The small (in height) olive tree can be found along the coastal areas of southeastern Europe, western Asia and northern Africa, as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea. Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the Mediterranean region as the source of olive oil. Remarkable:

• Olive Trees can reach an age of more than 1000 years.
• The first description of an Olive Tree is from Crete!
• The Olive Tree (Olea Europea) is one of the few tree species which can even bear fruits on rocky or infurtile soil.
• The Olea is known for her longevity and continuous productivity.
• The Olea is a symbol for Wisdom and Peace.

Olive, a Bach flower remedy
Olive is the remedy for tiredness and exhaustion after an effort of some kind, such as hard physical or mental labour, or the long struggle against illness.
Olive can be usefully contrasted with Hornbeam, which is the remedy for tiredness felt before an effort has been made.
The remedy gives us what we need to restore our strength and the faith we need to continue an effort. We may feel energized; or we may at last be able to rest properly.
(From the Bach centre website)

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Olive oil, the kitchen oil, to fry and to massage with….

Olive oil can be used for preparing food in a marinade, to fry, and as the base for a salad-dressing, but it can be used also  as the base of a wonderful massage oil.  Olive oil is also a cheap and helpful bodycare product: take some soup spoons olive oil, warm it up a bit, and rub your entire body in with it. After that you can take a shower with a natural shower gel. The skin will look very healthy and shining!

If you would like to give this self made body oil a more personal  touch you could use some drips of essential oils, which you like. You can buy them in a good health shop. If it is difficult to make a choice: lavender is always very good. You will love it!

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More about Olive Oil: On Our Plate

This post was originally published in December 2010.