Gold Source Labs

Numerous studies have shown that olive leaf extract is effective against more than 50 common organisms that can cause disease. It is especially good for enhancing the immune system and reducing fever, and records indicate it has been used since ancient Egypt. In the 1800's a powdered form of the leaves was used to reduce fever, and a tea made using the leaves has been a traditional treatment for malaria. Some of the best olive leaf benefits include its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

There are over 30 different compounds in olive leaves including polyphenols, tocopherols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. In the early 1900's a bitter compound called oleuropein was discovered as the secret to the olive tree's disease resistance. Scientists found that oleuropein lowered blood pressure, increased blood flow to coronary arteries, and normalized heart rhythms. Later research has found that a primary ingredient in oleuropein inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. It appears to work in a couple of different ways. First, it interferes with the amino acid production of microbes. Second, it gets into infected cells and keeps them from replicating. Scientists in the 1960's found that olive leaf extract was capable of stopping every virus they tested it against, including common cold and flu viruses, as well as many species of bacteria and parasites.

Olive leaf extract was used by Europeans before the discovery of antibiotics. One advantage it has over antibiotics is that it does not harm good gut bacteria. New research has shown how important gut health is for our overall well-being. Olive leaf extract can help a person recover from an illness without compromising the delicate balance in the intestines. Since experts believe that around 70 percent of our immune system is contained in the gastrointestinal tract it is of vital importance not to kill off the "good guys".

Olive leaf benefits are already at work before a person gets sick. Evidence has shown that it can help prevent sickness if a person takes it before exposure. Having olive leaf already in the bloodstream can reduce an attack by a virus, parasite, bacteria, or fungi before the immune system even has time to react. Studies have shown no ill effects from taking olive leaf extract regularly - instead, they show multiple benefits.

It is important to note when looking for an olive leaf supplement that the compounds found in olive leaf are work better together than any isolated form of the compounds. The best extract is made from freshly picked leaves. Gold Source Lab’s olive leaf capsules are made from an olive leaf extract from Spain plus organic olive leaf from various Mediterranean countries and come in all-natural, non-GMO capsules.

There are a variety of oil of Oregano health benefits as it is antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. This means the topical application of the oil can be used to successfully treat rashes, insect bites, nail fungus and various other maladies. The oil should be diluted with a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil for topical applications. Carvacrol, a phenol present in Oregano oil is a natural insect repellent, and it can be applied directly to outdoor surfaces such as patio chairs to ward off insects. It can also be diluted and applied directly to the skin so biting pests will search elsewhere for a meal.

Oregano is also high in thymol, a phenol with antibacterial properties that helps to support the immune system, as well as joint health by encouraging the healing of tissue damage. Carvacrol is another influential phenol present in oil of Oregano, and it helps to guard against bacterial infections such as candida, staphylococcus, E. coli and salmonella. Oregano oil can be used to support respiratory health by placing a few drops of the diluted oil under the tongue and holding it there several minutes before rinsing it out. Inhaling the steam from a pot of hot water with several drops of Oregano oil added has been shown to be effective in treating cold and sinus infections.

Oil of Oregano can be made at home, though it will likely not be as potent as some of the standardized liquid capsules available. And it does take up to two weeks to complete the process. The ingredients include chopped oregano leaves with olive, coconut or grape seed oil as a carrier oil. Simply place the leaves and oil in a sanitized jar before placing the jar in a pan of water that has been boiled. Leave the jar in the hot water bath 10 minutes so the oregano will release its natural oil. Place the jar in a sunny window for a week or two, and shake the jar every other day. The leaves can then be strained and the resulting oil placed in a sterilized jar and stored in a dark place.