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Botanical illustration of Olive
CulinarySourced entry

Olive

Olea europaea

The Mediterranean fruit and its oil, the main fat of the Mediterranean diet. A review of 30 trials found olive oil lowered markers of inflammation.

Safety at a glance

  • PregnancyNothing recorded
  • BreastfeedingNothing recorded
  • MedicinesNothing recorded
  • Who should avoid itNothing recorded
  • AllergiesNothing recorded
  • ToxicityNothing recorded

Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.

What is Olive?

Plant family
Oleaceae, the olive family
Parts used
The fruit and the oil pressed from it
Where it grows
The Mediterranean region
Genus
Olea
Species
europaea

Also called

Olive Oil

Traditionally used for

  • Cooking oil
  • Skin and hair care

Traditionally described as

  • Rich in polyphenols

Health topics

Where Olive appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.

  • Dry Skin

    Long used on the skin, but research shows olive oil can weaken the skin barrier, so it may not help dry skin.

Traditions that use it

Safety

Side effects

  • Olive oil put on the skin can weaken the skin's protective barrier, so it may not suit dry or eczema-prone skin.[1]Study

What does the research say?

Traditional use

These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

  • Olive oil is the main fat of the Mediterranean diet, and many studies link eating it with better overall health. It has also long been used on the skin and hair in several cultures.[2]Study

Laboratory & animal research

Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.

  • In mice and rats, olive oil on the skin helped pressure sores and burns heal.[1]Study

Research in people

  • A review of 30 trials with over 3,000 people found that olive oil lowered markers of inflammation and improved how well blood vessels widen, compared with control diets. The trials differed a lot, so the authors urge caution.[3]Review or trial

In short

On the skin, olive oil can weaken the skin barrier.

Sources

  1. [1] Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils · DOI: 10.3390/ijms19010070Peer-reviewed study
  2. [2] Virgin Olive Oil and Health: Summary of the III International Conference on Virgin Olive Oil and Health Consensus Report, JAEN (Spain) 2018 · DOI: 10.3390/nu11092039Peer-reviewed study
  3. [3] Effects of Olive Oil on Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Function-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · DOI: 10.3390/nu7095356Review or clinical trial

This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.