What are the traditional uses of olive leaf?

    Written by:
    Louie Neri

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Katie Jantz, Conni Covington
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Olive leaf has a long history of traditional medicinal use in the Mediterranean and parts of Africa, where it has been used to treat conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis. Additionally, it has been used as a diuretic, emollient, fever reducer, and a treatment for urinary infections and headaches.

    Olive leaf has a history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in the Mediterranean, including Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Israel, Morocco, and Turkey. Its use also extends to Africa, where the Sotho, Xhosa, and Zulu tribes also use olive leaf for medicinal purposes.[1]

    Traditionally, olive leaf has been used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis. Some other traditional uses for olive leaf include use as a diuretic, emollient, fever reducer, treatment for urinary and bladder infections, and as a treatment for headaches.[2][1]