Scientists and those seeking the panacea for all man's ills have often pondered the "Tree of Life" mentioned in the Bible. The 22nd chapter of Revelation states that: The tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Although it is unproven that such a tree is currently growing on the Earth, there is considerable historical, religious and scientific information relating to the olive tree that causes many to speculate.

The olive has the special biblical distinction of being the first herb named after the flood. And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. GENESIS 8:11

Some believe that God may have been communicating something to Noah besides the fact that the earth was dry. In any event Scripture has far more to say about the olive - its fruit, oil, wood - than any other tree.

Olive oil was part of the special ointment used to anoint priests and kings, Solomon crafted the two cherubim who were to guard the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple's Holiest Place from olive wood.

Christ often retreated to the Mount of Olives with his disciples to teach and pray. In fact, the very olive trees under which he prayed on the night before his passion are still alive and healthy today.

There are several other biblical references to olives, but it is sufficient to say that the olive occupies a special place in Jewish and Christian history.

Even before the first book of the Bible was ever penned, man revered the wonderful fruit of the olive tree and the oil produced from the fruit. Today, the health benefits of olive oil continue to be extolled by both herbalists and medical science.

The ancient Egyptians worshiped the olive leaf as a symbol of heavenly power, and also used the oil extracted from olive leaves to mummify their kings. Modern science is still discovering the unexplainable preservation abilities of olive leaf extract.

Throughout the ages, tea made from olive leaves has been a popular folk remedy for combating fevers.

Medical reports from the mid-nineteenth century report that a tea made from olive leaves cured the worst cases of malaria. This tea was extremely popular in England for treating sick sailors and passengers returning from tropical colonies. A doctor from that time believed that the bitter substance in the leaves was responsible for various healing powers.

Early in this century, the bitter compound was isolated from the olive leaf, It has been determined that the bitter phytochemicals contained in the tree leaves provide the olive tree with vast disease-resistant properties.

These amazing phytochemicals allow the olive tree to live for thousands of years - they protect the tree against nearly every insect and bacterial predator.