Olive Leaf Extract Suppresses Herpes Viruses

My 90-yr old mother has just come down with her third episode of shingles, an extremely painful herpes virus infection of nerves. Two years ago we got compote control with 3000 mgs of lysine. Then, she was on a 500 mg daily lysine dosage, to keep the virus at bay. Obviously, that was not enough, and she's got a rapidly expanding case of shingles, centered in her ear and face, as before.

Consequently, she's now taking 4000 mgs of lysine, in 8 divided doses throughout the day, at least 20 min before eating, or 2 hrs after.

But I discovered that olive leaf extract has proven to be very useful against shingles. There are professional claims that it works better than acyclovir against herpes viruses.

If so, it would be interesting to learn the results of taking olive leaf extract as a treatment, or treatment component against Meniere's.

Olive leaf extract, it is claimed, also fights yeast infections, so it might be something to add to the fungus connection or cause of Meniere's. Consider this extract:

One patient said a fungal infection of the tongue he had for 30 years responded virtually overnight to the olive leaf. "I had tried all kinds of diets, treatments and regimes but to no avail," he told me. "Within three weeks on olive leaf extract the fungus disappeared!"

Again, what might that mean for a fungus cause of Meniere's symptoms? It's already been established on another series of informative threads on this board that fungal infections can be major or complete elements causing Meniere's symptoms.

If I had any Meniere's symptoms right now, I'd start taking olive leaf extract. I have no idea what a useful dosage amount or sequence would be. I suggest that those (few) interested read (with due caution, of course) this website:
http://curezone.com/foods/oliveleaf.asp

I've spent much of an afternoon reading many olive leaf extract information websites. I think this is something that really needs to be investigated and tried.

The website above has one very intersting section, where it cautions that olive leaf extract, when first taken, can have what the author, quite accurately, calls a "die-off effect." Formal medicine would call this a Herxheimer Reaction, where things get worse at the begining because the body is clearing away new dead tissue and chemicals the treatment caused when it attacked the causative pathogen. Many have noticed this when using other Meniere's treatments, noting that at the start, symptoms got worse, not better. The article above indicates that this means that the treatment is actually working.

It would be good for everyone undergoing any molecular treatment for Meniere's to read the entire article. Much of it applies, I think.

And wouldn't it be wonderful if olive leaf extract could be added to the expanding armementarium of over the counter and non-prescription things already posted on this board, things that are bringing authentic control and relief to Meniere's victims.

Sooner or later, I'm going to once again revise my Meniere's treatment regimen write-up, and I'd sure like to include something new that works even better with the things already in the regimen. The evidence for olive leaf extract's ability to control herpes viruses is very strong, perhaps rivaling lysine, and according to one professional statement, even better than acyclovir.

Some new things for all of us to consider.

--John of Ohio

 

Interesting to consider. I'm reluctant to give it a shot for now because I am having sustained results with the L-lysine, and other things I've been doing. If it does work better than L-lysine, then what dosage would one look at? The one thing I've hated about the lysine was swallowing multiple huge pills every day, so if I could get the same effect from taking less of something I'd be interested.

 

been taking the olive leaf for about 3 weeks. hope you are right about feeling worse. am feeling really crummy. my left ear is so FULL i could scream. will stay the course and see what happens. i take 2 or 3 pills a day. don't know if i should take it with lysine or not??!! will keep you all posted. God bless also my left affected side is swollen very odd

 

Read up on this supplement a lot today, and when I read that it can give you more energy, I couldn't get to my Nutrition Express catalog fast enough. MM is tough-the fatigue makes it tougher.
I'm only 2 months into the JOH regimen (MOST of the components) but I want to try the Olive Leaf right away.

 

Very interesting! I wonder how many olives I'd have to eat...? LOL

I noticed that the mg amounts indicated on many of the packages of this supplement may not be the most descriptive thing to look for; many of the supplements describe a certain percentage of the ingredient oleuropein; I would likely purchase based on a product having higher levels of that, rather than a certain number of milligrams; seems misleading.

Anyone have recommendations as to brand?

 

Wonder how different olive leaf extract is from olive oil. I LIVE for my extra virgin olive oil.... VK

 

I have found some relief for my MM with Nystatin and reducing my sugars. I am going to give Olive leaf extract a try..........any advice on the amount that should be taken?

Thanks John

~KT

 

KT,

Good question. How much should be taken?

I don't know. I have no experience (yet) with olive leaf extract, so I have to rely on just two things for this, the label-indicated dosages ("Take one capusle twice daily." -- on the one container I've seen.) The second source for dosage info is from postings by people using the stuff, and people recommending it. From those, it also appears that 2 capsules (presumably 500 mgs of standardized product) are recommended.

And you are referring to the use of olive leaf extract as a Nystatin adjunct, to assist that prescription drug's ability to suppress fungal infections. This seems to be a strong benefit from olive leaf extract, specifically from the active ingredient, oleuropein.

It has been noted by several authors on the subject that olive leaf extract, or oleuropein, works against viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens in the manner lysine works against viruses, whereby these agents simply reduce or stop reproduction of the pathogens. That means that relief will not be instantaneous, that the microbial bugs will have to wear themselves out, being then unable to reproduce. So as with lysine and acyclovir against herpes viruses, it may take some time for the olive leaf extract to do it's job. And this may be even longer in the case of fungal pathogens. Fungi reproduce rather slowly, so it might take some time to stop them.

I just checked all the records I have on olive leaf extract, and it appears that two 500 mg capsules taken each day, with meals, one in the morning and one in the evening, is the general dosage. But be aware of the Herxheimer Reaction, where users might get diarrhea or other forms of systemic discomfort at the start. When that happens, it is recommended to back off to one or no capusles for a few days, until the discomfort clears up. Then, resume the dosage regimen. The discomfort meant that the oleuropein was killing germs, and they had to be cleared from the system.

Someone asked about appropriate products. I do not endorse or specifically recommend any olive leaf product. But a quick online search showed the following to be acceptable (in regards to standardization):
http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Olive-Leaf-Extract-500-mg-60-Capsules
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=VS-1675
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWH158/ItemDetail

Keep us posted on your progress. The significance of fungal agents in the cause of Meniere's and related symptoms is becoming every more clear.

--John of Ohio

 

I would use olive leaf extract along with Nystatin and diet restrictions. I have been slacking on the diet these last couple days. Hard to stick with it when I am on the road!

~KT

 

Hi John,

I looked at some products also but got confused by how the Oleuropein is actually measured. So I took the three items you listed and made some comparisons. I would appreciate if anyone could shed light on what the "standardization" refers to in Oleuropein...is it in milligrams of the element, or percent of the element?

I reviewed the lables for these three; it appears that the NSI brand has the most and is the most cost-effective to buy. Thoughts?

[table][tr][td]Desc.[/td][td]NSI[/td][td]___[/td][td]VITSH[/td][td]___[/td][td]SWANS[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Oleuropein[/td][td]18%[/td][td]___[/td][td]6%[/td][td]___[/td][td]15%[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]#Caps[/td][td]60[/td][td]___[/td][td]100[/td][td]___[/td][td]60[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Price[/td][td]7.79[/td][td]___[/td][td]13.59[/td][td]___[/td][td]5.99[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Total Oleuropein[/td][td]10.8[/td][td]___[/td][td]6[/td][td]___[/td][td]9[/td][/tr][/table]

 

I have about 20 olive trees planted in my backyard. Anyone know how I could make a homemade olive leaf extract?

 

Thank you John, for this interesting information. i have taken it to heart since I recently found out I have a benign tumour which is encasing a fungal infection in my right sinus. The sinus cavity, according to the CT, has become completely calcified. Thus causing, the specialist told me, the endless sinus infections and colds that have plagued me for, well, years.

So the tumour will be removed on Jan 31. My Osteopath and NUCCA chiropractor both believe that it's removal should improve my remaining MM symptoms - tinnitus and ear fullness. The specialist and my ENT say...oh, not really...but the colds and sinus infections will be less frequent and less severe when they do appear. I am interested to see who is right!


I did buy a bottle of olive leaf extract - the instructions say to start with 1 500 mg pill and work up to 3 x a day - and take the pills inbetween meals. Once I recover from the surgery and all is OK, I will start with the olive leaf extract as a preventative measure .


On a similar note... I had a sore throat yesterday and after 2 doses of oil of oregano, have managed to beat it off. It was VERY sore yesterday and today it's just mildly irritated. I will take 2 more doses today and hopefully, it will be gone tomorrow...

All to say that over the years of being challegned with this awful syndrome, I believe that a mix of alternative and mainstream medical care is the way I will finally be rid of these symptoms. Here's to hoping!


Songbird

 

John, I am curious as to why your mother does not take one of the antivirals like acyclovir or famvir. Did it not work for her?

 

Her physician was just about to start acyclovir therapy during her last episode of shingles, two years ago. But the lysine simply turned off the symptoms before the acyclovir could be prescribed and taken. The physician agreed that lysine can also suppress shingles.

She had her first excruciating encounter with the disease back in the early 90s, where her doctor could only give her pain relievers, allowing her to grimace her way through the several weeks of pain. No lysine, no antiherpetic drugs in use back then.

With this resumption of shingles symptoms, last weekend, we immediately hiked the lysine from the earlier single 500 ml maintenance dose (which, obvously, did not maintain herpes zoster suppression) up to 4000 mgs, spread throughout the day.

But as mentioned, I also went to a local health store and bought a bottle of olive leaf extract, standardized at 15% oleuropein, and started her immediately (Monday) on two 500 mg capsules a day, one each at 12-hr intervals. Today, Wednesday, she reports that her shingles pain is essentially absent, with only two, slight, momentary bolts of pain of very low intensity. That contrasts with dozens upon dozens of streaks of extreme pain each hour on Sunday.

Very obviously, olive leaf extract is rapidly suppressing the herpes zoster virus causing her present episode of shingles. And the lysine is almost surely assisting. Much of the information on olive leaf extract when used against shingles indicates that for older people (Mother is almost 90.) it can take up to two weeks to bring relief. In younger people relief often begins in just three or four days. That's clearly the case with my Mother's present shingles episode. This is, just as with fighting viruses and fungi causing Meniere's symptoms, why a multiple agent approach is best.

In this case, it's lysine and olive leaf extract stomping on the herpes zoster virus. I'm eager to learn of those with Meniere's who try both the elements in my regimen, along now with olive extract.

I must repeat. Olive leaf extract is extremely safe, with no known health hazards or side effects, other than some pathogen die-off discomfort (Herxheimer Reaction) for a week or so a the start---a welcome but disconcerting matter indicating that the extract is actually working and on the way to bringing real relief.

And with further study of all the clinical and biochemical information on olive leaf extract and the active ingredient, oleuorpein, it appears the materials can help with Meniere's beyond nailing viruses and fungi in the inner ear. It also, like lemon bioflavonoid, vinpocetine, and ginkgo extract, dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow. That can help reduce or eliminate the hydrops, the fluid accumulation, of Meniere's.

If you've got an active case of Meniere's, give olive leaf extract a two-month or so trial. It may be a new, extremely helpful treatment agent we haven't used (or benefitted from) yet.

--John of Ohio

 

olive leaf extract has a positive effect for me on energy and colds...

 

that would be a dream for me! I'd trade the trees for some chickens!

 

Any idea what the active ingredient(s) is that is doing the trick? I too wonder about people who eat a lot of olives. My DH should never have a virus if it is in the green fruit.

 

The primary active ingredient (but not the only one) in olive leaf extract is oleuropein. But the Wikipedia article says this:

The primary medical constituents contained in unprocessed olive leaf is believed to be the antioxidants oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, as well as several other polyphenols and flavonoids, including oleocanthal.

Apparentlly oleuropein is found in the raw olive, but is removed in processing, as it's rather bitter and makes the raw olive unpalatable.

--John of Ohio

 

Just found this thread--don't know how I missed it before!

Interesting thing is, the last week or so, I have been CRAVING olives. I know olive fruit must be very different from olive leaf--but I was just asking my husband, "Why on earth am I craving olives--I usually don't even LIKE olives!" (And no, I'm not pregnant.)

I even wondered if I might be nutritionally deficient in something that olives supply, but all my husband and I could come up with was...salt?

Anyway, this is all fascinating! Thanks for posting, John!

 

Great info.
Thanks for posting.