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| Olive leaf extracts can help reduce knee pain and act as natural painkillers, a study by Swiss researchers has claimed |
A pill made from the leaves of olive trees may act as a natural painkiller for some people, a study suggests.
Patients with severe knee joint pain who took the supplement twice a day for six months reported fewer aches compared to a placebo group.
The clinical trial did not find any improvement in people who were in moderate or low pain, however.
The Swiss researchers who led the study say olive leaf extract could provide an alternative to traditional pain meds which can cause side effects after prolonged use.
The thin, flat leaves of olive trees contain high levels of compounds called polyphenols which are known to have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Inflammation is one of the biggest factor in patients with chronic joint pain.
Studies have shown olive oil can protect the heart by reducing the build-up of fatty deposits inside the coronary arteries.
Olives have also been credited with helping to lower the risk of breast cancer, ulcerative colitis and even depression.
Over six months, the participants completed a survey to assess their pain levels, which contributed to an overall Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) score — where higher scores indicate less pain. In people who started with the highest levels of pain, KOOS scores were around 65 in the supplement group, compared to 50 in the placebo group after six months
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