The olive has been cultivated since prehistoric times. While its culinary uses are well-known, its medicinal applications, which involve the leaves and the oil, are less familiar, particularly outside of the Islamic and Mediterranean world. The Muslim world, however, has always revered the olive as a source of food, oil, and medicine. The full appreciation of the olive was the direct result of both Qur’anic and Prophetic guidance. The Holy Qur’an, on the one hand, speaks of the olive on numerous occasions, presenting it as a sign of God, and inciting Muslims to ponder upon its properties (6:99; 6:141; 16:11; 24:35; 80:29; 95:1). The Prophet Muhammad, on the other hand, lauded the benefits of the blessed olive tree that provided food, oil, and various internal and external medicinal applications.

The Qur’anic and Prophetic guidance regarding the olive was followed by the Companions of the Prophet, the Followers of the Companions, and the Imams of the Muslims. Islamic scholars and scientists, inspired by the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet, dedicated themselves to the study of the olive and its various medicinal applications. As a result, the olive became an integral part of Islamic / Unani phytotherapy and was indicated as an effective treatment for numerous conditions from dry skin to leprosy, and from hemorrhoids to pleurisy. Time, experience, and scientific studies have all confirmed the medicinal applications of the olive.

While the Holy Qur’an draws our attention to the olive, the Prophet Muhammad often focused on its practical medicinal applications, encouraging his followers to “Consume olive oil and apply it as an ointment, for it comes from a blessed tree” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Muslim, Ahmad). He said, “There is olive for you: consume it and apply it for it is effective against hemorrhoids” (Suyuti, Muttaqi). He also stated that “You have the olive oil from this blessed tree: treat yourselves with it, since it cures hemorrhoids” (Suyuti). On another occasion, the Prophet said: “Consume olive oil, and apply it, since it is a cure for seventy diseases, one of which is leprosy” (Suyuti, Muttaqi). And, finally, Zayd ibn Arqam, has narrated that the Prophet used to treat pleurisy with Kust Bahri and olive oil (Tirmidhi).

As we can see, the Prophet Muhammad recommended the regular consumption of olive oil and its application, evidently to the skin and to the hair. He also said that olive oil was a cure for seventy diseases, and named a few of them: hemorrhoids, leprosy, and pleurisy. Let us then examine the internal and external applications of olive oil and see how they confirm the wisdom of Islamic herbalism.

Internally, olive oil is a carminative, a laxative, and a demulcent. It is beneficial for treating cases of flatulence, as well as peptic and gastro-intestinal ulcers. It reduces gastric secretions which is beneficial to patients suffering from hyperacidity and acid reflux. Middle Eastern, Japanese, and North African doctors endorse the opinion that regular consumption of olive oil prevents incidences of gastro-intestinal carcinoma.

While it may be good for the gastro-intestinal system, olive oil is outstanding for the cardiovascular system. Olive oil is a vasodilator, increases HDL, helps prevent atherosclerosis, lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, reduces blood pressure, helps regulate blood sugar, and has potent antioxidant activity (Zarzuelo, 1991; Samuelsson; Dept. of Pharmacology, 1994; Le Tutour, 1992). As a cardiotonic, it is indicated in cases of sexual weakness due to a debilitated cardiovascular system and diabetes. Olive oil is a good supportive treatment for diseases of the respiratory tract, including pleurisy and tuberculosis, and helps reduces incidences of the common cold, coryza, and pneumonia (Khan).

The benefits of olive, of course, are not limited to the gastro-intestinal systems. Both leaves and bark, for example, have valuable febrifugal qualities (Hanbury, 1854). To this day, people in the Levant treat obstinate fevers with a tea made from olive leaves. The anthelmintic oil procured from olive wood is particularly effective in eradicating ringworm and T. versicolor, and is used to treat fungal infections. When combined with other herbs, olive oil is beneficial in dissolving and expelling kidney and gall bladder stones. Mixed with parsley water, it is used to treat chronic constipation while on its own it is an effective diuretic.

Externally, olive oil is used to relieve pruritis, to soothe stings, burns, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia, mouth and lip ulcers, and dermatitis. In Cuba, research has shown the effectiveness of ozonized olive oil in treating herpes zoster, epidermofitosis, onycomycosis, chronic external otitis, ulcers, hemorrhoids, herpes simplex, genital herpes, vulvovaginitis, vaginitis, gingivostomatitis, keratitis, and other dermatological problems (Biological Oil). Applications of olive oil and henna leaves twice daily can help heal hemorrhoids while the concentrated aqueous extract of olive leaves and fruits is effective against dental cavities and leukoplakia in the mouth (Khan).

Olive oil is an excellent emollient. Grieve explains that “delicate babies absorb its nourishing properties well through the skin.” This is consistent with Imam Muhammad al-Baqir’s saying that “oil [applied] at night passes into the blood vessels and nourishes the skin” (Nisaburi). As a lubricant, it is valuable in skin, muscular, joint, kidney and chest complaints, abdominal chill, typhoid and scarlet fevers, plague and dropsy, as well as sciatica and arthritis. The leaves of the olive tree are astringent, antiseptic, and antimicrobial (Juven, 1972; Fleming, 1969, 1973). They are also smashed and applied externally to check excessive perspiration. Olive oil is also a good vehicle for liniments. It is indicated for dry hair and dandruff and is often combined with industrial alcohol to make a good hair tonic. It is also applied in eyes to relieve inflammation. The power of the seeds mixed with butter is effective for brittle nails. Combined with honey, the water extracted from the leaves is used as ear drops.

In Aztec herbalism, a mixture of annatto/lipstick tree powder and olive oil is indicated for the treatment of leprosy. In ancient times, in Greece, Crete, and the Levant, olive oil was also used to treat the same dreaded disease. In one preliminary study completed in Cuba, thirty people suffering from lepromatous leprosy were treated with ozonized olive oil. Four patients recovered, fifteen improved satisfactorily, and thirteen had to suspend the treatment (Hernandez).

While much research remains to be done on the medicinal properties of the olive and its potential applications, the present state of evidence makes it exceedingly clear that the olive tree, its fruit and oil, are a gift from God and an effective treatment and cure for a multitude of diseases.

Works Cited

Biological Oil and “Active” Oxygen: Applications. www.pannomagico.it/eng/olioapp.htm

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Society of Pharmaceutical Industries of Tunis. Hypotension, Hypoglycemia, and Hypouricemia Recorded after Repeated Administration of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Olea europaea. Belgian Pharmacology Journal 1994; March-April 49 (2): 101-8.

Fleming HP, Walter WM, Etchells JL. Isolation of Bacterial Inhibitor from Green Olives. Appl Microbiol 18; 856-60; 1969.

Fleming HP, Walter WM, Etchells JL. Antimicrobial Properties of Oleuropein and Products of its Hydrolysis. Appl Microbiol 26 (5); 777-82; 1973.

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Ed. C.F. Leyel. Middlesex: Penguin, 1980.

Hanbury D. On the Febrifuge Properties of the Olive (Olea europaea, L.). Pharmaceutical Journal of Provincial Transactions 1854: 353-54.

Hernandez N. et al. Applications of the Ozonized Oil in the Treatment of Ulcer Patients Suffering from Leprosy. www.pannomagico.it/eng/olioapp.htm

Juven B. et al. Studies on the Mechanism of the Antimicrobial Action of Oleuropein. J. Appl. Bact., 1972; 35: 559-67.

Khan M. Zaitoon (Olive): Cure for Seventy Diseases. www.crescentlife.com/ dietnutrition/olives.htm

Le Tutour B. Guedon D. Antioxidative Activities of Olea europaea Leaves and Related Phenolic Compounds. Phytochem 1992; 31 (4): 1173-78.

Samuelsson G. The Blood Pressure Lowering Factor in Leaves of Olea europaea. Farmacevtisk Revy, 156: 229-39.

Zarzuelo A et al. Vasodilator Effect of Olive Leaf. Plant Med. 1991; 57 (5): 417-19.