from olive fruits & take ? cup/day + salt before breakfast until well.	Fruit	B
Cardiovascular	High blood pressure (Hypertension)	Hypotensive	1. Decoct leaves in water & drink x3 cups/day.(Z) 2. Decoct inflorescence & leaves & drink. (Z) 3. Decoct fruit & leaves & take orally. (B)	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. 2. Mix olive oil + sulphur + sour lemon juice + salt + honey + "qutran" (Pix liquida or coal tar; see NOTES 3) & apply to itching area. 3. Mix olive oil + sulphur & apply to itching area.	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. 2. Camel manure (see CAUTIONS 2) 3. Colophony (resin from Pinus sp. & other conifers). 4. Ca(OH)2	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 2.)	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) 2. Extract non-volatile oil, (see NOTES 1) from olive peels & apply as ear drops.(Z) 3. Cook ground radish seeds in olive oil & apply as ear drops. (Z)	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. 2. Cook ground radish seeds in olive oil & 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). 2. Eat pickled green fruits. (Z) 3. Decoct fruit & leaves & take orally. (B)	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 . 2. Extract non-volatile oil from fruit peel (see NOTES 1) & drink x1 cup mornings.	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. 2. Decoct fruit in water & drink + sugar.	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. 2. Drink x1 cup of oil on empty stomach mornings.	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. 2. For Kidney stones: drink 1 full cup x2/day morning & evenings for 40 days.	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) 2. Apply hot olive oil after a hot shower. (Z) 3. Boil mixture of olive oil + Ruta bracteosa + Nigella sativa & massage affected areas with hot oil after hot shower. (Z) 4. Warm husks of Triticum durum (wheat) in olive oil, spread over cloth & apply locally. (Z) 5.Boil root of Dittrichia viscosa in olive oil + "qizha" (Nigella sp.) + "feijan" (Ruta sp.) leaves & massage painful areas. (Z)	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. 2. Boil root of Dittrichia viscosa in olive oil + "qizha" (Nigella sp.) + "feijan" (Ruta sp.) leaves & massage painful areas. 3. Cook ground fruits of Ammi visnaga in olive oil & use as massage.	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. 2. Cook garlic (Allium sativum) in olive oil in closed vessel to obtain ointment & apply to affected area.	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. 2. Rinse mouth with olive oil or water in which fruits have been pickled (especially for strengthening teeth/gums).	Fruit, Leaf	Z
Oral Health	Toothache & dental caries	Analgesic, Anti-caries	1. Decoct root in water & gargle x3/day or as necessary. 2. Cook leaves in water, add alum (hydrated double sulphate salt of aluminium) & gargle. 3. Grind dried leaves into powder & after rinsing with "'araq" of date (date liquor) apply powder to painful area. 4. Chew tips of olive branches. 5. Cook Origanum sp. + olive oil + cumin + vinegar & apply to tooth.	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) 2.Rub oil over chest. (B)	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 2.)	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 2. Add to bath & sit for 15 min.	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) 2. Lawsonia inermis (mix powdered leaf + olive oil & apply to burn. 3. Coffea arabica; add round roasted grains after first applying olive oil 4. Quercus ithaburensis; apply olive oil to burn, then sprinkle with powdered gallnuts (see NOTE 2) 5. Rhamnus palaestina 6. Lens esculenta 7. Salt.	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. 2. Apply oil alone or mixed + other skin softening substances.	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 3.)	Fruit	Z

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.
2. Apply oil alone or mixed + other skin softening substances.

Fruit

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
3.)

Fruit

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.

Notes

1. The oil used in these preparations is extracted from olive fruits. In many preparations Z describes the "permanent non-volatile faction of olive oil extracted from fruit peels". We believe this refers to the oil component that does not evaporate at room temperature. (See also Benincasa C et al (2012), "Non-volatile compounds of olive oil e.g. phenolic compounds stimulate taste receptors, bitterness perception, pungency, astringency etc. Volatile compounds, stimulate olfactory receptors, & are responsible for aroma of olive oil")

Cautions

1. Olive oil should not be used in patients with bile stones as there are reports that it may cause biliary colic. Topical application with olive oil rarely may cause an allergic skin reaction.
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.