With its extremely pleasant aroma and unique taste, bay laurel has been used by man for millennia.
With its extremely pleasant aroma and unique taste, bay laurel has been used by man for millennia.
The ancient Greeks and Romans already knew about all the health benefits of this plant, believing that it also brought protection and wisdom.
The use of bay leaves comes from long centuries in the culture of the Mediterranean peoples, in fact its importance was such that it was the symbol of the emperor in ancient Rome, a symbol of the highest social status and power of the word itself. .
Once upon a time there was always a laurel plant, laurus nobilisoutside the house to always have fresh leaves available.
In food, bay leaves are used as a condiment for their digestive potential in a wide variety of recipes: sauces, stews, spices for legumes, as they help in the digestive process.
We will now see the benefits of bay leaf, its medicinal uses and how to make tea from the plant.
Contents
benefits of laurel
The plant laurus nobilis It is able to provide several benefits to the body, as it contains high amounts of nutrients.
El laurel es muy rico en vitaminas como vitamin A, la vitamina C y varias vitaminas del grupo B como la vitamin B2 o riboflavina, la vitamina B3 o niacina, la vitamin B9 o ácido folico y sobre todo de vitamin B6 que contiene unas cantidades very big.
Additionally, it is an important source of calcium and iron, which is actually one of the highest sources of iron with 43 mg per 100 grams of bay leaf, and other minerals like magnesium, zinc, potassium, selenium and phosphorus.
Array Properties
Thanks to the benefits and properties of bay leaf, there are many medicinal uses. It is commonly used as a diuretic, appetite stimulant and also as an astringent.
It can also relieve colic, stomach pain and eliminate flatulence.
Moreover, the essential oil present in the leaves is extremely effective in treating muscle aches, bronchitis, arthritis, and other related conditions.
Bay leaves are also effective as a natural insect repellent as they contain high amounts of lauric acid.
Vitamin A present in bay leaves is very good for eyesight, hair and skin. Therefore, its consumption will treat degenerative eye problems and also premature aging.
Being a powerful antioxidant, it is an effective agent in the prevention and fight against certain types of cancer.
It also helps in improving blood cell production by having essential minerals such as manganese, iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc.
What is the laurel for?
We can enumerate its medicinal properties and uses as follows, summarized in the benefits of the laurel and what its leaves are used for:
- Relieves colic and gastrointestinal upset
- Relieves muscle pain and colic
- Acts as a diuretic
- Prevents flu and colds
- Prevents and eliminates flatulence
- Treats stomach ulcer problems
- stimulates the appetite
- Helps prevent cancer
- Improves blood cell production
- Improves eye, hair and skin health
- It can also be used as a natural repellent
How to make bay leaf tea
Bay leaf tea can be easily infused to reap all of its benefits. First of all, it is important to make sure that the bay leaf to be used is of good origin, preferably organic, or purchased from traders you know.
It is not recommended to collect the leaves of the plant on the street or in the garden, if we do not know for sure that it is the Laura Nobilis or as it is normally called the “eat”.
You have to be very careful not to confuse the laurel with the oleander, because in addition to the fact that they are not really the same species, the leaves of this plant are toxic to humans.
Ingredients for preparing bay leaf tea
To prepare the bay leaf tea, we will only need the following:
- 4 plant leaves;
- 500ml of water.
Preparation method
The method of preparation of this infusion of leaves of laurus nobilis it’s simple:
- Boil water.
- Then turn off the heat and add the bay leaves and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
- Finally, it is poured into a cup and drunk. This same tea can be served up to two times. It is recommended once in the morning and once in the evening.
To note: It is important not to consume more than 4 leaves of this plant per day, with the risk of overdose and intoxication.
The consumption of bay leaves and its contraindications
The use of bay leaf, through its tea or even in other ways, should be controlled and unintentional.
Excessive consumption of this leaf is capable of causing intoxication in the body, therefore special attention is required.
Additionally, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional before taking the tea if you are taking any medications as it may cause drug interactions. People taking diabetes medications or tranquilizers should be especially careful as there may be interactions with them.
7 alternative uses that will surprise you
Along with the medicinal uses of this plant and the different forms of use for our health, we are going to see other types of less common uses for which the laurel is used.
laurel water
This water is ideal for improving your mood.
Just leave 3 sheets of laurus nobilis in a glass of water all night and drink it on waking on an empty stomach.
laurel bath
Relaxes and tones muscles, relieves tension and worries. Let’s see how it’s done:
- In 2 liters of water add a handful of leaves of laurus nobilis (about 20 sheets) and boil for 15 minutes. Leave to rest for another 15 minutes. Filter and mix with bath water.
- Then relax in this bath for at least 20 minutes.
laurel balm
The balm of laurus nobilis It is useful for muscle pain, joint pain, herpes and skin problems.
Let’s see how:
- Crush a handful of ripe berries (it’s the fruit of the plant, it looks like a small olive) in a mortar, add water until it covers and bring to a boil over low heat until the water is dry.
- Squeeze the cooked pasta on a thin tea towel and reserve the rest of the cream. Use to massage affected areas.
- You can also make this preparation by crushing the leaves in a mortar and cooking them in a little water until they are dry. Beat the cooked leaves in a blender and press them in a fine cloth.
- Use this paste, pure or mixed with an oil (olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil or grapeseed oil) to massage painful areas or to cover damaged skin.
Laurel oil
Laurel oil is ideal for fighting acne. It’s very easy to do. Put a handful of bay leaves in 250 ml of extra virgin olive oil. In a dark glass because it is photosensitive and leave to rest for 15 days in a cool place. Empty the contents and use this oil to treat acne lesions and other similar skin problems.
burn the bay leaves
Inhaling the smoke from the burnt leaves facilitates breathing, reduces headaches and reduces nervous stress.
- Light a large, dry leaf and when it begins to burn, shake it to make smoke. Inhale this smoke and repeat it as many times a day as needed.
- Place the sheets of laurus nobilis dry in a pot of hot charcoal and walk around the house to spread the aroma (smoking the house with bay leaves is very relaxing).
poultice of fresh leaves
It is used for wounds and skin burns caused by nettles or other stinging plants.
Cook some freshly harvested bay leaves in olive oil over low heat. Let stand, covered, until cool. Use the boiled leaves to cover the injured place.
Against insects, rats and poisonous animals
- spread the leaves laurus nobilis around the house, inside drawers, behind furniture or wherever there are animals you want to scare away.
Can too much bay leaf be harmful?
Yes, excess of almost anything can be harmful and bay leaf is no exception, whether ingested, as we discussed in the bay leaf contraindications section, or used topically.
There can be reactions due to the saturation of the body that affect both our physical health (bad breath, digestive problems, low immunity, among others) and our emotional balance (excessive worry, fixed ideas and obsessive thoughts).
Do not use any natural medicine with laurus nobilis (including teas and baths) for more than 10 consecutive days and do not exceed the maximum dose of 2 cups of tea per day.
Before any topical use of laurel, you should make sure that this plant does not cause allergies. It’s rare, but it does happen, so try it on a small area to see the effect.