HEART FUNCTION

Olive Leaf

Olea europaea

also known as olive leaf extract

Moderate

Olive Leaf — Köhler 1887 botanical illustration

Leaves from the same tree that produces olive oil, used in Mediterranean folk medicine for thousands of years and named in ancient Egyptian and Greek texts. Modern research focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic support, with the most consistent evidence for blood pressure.

Modestly lowers blood pressure with daily use
Modestly lowers LDL cholesterol
Antioxidant action from oleuropein, the main active compound
Antimicrobial activity in lab studies — including against some viruses
May support healthy blood sugar and insulin sensitivity
Long traditional Mediterranean use for general cardiovascular support

Use caution with blood pressure medications — additive lowering

Use caution with diabetes medication — may lower blood sugar

Use caution with blood thinners

Stop two weeks before surgery

Skip during pregnancy and nursing — limited safety data on concentrated extracts

Generally well tolerated; mild stomach upset and headache occasionally reported

Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs · EMA Herbal Medicinal Product Monographs · American Botanical Council HerbMedPro

Works with

Garlic Olive leaf (oleuropein, ACE inhibition, antimicrobial) and garlic (allicin, blood pressure, antimicrobial) are combined in cardiovascular and immune protocols.

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