Olive Leaf

[Jeannie]

I don't want to give my 12 year old son the flu shot this year and I hear olive leaf is very good to help immune system. Does anyone no if this is safe to use?

Thanks
Jeannie

 

[epileric]

As far as research goes olive leaf extract has been shown to have no benefits for the flu.

A recent review discussing herbal and alternative medicines in influenza treatment details evidence suggesting that N-acetylcysteine, elderberry, or a combination of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Andrographis paniculata may help to shorten the course of influenza infection. The article cites more limited evidence including animal or in vitro studies to suggest possible benefit from vitamin C, DHEA, high lactoferrin whey protein, Echinacea spp., Panax quinquefolium, Larix occidentalis arabinogalactans, elenolic acid (a constituent of olive leaf extract), Astragalus membranaceus, and Isatis tinctoria or Isatis indigotica. [39] Another review assessed the quality of evidence for alternative influenza treatments, it concluded that there was "no compelling evidence" that any of these treatments were effective and that the available data on these products is particularly weak, with trials in this area suffering from many shortcomings, such as being small and poorly-designed and not testing for adverse effects.[40]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_treatment