This olive-leaf extract supplement is the most effective anti-cold, anti-viral supplement I've personally used.  I discovered its properties on a fluke when a supplement manufacturer's representative sent me a sample bottle to try in February, raving about it's ability to kill off colds.  I am skeptical about claims like this because nothing ever completely takes out a cold out for me.  

By coincidence, the day bottle arrived, I was starting to come down with a cold that was passed on to me by my teenage daughter (it was going around her school), with the usual sore throat and stuffy head.  The next day my cold symptoms were gone.  When several colds went through my daughter's school (there were tons of colds this year with lots of kids out sick), our family took the olive leaf extract when symptoms emerged and stayed healthy.    As a result, this was the healthiest late/spring early winter our family has had in years.  As the flu epidemic has recently emerged in April 2009, I decided to make this product available to customers.

This olive Leaf extract is also offered as part of our flu kit.

Olive Leaf Extract Properties

Olive leaf extract (Olea europaea L.) contains oleuropein and the flavonoids apigenin,  luteolin, chrysoeriol, hesperidin, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol.   Olive Leaf extract has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Olive leaf interacts with the protein in cold and flu virus particles to halt infection, according to a recent report published in Alternative Medicine Review. The antioxidants contained within olive leaf have the effect of eliminating damaging free radicals, leaving far more of the immune system's resources available for fighting off colds and flus.  Olive leaf's combined qualities of boosting the effectiveness of the immune system and weakening the virus itself creates a powerful, safe and natural defense against these, and other pathogens.  Olive leaf is safe to take in conjunction with flu histamine blockers, and traditional cold remedies and may be used by people of all ages.

The main constituent of olive leaf is the phytochemical oleuropein, which is broken down to elenolic acid, has a powerful anti-bacterial effect, and the ability to interfere with critical amino acid production essential for viruses. Oleuropein is a bitter monoterpene glycoside of the class known as secoiridoids and is also one of the major components found in the polyphenolic portion of olive oil. Research suggests that olive leaf may be a true anti-viral compound because it appears to selectively block an entire virus-specific system in the infected host. It then appears to offer healing effects not addressed by pharmaceutical antibiotics. Olive leaf's broad wide-spectrum killing power includes an ability to interfere with critical amino acid production for viruses; an ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by inactivating viruses by preventing virus shredding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane; and the ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral replication.

Most of the research on olive leaf's anti-viral properties has come from studies on viruses of which herpes is a common one. In 1969 the research of Dr. Renis working with the Upjohn company, proved that a compound of oleuropein from the olive leaf could kill all viruses, including the herpes (both oral and genital), against which it was tested. After the active components were isolated in 1969, an upsurge of research has resulted in continuing discoveries. In 1992 French biologists found that all of the herpes viruses were inhibited or killed by extracts from olive leaf.

Our Olive Leaf extract is the most potent form of it, standardized to yield a minimum of 15% Oleuropein per capsule. It supports “friendly” microflora and is a vegetarian formula.

Ingredients: 1 capsule contains:

Dosage: 1 capsule 3-4 times daily between meals.  

Note:  If symptoms of viral, bacterial, or fungal die-off occur, follow  20-40 minutes later with toxin-absorbing supplement such as high quality psyillium, activated charcoal, or bentonite.  If die-off reactions are too pronounced, cut back or stop taking for a day.

Other Ingredients: Other ingredients: vegetable cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearate.