Olive leaf extract

[Seaweed]

I was perusing the hfs for something for dh's sort of a cold. I read all the labels on the olive leaf extract & they seem to just be made with olive leaves. Is there any reason we could not make our own with vodka & olive leaves if we have access to an olive tree?

[Wonder-Full]

I think MT talks of making olive leaf extract, but I haven't looked into it yet. I have an olive tree, and already make olive leaf tea for my chickens if they get a cough/sneeze thing (works too) so it's something I have stored in my mind if needed.

[magical1]

OK this is what you do

Harvest your olive leaf... take all leaves off individually and wash. Stuff into a jar tightly. Fill up to the top with vodka and let it sit for four to six weeks in a dark place. Give it a good shake every two days or so.

When this process is over you will need to strain and squeeze excess out of leaves. Keep the vodka liquid and put in dark bottles. This is your finished tincture and is ready to use. Easy eh!

My intake varies depending on the season and if I can feel a viral infection lurking. Dropper bottles are the best for administering. A few drops a day as a rule and if viruses are suspected I would do that once every hour.

It tastes horrible! Sorry. But it is an awesome and easy introduction into making your own tinctures.

You will all be kitchen alchemists before we know it!

[Seaweed]

I just need to make it into the bottle shop to get some vodka. The particular olive tree I am thinking of has been there for 20 odd years & doesn't get olives I don't think as it is too cold. It would be good to use the leaves for something. I did get dh some comvita olive leaf complex. it actually tastes good so there may be something to mixing it with some honey & I am sure I can taste manuka as well. Didn't capt Cook put manuka in his spruce beer as rimu tasted too bad on its own? One thing I think we all need to work our way to is being able to treat ourselves with plants from our own area.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Magical is the one who told me how to make it...

Her instructions were

Anyway the leaves (bruise them slightly) will be enough to fill a small preserving jar... you know the ones you get at the supermarket? with the screw lids? Stuff them in there nice and tight after you have washed them with pure water... Then fill to the top with vodka. You can put it on the bench to remind you to give them a shake every two days. Leave in for six weeks....

Then squeeze the leaves through gauze or a cheese cloth. Put the tincture into dark blue or amber dropper bottles and store in a dark place. Take four drops, three times daily. If you are suffering from an acute conditon then double that. ie increase the frequency and the dose. It tastes bloody awful. Don't say I didn't warn you!

[magical1]

Yeah that would be the old herbalist in me changing things slightly. I think it's better to let the tincture mature in a dark place now. Seem to have got stronger results with doing this. Can't give any particular reason why.

Have fun with this! hopefully you will end up with a viral free winter.:D

[Barefoot]

Dried Olive leaves can be taken as an infusion in boiling water just like tea.
http://www.creative-nature.co.uk/vmchk/herbal-teas/olive-leaf-tea-100g.html

I dare say tincture can be made from dried olive leaves from a herbal supplier if like me you have no access to olive trees.

[Barefoot]

Something i have just come across is herbal extractions using vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar should make a good healthy base too.
They may not be effective as alcohol extrations though, however the combination of ASV and olive leaves sound good to me.


see http://www.herbalearning.com/Herbal_Extracts.html

[kiah]

I buy OLE for my daughters, hubby and myself, but my parents have an olive tree....wouldn't the vodka be a problem though for children?? I know it's only used in small amounts but I'd still be concerned.

Barefoot, the ACV base sounds good....esp with a bit of manuka mixed in! ;)

Kiah

[magical1]

Kiah

When you are taking something as a tincture the vodka amount is minimal. We are talking about a couple of drops

Much more in cough syrup that NZs are happy to have their kids on.

You need alcohol to extract the chemicals.

[ema-adama]

I'm going to be making up my own olive leaf extract from the olive tree in our front yard. I am quite excited about it.... bought some vodka (40%, couldn't find 43%). Does it matter if the glass is dark or not?

[magical1]

No it doesn't matter if you use clear glass while it is fusing the herb with the carrier. When you have processed it then you will need dark bottles though... I order in bulk tincture bottles from Arthur Holmes and they deliver in NZ.

I've changed my method slightly

I used to just stuff all the leaves in the vodka... now what I have been doing is blending 50% Vodka and 50% herb. When it is ready to process in 6-8 weeks I then re blend it and squeeze through an old pillow case. Seem to get a better yeild this way.

As I said on another thread I've just done heaps of different ones... it's the processing and getting it all into those tiny bottles and then writing on them all that takes the time.

Have fun... once you start you'll be hooked.

Have a look around your garden or neighbourhood and see what else may lend itself to a tincture... Even Gorse is a liver support!

If you are doing woody herbs like cinnamon bark then you need a very high proof alcohol... I found some wild turkey whiskey with honey which is a fantastic combo... maybe just a little bit too tasty though! Really good for stopping sugar cravings instantly.

[cartersmom]

Kind os unrelated to making your own OLE, but is this something that one should take all the time or just when ill??

Also wondering the same about garlic extract???

[magical1]

I take it all winter long at the rate of 1oz daily. Start off with a small dose and then work up.

Garlic extract will keep you fungal, parasite clear and so I don't see why you shouldn't take it all the time...

[ZGT Mummy]

I've changed my method slightly

I used to just stuff all the leaves in the vodka... now what I have been doing is blending 50% Vodka and 50% herb. When it is ready to process in 6-8 weeks I then re blend it and squeeze through an old pillow case. Seem to get a better yeild this way.

When you say blend do you literally mean whiz them up in a blender? Then leave in the cupboard for 6-8 weeks, then back in the blender and strain?

We have an olive tree and I'm wanting to experiement with this before next winter.

I've just been reading a bit about olive leaf extract so am wondering if this, plus vitamin c is the best combo to give when illness is coming on? Kids as well as adults? What would the doseages be?

Also should this be used in winter prophylactically or just when sick?

How does this combine with things like that garlic, cayenne and ACV concoction and other herbs like immune tonics etc?

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

the olive leaves I put in the vodka yonks ago, are still in there. Should I just toss them into a blender, leave them a while, and then strain?