difference of olive oil and olive pomace oil

While olive oil in general was extensively used for healing in ancient traditions, pomace olive oil specifically was not a distinct product used in this way. The health benefits and healing properties in antiquity were associated with high-quality virgin olive oil, which contains beneficial compounds largely absent in modern pomace oil.  Olive Oil in Ancient Traditions Ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians revered olive oil for its medicinal and therapeutic properties.  Medical Applications: Physicians like Hippocrates, known as the "great healer", prescribed olive oil for various ailments, including skin conditions, wound healing, and digestive issues. Roman author Pliny the Elder recommended it for use with medicinal herbs and as a cure for nettle stings. Hygiene and Rituals: Olive oil was a vital part of health regimes, used for cleansing, anointing, and in religious rituals in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Associated with Quality: The "liquid gold" (as Homer called it) used in these practices was the result of the initial, often cold-pressed, extraction of the oil, rich in natural antioxidants and polyphenols.  Modern Pomace Olive Oil Pomace olive oil is a modern product resulting from an industrial process designed to extract the last bit of oil from the leftover olive pulp (pomace) after the initial pressings.  Extraction Method: Unlike virgin or extra virgin olive oil, pomace oil is produced using heat and chemical solvents like hexane. Composition: This refining process removes most of the beneficial phenolic compounds and antioxidants that are responsible for the well-known healing properties of high-quality olive oil. Current Uses: Pomace oil is primarily a cheaper, high-smoke-point cooking oil, and while it still contains healthy monounsaturated fats (oleic acid) and added vitamins A, D, E, and K, it does not offer the same extensive range of natural benefits as extra virgin olive oil.  In essence, the "olive oil" used for ancient healing was a different, higher-quality product than the chemically extracted and refined pomace olive oil available today.