Olive
(Olea europaea)
History and the Basics:
Many of us would never think of the olive being an herbal plant or anything more than the oil we cook with or a topping for a pizza. The olive though has so much more to it than this.
Ancient folklore says the olive plant sprang up when the city of Athens was founded. From then it was a symbol of prosperity and protection. And the people of the city would use the olive in cooking and the oil for fuel. Soon it became a symbol of victory and was awarded to the champions of the Ancient Olympic games. Athenian brides were known also to wear it on their wedding day to ensure fertility. The olive plant is mentioned in many ancient texts and on many ancient artifacts. It has been found in ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and even in the Bible.
Olives have been around since pre-historic times and is most common in the Mediterranean. In modern times you can find this plant though in many different locations around the world but the best. It is a very hardy plant, that can grow in the stoniest areas were many other crops would fail. It has a beautiful leafed colored with green on top and a silver underside. It gets up to 25 feet tall, with knarled looking branches and can live for 100 years.
Magickal, Folk Medicine, and a little more folklore:
The olive is ruled by the sun and represented by the element of fire and is known for healing, peace, fertility and protection.
Some people believed that if one hanged the branches over a chimney it was said then to ward of lighting and if hung over the door to your home would offer protection to all who dwelled there. It helped keep the peace in the home as well as at work. It is great if you are working in a tense environment to bring tuck a few olive leaves here and there to give off a sense of peace and tranquility and make the workplace a more calming atmosphere.
Ancient cultures used to use the leaves to make a strong infusion for an antiseptic for wounds. Still today the best-known use of the olive is for cooking particularly the olive oil. With more and more people become health conscious it is no wonder that people are rediscovering the many benefits of olive oil.
The oil can not only lower your cholesterol, it is great for massaging sore muscles, and can be great for easing pain from stings and burns. One of the favorite uses of the oil is to add other herbs to it and create a variety of different herbal oils that have can have so many wonderful healing attributes as well as wonderful cooking flavors to enjoy.
Some basic tips to remember when working with olives are that if an olive is to bitter to cook with try simmering it in water for 10 minutes. It will soften the taste of the olive. Also that when make herbal oils or any type of cooking the lower the acidity the better the oil will taste. This is usually marked on most bottles of oil, and some of the best still come from Italy and Spain.
There is so much to the olive that with a little exploring one could find so much information that I could place in this little article. I hope that it intrigues and that the next time you order that pizza with olives or sprinkle you salad with a little flavored olive oil that you will remember the many wonderful attributes of the olive plant.
Information for this article came from my personal knowledge and from:
Cunnigham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunnigham
The Encyclopedia of Herbs , Spices and Flavorings by Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz
A Modern Herbal, Volume II by Mrs. M. Grieve
*The information presented above does not intend to treat, diagnose or prescribe. Before using any herbal substance one should seek the advice of a doctor or physicians assistant.*
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