Name
The specific name “europaea” indicates its origin: the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.
Also Known as
- olive
Identification Keys
- evergreen tree
- height up to 15 m
- thick, gnarled and silvery trunk
- trunk and main branches have many large cavities and holes
- wild tree (oleaster) is bushy and spiny
- cultivated tree (sativa) is unarmed
- leaves not divided into leaflets
- leathery leaves 20-80 mm
- leaves are grey-green above, silvery-hairy beneath
- leaves in opposites pairs on shoots
- flowers in loose spikes
- each flower has 4 sepals, 4 petals, joined in a tube, and 2 stamens
- fruit size: 10-35 mm
- in first year, fruits are green; they ripens black in second year
- fruits are oily fleshed
- each fruit has a single large stone
Bloom Time
- July-August
Habitat
- grows in lightly wooded, rocky areas
Look-alikes
You can confuse the Olive tree with other Oleaceae
Medicine Uses
Parts Used
Fruit, oil, leaf
Actions
demulcent, emollient, antiseptic, astringent, febrifuge, antioxidant, cholagogue, hypotensive, hypocholesterolaemic, laxative
Systems
Digestion
- alleviates inflamed and irritated conditions such as indigestion, heartburn, gastritis, colitis and peptic ulcers
- stimulates bile flow
- helps in liver and gall bladder issues
- alternating with lemon juice, helps to dissolve and encourage the passing of gallstones
- helpful in diabetes; leaves lower blood sugar
- oil is useful as a laxative
Circulation
- lowers harmful cholesterol and blood pressure
- reduces risks of atherosclerosis, clots, heart attacks and strokes
- mitigates hypertension
- increases sweating and reduces fever, taken as hot infusion
Respiratory system
- soothes dry, harsh coughs
- helps in laryngitis and croup
- reduces catarrh
Immune system
- protects cell membranes against free radicals
- retards ageing
- reduces development of cancer
Externally
- To speed healing, apply to boils, eczema, cold sores, dry skin, brittle nails, insect bites, stings and minor burns
- warm oil dropped into the ear softens wax
- oil, mixed with essential oils such as garlic or lavender, relieves earache
- massage over kidneys for bedwetting treatment
- mouthwash with an leaves infusion heals bleeding/infected gums
- use infusion as gargle for sore throats
Harvesting
Leaves
- gather the leaves by cutting the stem to encourage new growth. Do not uproot the olive leaves wherever possible
- hang the stems upside down in a brown paper bag
- tie off the bag opening with a rubber band or piece of string
- hang your paper bag in a space for drying
- let dry for one to two weeks
- cut off the stems from the leaves. Some of the leaves may drop naturally from the stems as they dry in the bag
Fruits
- gather the fruits when they are completely ripe (October-December)
- put the fruits in clean water
- change water every other day for 2 weeks
- move the fruits in salted water