Laurel is an evergreen plant whose leaves are used as a spice. Laurel has been known to mankind for many millennia. For ancient people it had a sacred meaning and was considered an attribute of the gods. In other languages, the name of this plant sounds like this:
- German – Gewürzlorbeer, Loorbeerbaum;
- English – sweet bay, bay laurel;
- French – laurier.
Appearance
Laurel is a shrub or tree reaching 15 meters in height. The crown of the plant most often has the shape of a pyramid. The leaves are leathery, oblong and pointed at the ends. A characteristic feature of the plant: the upper side of the leaf is dark and glossy, and the lower side is light and matte. The inflorescences are small, white-yellow, collected at the base of the leaves into fluffy balls. The fruits are small, blue-black berries with one large seed.
Species
The genus Laurel has only three species of plants:
- noble– the most common type, it is the one most often used in cooking;
- Azorean– the stems of this plant are covered with short, soft hair.
- Indian– it can be recognized by the smell of cinnamon and by the three longitudinal stripes on the leaves.
Where does it grow?
Asia Minor is considered the birthplace of the laurel tree. Now this plant is widespread in almost all countries of the Mediterranean basin. On the territory of Russia, laurel can be found in the Krasnodar Territory and on the Crimean Peninsula. This plant prefers to settle in a mild, subtropical climate, close to the sea coast.
Blank
Bay leaf harvesting usually occurs on an industrial scale. Raw materials are collected twice a year, from mid-November to mid-February. The leaves are cut off along with the branches. At the same time, they act very carefully so that the tree can recover after pruning and after a while give a new harvest. Cut branches are collected in heaps and dried in a warm, well-ventilated area. The leaves are then separated, placed in bags and sent for sale.
Where and how to choose?
Bay leaf- This is perhaps one of the most popular seasonings in our country, so you can buy it in almost any grocery store. If you buy spices at the market, pay attention to the condition of the leaf - there should be no dark spots on its surface. Their presence means that the leaves were collected from a diseased plant. It is better if the packaging is vacuum sealed. Otherwise, the bay leaf should be transferred to a glass jar.
Sheet
Bay leaf is a seasoning that consists of dried bay leaves. Bay leaf gives dishes a spicy, slightly bitter taste. You can also add fresh bay tree leaves to your food, but you should take into account that they have a much richer taste and aroma, so if you make a mistake in the dosage, the taste of the dish will not change for the better.
In addition to cooking, this spice can be used in other areas, including medicine and cosmetology. Bay leaf is characterized high percentage content useful substances and therefore has a beneficial effect on the condition of the body.
Characteristic
- dark green color;
- sweet aroma with resinous notes;
- tart-spicy taste.
Nutritional value and calorie content
Find out more information about beneficial properties ah bay leaf you can from the video.
Chemical composition
The beneficial properties of bay leaves are due to their high content essential oil which gives a spicy aroma. The laurel contains:
- tannins;
- macro- and microelements – sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium;
- vitamins – A, C and B6;
- fatty and organic acids – caproic, acetic and valeric.
Due to the high content of phytoncides, bay leaf is a strong natural antibiotic.
Useful properties
- has an anesthetic effect;
- has a disinfecting effect;
- relieves inflammation;
- normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- improves appetite;
- has an antiviral effect;
- tones;
- calms down nervous system;
- accelerates wound healing.
Harm
Like any other spice, bay leaf can not only be beneficial, but also cause harm to the body. Thus, consuming large amounts of bay leaves often leads to constipation. In addition, in people with individual intolerance, even the mere presence of bay leaves in food may show signs of food allergy.
Contraindications
- pregnancy;
- childhood;
- lactation period;
- renal failure;
- decreased blood clotting;
- amyloid dystrophy.
Oil
Laurel essential oil has been used since ancient times to treat a variety of diseases. This drug was recommended by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates to relieve muscle spasms. Today, bay oil is used:
- in medicine – for colds, gastrointestinal diseases and skin inflammations;
- in cosmetology – for the care of oily skin and scalp;
- in aromatherapy - to fight viruses and to gain peace of mind.
Laurel essential oil has a rich, spicy aroma with a hint of camphor.
Application
In cooking
- bay leaf is used in canning vegetables, meat and fish;
- this spice is also added to sweet dishes - jams, canned fruits and compotes;
- bay leaves are used to flavor alcoholic beverages, most often liqueurs;
- Spicy sauces and dressings are prepared based on bay leaves;
- Bay leaves are added to soups and stews;
- this spice goes well with legumes and cereals;
- bay leaf is used in the production of sausages;
- You can add either whole or chopped bay leaves to dishes.
Pears in Muscat wine
Cut one medium-sized beet into pieces and place in a saucepan. Pour two glasses of nutmeg, add 1 tbsp. l. sugar, 2 tsp. lemon juice, 2 bay leaves and a cinnamon stick. Stirring constantly, wait for the wine to boil.
When the sugar has completely dissolved, place 3 peeled and halved pears into the pan. Cook, stirring, until the pears are softened and the liquid reaches the consistency of a thick syrup.
Place the pears on a plate and pour in the syrup, after removing the bay leaf and cinnamon from the pan. Serve the dish after cooling.
Stew
Cut 300 grams of any meat into small pieces. Cut 8 medium potatoes into 4 pieces.
Pour vegetable oil into a deep frying pan and heat it up. Fry the meat over high heat until golden brown. Then add the potatoes and add water so that the contents of the pan are half covered.
Add salt and pepper to taste, add 1-2 bay leaves. Cook over low heat for 35-45 minutes, adding water if necessary.
In medicine
Bay tree leaves are valued not only as a spicy food additive, but also as a source of beneficial substances that help cope with a variety of diseases, including:
- acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections;
- fungal infections;
- respiratory tract diseases;
- barley;
- stomatitis;
- insect bites;
- appetite disorders;
- chronic gastrointestinal diseases;
- food poisoning;
- hypertension;
- early stage of diabetes;
- joint inflammation;
- painful menstruation;
- psoriasis.
Folk recipes
- For lesions of the oral mucosa, you should chew a bay tree leaf (preferably fresh) 2-3 times a day until the inflamed areas heal.
- For insect bites, you should prepare a paste of fresh bay leaves (you can simply chew them) and apply to the affected area, securing with a bandage.
Infusion
- To relieve spastic pain, grind 5 grams of bay tree leaves, pour into a thermos and pour 300 ml of boiling water into it. Leave for 3 hours, then pour into clean container through a sieve. You need to drink the infusion throughout the day, several sips at a time. The course usually lasts no more than 2 days.
- For the treatment of psoriasis put several large bay leaves in a thermos, add 2 cups of boiling water and close tightly. After 2.5 hours, pour the infusion into another container. Drink half a glass of infusion half an hour before meals, 3 times a day until symptoms disappear.
Decoction
A decoction of laurel leaves is a healing remedy that will help cope with a variety of diseases, which we will discuss in more detail below.
Traditionally, a decoction of bay leaves is prepared as follows:
- Place 12-13 leaves in a saucepan and add 1.5 cups of cold water.
- Bring the water to a boil and cook the bay leaf for 4-6 minutes. Next, the broth is poured into a thermos.
- After a few hours, the infused broth is passed through a sieve and poured into a clean container.
The dosage and duration of use depends on the type and severity of the disease.
To relieve joint pain, you should prepare the following decoction of bay leaves:
- Place 5 grams of spice in a small saucepan and add 300 ml of cold water.
- Cover with a lid and wait until it boils. Boil the broth for 4-6 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat, wrap in a towel and leave for 4 hours. Filter the infusion.
You should drink the drug all day, at regular intervals. The course of treatment lasts 3 days, during which it is necessary to exclude meat products and alcoholic beverages from the diet. Repeat the next course after 7 days, then after a week, after 3 months and after a year.
In cosmetology
- tonic based on bay leaf helps to get rid of acne for a long time;
- alcohol infusion of laurel leaves effectively combats problems associated with excessive oily skin;
- a mask of bay leaf and olive oil moisturizes and nourishes dry skin;
- an ointment based on bay leaves and a mixture of oils is an effective remedy for relieving skin inflammation;
- A decoction of bay leaves strengthens hair;
- Laurel essential oil cleanses the scalp of dandruff.
In everyday life
The spicy smell of bay tree leaves repels moths and cockroaches, although fresh rather than dried leaves cope with this task much more effectively.
Growing
At home, you can grow a fairly large - up to 2 meters - laurel bush, but you will have to put some effort into it.
- Only a room with plenty of sunlight is suitable for growing laurel. In summer, it is advisable to take the pot with the plant outside fresh air. The most suitable temperature for laurel in summer is from 20 to 26 degrees. During the winter months, laurel needs coolness. Make sure that the temperature in the room where the laurel stands in winter does not rise above 15 degrees and does not fall below 5.
- The bay tree needs abundant watering. In summer, the plant can be watered 2 times a day - as the top layer of soil dries. The bay tree needs to be sprayed every day (or an air humidifier should be installed in the room).
- Laurels do not need to be replanted very often. It feels good in a pot, so make sure that the new pot is only a couple of centimeters in diameter larger than the previous one.
- Once a month, the soil in the pot can be fed with fertilizer from a mixture of turf, humus, peat and sand.
- The bay tree can be pruned into any shape. Best time for pruning - end of summer.
- Laurel can be propagated by seeds, cuttings or by dividing the bush.
- The beautiful Italian names Laura and Lorenzo take their roots from the name of the laurel tree. The ancient Russian names Laurus and Lavrentiy have the same origin.
- Legends and myths of ancient Greece and Ancient Rome are full of references to the laurel tree. Laurel wreaths were used to decorate the heads of prominent artists, whose patron was Apollo. The nymph Daphne, Apollo's lover, turned into a laurel tree.
- IN different times The laurel was considered a symbol of purity, power and eternal life.
- The laurel wreath can be seen on the coat of arms of Brazil.
What happens if you light a bay leaf at home?
Every good cook knows that for a rich and delicious soup you need a bay leaf. It emphasizes the taste of the dish, but in addition to the smell and taste, it has a number of other advantages.
Bay leaf has cleansing properties and prevents premature aging. Fights viral infections, improves health: from the respiratory system to the heart. But it can be used not only when preparing dishes, but also lit like an incense stick. The benefits are listed below:
1.Relieves tension and fatigue
Bay leaves provide a calming and relaxing effect when burned.
It is enough to light a few dry bay leaves. The most important thing is that you will not feel sleepy, but will simply relieve tension.
2. Good for the respiratory system.
Helps remove mucus and phlegm from the lungs. Inhale the scent of fresh or dried leaves. To treat asthma and allergies, rub your chest with bay oil.
3. Treats dandruff.
To treat dandruff, combine bay oil + warmed jojoba oil. Rub this mixture into your scalp, then wrap your head in a towel. Keep for 15 to 60 minutes. Also you can add small quantity bay oil into your favorite shampoo to prevent dandruff.
4.Fights diabetes.
Studies have shown bay leaf to be an effective remedy for treating patients with type 2 diabetes. Consuming just three grams of bay leaf per day reduces glucose levels.
5. Good for digestion.
In cultures from the Mediterranean to East Asia who use alternative medicine, bay leaves are believed to have warming and healing properties. According to Ayurveda, this plant enhances the “digestive fire”. Add it to your food or rub bay oil into your stomach, which promotes the secretion of gastric juice, enzymes and bile.
6. Good for the heart.
An organic compound in bay leaves called caffeic acid is known to strengthen the walls of blood vessels in the heart, helping to get rid of bad cholesterol.
7. Helps with joint inflammation.
A 2003 study published in Phytotherapy Research found that the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of bay oil were similar to those of morphine. To relieve pain, simply apply the oil to the inflamed joints.
7. Treats urinary tract infections.
Mix powdered bay leaf with milk. This old recipe will help you cope with urinary infections.
Bay leaf is a plant that has many truly beneficial properties. One of the main advantages is its availability. Consume it every day dried or in the form of oil.
We will talk about a plant that has long become a common component of all first and second courses and canned vegetables. This is an essential bay leaf. Medicinal properties few people know him. But with the help of this seasoning you can improve the condition of your skin and hair, quickly get rid of an exhausting cold, normalize sleep, strengthen the nervous system, lower blood glucose levels and even alleviate the plight of cancer patients.
Content:
Beneficial properties of bay leaf
Bay leaves are used in food not only for their spicy qualities, which improve the taste and aroma of any dish. It is primarily valuable for its essential oils, thanks to which it has become an indispensable component in the treatment of certain diseases. Cineole and camphor are extracted from bay leaves. And the vitamins and microelements included in its composition help improve the condition during exacerbation of rheumatological diseases, improve appetite, support weakened immunity and even help cope with tuberculosis.
The medicinal properties of bay leaves are used in the treatment and prevention of the following diseases:
- arthritis and arthrosis;
- diabetes;
- stomatitis;
- neuroses;
- violations menstrual cycle;
- colds;
- bruises and damaged ligaments;
- some types of oncology.
Bay leaf is used to improve the condition of the skin, because it is a powerful antiseptic that can cope with pimples, blackheads, and lighten pigmentation. In addition, it is successfully used in restoring and strengthening the immune system.
How to choose the right bay leaf for medicinal purposes
Bay leaves can be bought either packaged in bags or in the form of bundles of twigs with leaves. It is important that it is clean, with a uniform dark green leaf color. Brown spots indicate improper storage or processing of raw materials, as well as a plant disease.
You should also smell it. Fresh and high-quality leaves have a strong, pleasant, characteristic aroma. If the bay leaf tastes bitter, then it is spoiled and is not suitable for treatment or use as food.
How and how long to store bay leaves
It is better to store bay leaves in glass or vacuum containers or a paper bag. The shelf life is short, 2-3 months. You can extend it if you dry the sheets well, make sure that no dampness gets into them, and close them tightly in a container. The need to replace bay leaves will be indicated by the same pronounced bitter aroma.
Recipes for using bay leaves
Methods for preparing bay leaf for solution various problems health-related are slightly different from each other. You should carefully follow the recipe and be sure to consult with your doctor before using the plant for oral administration. After all, sometimes herbal remedies turn out to be most effective when combined with certain physical procedures or medications.
Video: Use of bay leaves in folk medicine
To relieve pain in joints and muscles
Exhausting joint pain can be relieved with a bay leaf compress. Steam several leaves in boiling water, mash them well and mix with castor oil until a homogeneous paste forms. Place the affected joint under an oilcloth and a warm towel.
For rheumatoid pain and tendon stretching, bay oil, prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy, will help.
For the treatment of sore joints
Throw 15-20 medium bay leaves into 300 ml (one and a half glasses) of boiling water. Boil for 5-7 minutes over low heat. After removing from heat, leave for four hours under a tight lid, preferably in a thermos. Filter the infusion. Take in small quantities throughout the day. This daily norm, which is undesirable to exceed. The course of treatment is three days. You can repeat after a week break.
To strengthen immunity
The decoction prepared according to the previous recipe should be drunk twice a day, one tablespoon at a time. The course of treatment is three days. You can repeat after two weeks. The strengthening properties of bay leaves should be taken into account. If you are predisposed to constipation, you should add prunes, bran or fermented milk products to your diet during treatment.
For diabetes
Bay leaf will effectively help patients with stage 2 diabetes to normalize blood glucose levels. 10 medium bay leaves pour 750 ml hot water, but not boiling water. Leave covered for 3-4 hours. After filtering, take half a glass per day.
Tincture of bay leaves for oncology
The healing properties of bay leaves also apply to oncology. Laurel is effective in relieving the condition of a throat cancer patient. Pour a glass of crushed raw materials with 0.5 liters of vodka. Insist for two weeks. Strain the prepared tincture, take a tablespoon three times a day half an hour before meals.
For stomach upsets and excessive gas formation
Brew 5 g of chopped bay leaf in a glass of hot water, boil over low heat for a couple of minutes. Insist. Drink at a time, adding a teaspoon of honey for taste. The drink will not only relieve troubling problems, but can normalize appetite and improve digestion.
To stop nosebleeds
If you are prone to frequent nosebleeds, brew 2-3 bay leaves in 150 ml of water. Drink the decoction in small sips over an hour. The hemostatic properties of the plant will help cope with the problem.
Bay leaf for weight loss
Using the ability of bay leaves to remove excess fluid from the body, you can significantly lose weight, which will subsequently not return. Its decoction does not burn already accumulated fat, but helps to balance the water-salt indicator, whose imbalance leads to cellulite and obesity. Therefore, bay leaf should be used for weight loss only in combination with diet and moderate physical activity.
Boil three bay leaves in 300 ml of water for 5 minutes. Cool, strain. Take a tablespoon half an hour before meals three times a day.
Video: Cleansing the body with bay leaves
Bay leaf in home cosmetology
Bay leaf will do a great job with acne and pigmentation. Its regular use will improve the quality of hair and get rid of dandruff.
Skin problems
For daily wiping of the skin of the face and neck, you can prepare a lotion. Pour 20-25 leaves of dusted bay leaf with 0.5 liters of water and place on low heat. Bring to a boil, simmer for about 5 minutes. Leave the decoction for at least four hours. Wipe dry or normal skin morning and evening. To care for oily skin, you can add a few drops of vodka to the lotion, but no more than a dessert spoon per half liter of lotion.
Hair problems
For a one-time hair rinse, prepare a decoction of a thirty-gram bag of bay leaves. Take no more than a liter of water. Before rinsing, the broth should sit for two hours. After straining, rinse your washed hair in it. This regular rinsing will get rid of some types of dandruff.
Bay leaf oil
The most effective and practical to store medicinal product based on bay leaf is oil. It is suitable for outdoor and internal use. The beneficial properties of bay leaf oil allow you to treat:
- skin diseases;
- diseases of the ear, nose, sinusitis;
- colds (used for inhalation);
- fungal infections;
- allergic itching and irritation;
- bruises and sprains;
- poorly healing wounds.
At home, bay leaf oil is prepared according to classic recipe. Pour a crushed 30 gram bag of leaf into a glass of any vegetable oil good quality. The finer the raw materials, the better the final product. The oil should be slightly warmed beforehand, but not brought to a boil.
Mix the mixture thoroughly, pour into a dark glass container, and place in a cool, dark place for two weeks. After straining, store the finished oil in the refrigerator.
You can use the oil as follows:
- For inhalation and prevention of insomnia, use a few drops of oil added to boiling water. This solution should be inhaled or placed in a glass near the bed as needed.
- To treat open wounds, use undiluted oil, applying it to a previously cleaned wound. It is not advisable to bandage.
- For headaches, massage the temples with pure oil, applying a few drops to the fingertips.
- To treat skin or hair problems, a few drops of oil can be added to care products: creams, masks.
- If you are allergic to medications, take a couple of drops of oil on a piece of sugar orally.
- For tuberculosis, take the oil 2-3 times a day before meals for a month, adding 1-2 drops to a teaspoon of honey or warm milk or diluting it in 100 ml of water.
- Gastritis with low acidity can be treated by adding 1-2 drops of bay oil to yarrow tea.
- For stomatitis, mix a few drops of laurel, eucalyptus, cedar and cypress oils in equal parts. Pour into a glass of warm water. Rinse your mouth with this mixture 5 times a day.
Contraindications to the use of bay leaves
Like most herbal remedies, bay leaf is not recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers. It is also undesirable for women during menopause to take it orally. Bay leaf may cause allergic reaction. Therefore, it is necessary to check your skin for sensitivity to it before the first use.
Bay leaves are not recommended for people with liver, gastrointestinal and kidney problems, especially during exacerbation of chronic diseases. For heart patients and hypotensive patients, bay leaf is indicated only as an aromatic seasoning for dishes, and even then in reasonable quantities.
Attention! Exceeding the dosage and excessive treatment with bay leaves can cause uterine bleeding in women.
The aroma of bay leaves is very effective in preventing colds. Therefore, during epidemic periods, it is a good idea to place a small bouquet of bay leaves in the room or place a container with fragrant leaves on the table.
Lavrushka will help if there are moths, mosquitoes or cockroaches in the house. It is enough just to chop up the leaves and place them in their habitats.
You can also normalize sleep with the help of a few leaves of the plant. They must be placed in a small bag made of natural fabric and placed next to the bed or under the pillow. But you should be careful and not abuse such “sleeping pills.” The strong spicy smell can cause headaches.
Bay leaf is the real “king” of spices in the kitchen. There is hardly a person who is not familiar with its specific taste and aroma. For its amazing properties and ability to add an exquisite taste to any dish, laurel is loved by chefs all over the world.
At the same time, few people thought that the bay leaf is a real medicinal plant, which has been used since time immemorial to treat a variety of diseases. Surprised? In our article you will find a wide variety folk recipes with this plant. But first, let's talk about its healing composition.
Composition of bay leaf
If you look at chemical composition bay leaf, it is surprising to note that this aromatic greenery has something to boast about in terms of the content of useful substances. Take a look for yourself: laurel is a source of vitamins A, C, B and PP, contains selenium and manganese, magnesium and phosphorus, potassium, calcium, copper and many other minerals.
In addition, laurel leaves contain tannins and dietary fiber, organic acids and essential oils. This laurel oil is also rich in aromatic components such as linalool and cineole, camphor and limonene.
Valuable properties of "laurel"
Looking at this composition, is it any wonder that bay leaf has the most beneficial effect on the body? Here is a list of the beneficial properties of this wonderful plant, which will show all its value:
- is a powerful antiseptic that perfectly disinfects the body;
- is famous for its expectorant effect, helping to get rid of cough;
- has an antifungal effect on the skin and mucous membranes;
- increases immunity, has general strengthening properties;
- supplies the body with vitamins, preventing vitamin deficiency;
- eliminates pain syndrome in joints and muscles, relieves cramps and tremors of the limbs;
- cleanses the body, removing toxins, waste and heavy metal salts from the blood;
- dilates blood vessels, has an antihypertensive effect;
- has astringent properties, which means it has a hemostatic and healing effect on the body;
- It is famous for its diuretic effect and prevents the appearance of edema;
- improves digestion of food and eliminates problems with stool;
- improves appetite and improves mood;
- promotes sleep and acts as a sedative;
- has an antitumor effect on the body, which means it helps prevent cancer.
Bay leaf contraindications
Despite all the benefits of this extremely healthy spice, not everyone can use it. For example, doctors do not recommend laurel for diseases such as:
- pathology gastrointestinal tract(chronic gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcer);
- extensive liver damage and renal failure;
- pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis;
- cholelithiasis;
- protein metabolism disorders;
- inflammatory processes in the body;
- chronic constipation (in this condition it is not recommended to use tincture with bay leaf);
- tendency to bleeding (since laurel thins the blood);
- breastfeeding period;
- hypersensitivity to bay leaf components (the plant is a powerful allergen);
- alcohol abuse.
Medicine recipes with bay leaf
Now let’s talk about how laurel can help our body.
1. Relieves tension and fatigue
To relax, calm down, relieve tension and calm your nerves, just set fire to a bay leaf in the room and inhale its aroma for 15–20 minutes. Thanks to the essential oils present, bay leaf provides the necessary relaxing and calming effect without causing drowsiness, which is what most sedatives are famous for.
2. Removes mucus from the lungs
"Lavrushka" has the amazing property of removing pathogenic mucus from the lungs when wet cough. To do this, you need to inhale the aroma of the burnt leaf (as in the recipe above). By the way, the beneficial effects of this aroma help people with chronic bronchitis and asthma. This category of people benefits from regular rubbing of the chest with laurel oil.
3. Improves digestion
For people with poor digestion of foods, every meal becomes a real challenge. In response to the products entering the body, dyspepsia and flatulence develop, stomach colic torments and stool disturbances occur. You can fight this condition with medications, but is it worth “poisoning” your body if you can always find a bay leaf in the kitchen? By adding such a product to your food, you will soon notice its beneficial effect, enhancing the production of digestive enzymes. The pain and bloating will go away, and the stool will return to normal.
4. Strengthens the heart and blood vessels
Bay tree foliage is rich in an extremely useful compound - caffeic acid, which can cleanse the walls of blood vessels from the adhesion of cholesterol plaques and strengthen blood vessels, preventing loss of tone. Thanks to this amazing feature of “laurel”, you can protect yourself from hypertension and the development of atherosclerosis. It is not for nothing that the inhabitants of the Mediterranean, where laurel grows actively, are famous for their low mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases. To help your heart and strengthen blood vessels, eat dishes made with bay leaves at least once a day.
5. Fights joint inflammation
Research by Dutch scientists suggests that laurel has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that have a similar effect to morphine (albeit not as pronounced). If your joints are inflamed due to arthritis or arthrosis, simply apply laurel oil to the painful areas and the pain will subside in just 15-20 minutes. This remedy is especially useful for people with chronic joint pain. They can replace non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with this remedy.
6. Treats pathologies of the urinary tract
If a urinary tract infection occurs, do not immediately reach for antibiotics. Traditional medicine has a lot of recipes that can cope with the problem that has arisen. One of them involves using a bay leaf. Just add 1 tsp to a glass of milk. crushed bay leaf powder, stir and drink in one go. Take this remedy 3 times a day, and in just a few days the infection will leave your body.
7. Kidney failure
In case of kidney disease, grind the bay leaf in a coffee grinder, and then 1 tsp. Pour 2 glasses of water over this raw material and boil over high heat for 10 minutes. After letting the product brew for two hours, you can take it 2 times a day, 1 tbsp.
8. Treats psoriasis
To get rid of emerging psoriasis, take 10 leaves of this wonderful bush, load it into a thermos and pour 500 ml of boiling water on top. After closing the thermos, leave the product to infuse for two hours, after which you can take the infusion 3 times a day before each meal, half a glass.
9. Eliminates styes
To cope with such a nuisance as barley, pour three bay leaves into a glass of boiling water, let the mixture cool slightly, and take it as tea while it is warm. Drink this tea every hour, brewing new laurel leaves. You need to drink 7-8 cups of the drink per day. In this case, over the next night the barley will ripen and completely disappear.
10. Fights diabetes
According to recent research by scientists, bay leaf can reduce blood glucose levels (due to galenic substances), which means that with the help of bay leaf infusion you can fight diabetes. To do this, take 10 laurel leaves and fill them with 3 glasses of warm boiled water. Having brought the product to a boil, immediately remove it from the stove and let it brew for three to four hours. This infusion should be taken 0.5 cups (100 ml), 3 times a day for a week. Repeated courses of treatment must be agreed with your doctor. It is also useful to add laurel to your favorite dishes and enjoy their aroma while simultaneously receiving health benefits.
11. Treats sinusitis
To cope with sinusitis, take 10 laurel leaves and pour 1 liter of water into this raw material. Boil the mixture for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and breathe in the hot vapors, throwing a towel over your head. Carry out the procedures twice a day, and you will notice how after each inhalation pus will come out of your sinuses.
12. Eliminates toothache
Do you have a toothache? No problem! Simply grind the bay leaf in a coffee grinder, and then 2 tsp. Pour the powder into a glass of water. Bring the mixture to a boil and keep on fire for another 5 minutes. Let the resulting decoction cool slightly and you can rinse your mouth with it every 15 minutes until the pain subsides.
13. Treats bites
Bay leaf copes well with the bites of horse flies, gadflies, bees and wasps. You just need to take fresh bay greens, chew it and apply it to the bite site and bandage it. After an hour, the problem will stop bothering you.
14. Treats stomatitis
When stomatitis develops, some doctors advise using “grandmother’s” recipe, namely, chewing a bay leaf in the morning and evening. True, only raw “laurel” is suitable for these purposes.
15. Gets rid of dandruff
To clear your head of dandruff and prevent its subsequent occurrence, combine bay tree oil with the same amount of warmed jojoba oil. After applying the prepared mixture to the scalp, wrap it in a terry towel and hold for 40–60 minutes. In addition, you can add a piece of bay oil to your favorite shampoo, and in just a couple of weeks there will be no trace of dandruff left.
16. Relieves purulent inflammation in the ear
Purulent inflammations in the ear must be treated under the strict supervision of doctors, because the infection can easily reach the meninges. However, if your doctor allows it, you can combat this problem with the following prescription. Take 10 laurel leaves, fill them with 200 ml of hot water and leave in a thermos for 5 hours. The cooled broth can be instilled into the sore ear, 2-3 drops 3 times a day, or apply compresses with this remedy.
17. Gets rid of foot fungus
If you suffer from foot fungus, take 10 laurel leaves, put them in a bath and pour 500 ml of boiling water on top. Let the water cool slightly, and then put your feet in the bath and hold for about 20 minutes. Carry out such procedures 3-4 times a week and after 15 days the fungus will completely disappear.
Bay leaf is a wonderful spice that has the potential of being a true medicinal herb. Use the recipes given for the benefit of your health, because they are in no way inferior to expensive and side effects medicines.
Good health to you!
The bay leaf is familiar to each of us. It’s a rare housewife who can do without it when preparing meat dishes. It is often added when cooking to soups, gravies, and sauces. Lavrushka - that’s what many people call it in everyday life. No, excuse me, this is not laurel, but laurel of the most noble origin. That is why its name is noble laurel! The winners of the Pythian Games were awarded a wreath of laurel leaves for a reason, but were presented with it as a symbol of future victories and unsurpassed skill. The laurel was considered a sacred tree; the heads of the winners were decorated with its wreaths. Ancient Greece. The laurel was dedicated to Apollo, and a prophetic gift was attributed to the laurel: priests ate it to find out the future (laurel contains a small amount of potassium cyanide, and, as is known, poison in small quantities is almost a drug). Even Julius Caesar wore a laurel wreath as a symbol of his invincibility. On special occasions, the entire people were crowned with laurel wreaths.
Laurel laurel is a low evergreen tree of the laurel family, up to 8-10 m tall, but the tree can also be a prominent shrub. Sometimes in forests there are trees up to 18 m tall. The tree trunk is up to 40 cm in diameter with dark gray bark. The dense crown is usually pyramidal in shape. The leaves are on short petioles, simple, alternate, leathery, shiny, entire, oblong in shape, pointed at the top and narrowed at the base. They are dark green above and lighter below, with clearly visible pinnate veining, slightly wavy along the edge. They have a strong characteristic odor. Its homeland is Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. People have been growing laurel since ancient times; it was with the branches of this tree that emperors, heroes and athletes were crowned in Ancient Greece and Rome. In the Middle Ages, laurel symbolized kindness and served as protection from evil and lightning.
Noble laurel: application and properties
In cooking. Bay leaves are indispensable for marinades, broths and jellied fish, sauces and soups, and boiled meat. Bay leaves are added at the rate of 1 leaf per 1 liter of liquid. It can be cooked together with the main product, but preferably not for very long. In the first dishes, add the bay leaf 5 minutes before cooking, in the second - 10 minutes. And don't forget to take it out later. You can add bay powder to sauces when they have cooled to a warm state. Bay leaves also go well with other spices: sage, thyme, rosemary, cloves, coriander, basil, parsley, dill, hot and fragrant pepper. In Western Europe, bay leaves are sometimes still added to desserts, drinks, jams and sweets. There are also areas in our country - for example, Kalmykia or Kuban - where they like to use it in sweet dishes.
Dry bay leaves can be stored for about a year, so when purchasing, look carefully at when it was released. It is better to buy fresh leaves - now it is quite affordable.
Use in folk medicine
The medicinal properties of laurel have also been known since ancient times, because laurel has many beneficial properties:
1.It has an astringent and diuretic effect,
2.Improves digestion, improves appetite,
3.Suppresses the development of tuberculosis bacillus,
4.Increases immunity.
5.It has wound healing properties,
6.Helps get rid of stomatitis,
7. Relieves toothache.
Traditional recipes:
To heal wounds, a paste of crushed leaves is applied to burns and cuts.
To get rid of stomatitis, sometimes it is enough to chew a bay leaf.
Some experts recommend taking laurel for preventive purposes. You will feel stronger, you will breathe easier, and you will be less tired. Dip 5 g of leaf (about 15 leaves) in 300 g of water and boil for five minutes. This drink should be infused in a thermos for 3-4 hours, strained and taken in small portions throughout the day, drinking all 300 g. On the second and third days, do the same. After a two-week break, repeat the course. Only those who have a tendency to constipation should avoid this decoction.
During treatment diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis, use laurel infusion: pour 30-40 laurel leaves into 0.5 liters of boiling water. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach and during the day before meals, 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day.
For diabetes: pour 10 leaves with 3 cups of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Drink half a glass 3 times a day. After 10-15 days, sugar will return to normal. Be sure to take a break for a couple of weeks.
Drops of laurel oil help with sinusitis. You can buy them at the pharmacy or make them yourself. To do this: grind 30 grams of bay leaves, pour in a glass of vegetable oil, leave for 5 days and strain. This oil is also used as a remedy for bedsores.
Useful and healing properties bay leaves are used to treat tuberculosis: bay leaves improve the body's resistance to pathogenic bacteria, increase the body's immunity as a whole, and the volatile aromatic substances of laurel suppress the development of tubercle bacilli.
For scrofula, purulent disease of the ears and scalp, wash your hair with a decoction of bay leaves.
For sweaty feet, it is recommended to take laurel baths. Before going to bed, throw it into a basin with hot water 20-40 bay leaves and soak your feet in this infusion.
A decoction of bay leaves is also used for preventive purposes to improve immunity. Place 5 grams of bay leaves (approximately 15 pieces) in 300 g of water, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, then leave in a thermos for 3-4 hours, strain and take this entire volume, 1 tablespoon each, throughout the day. The course of treatment is 3 days, after 2 weeks you can repeat it. Decoctions and infusions of bay leaves have an astringent effect, so their use can contribute to constipation. Therefore, simultaneously with treatment with laurel medicines, it is recommended to eat more products, rich in fiber, beets and prunes are perfect for this.
For psoriasis: select 10 dry, healthy - without stains - leaves, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water in a thermos, leave for 2 hours. Take half a glass 3 times a day shortly before meals.
For arthritis and joint pain: pour 5 grams of crushed leaf into 1.5 cups of boiling water, close the lid and simmer lightly for 5 minutes, leave for 3 hours together with the leaves in a thermos. Strain. Drink in small sips throughout the day (not right away!). The course of treatment is 3 days. This will not cure the disease, but it will relieve the pain.
Bay oil is used for rubbing in cases of scabies, rheumatism, paralysis and tumors, and for colds- for inhalations. To obtain bay oil at home, powdered leaves are boiled in ghee.
In ancient times, bay leaves were often used as an antidote and disinfectant, as well as a means of increasing concentration and relieving insomnia. There is even a simple way to help calm young children: if a child has trouble falling asleep and is capricious, you should put 2-3 bay leaves next to the crib - this usually works, and children quickly fall asleep.
For ear pain. You can use bay leaf infusion - it perfectly relieves inflammation and pain. Pour 5 laurel leaves with a glass of water, bring them to a boil and leave, covered, for 2 hours. Then drip the infusion into the sore ear - 3 times a day, 3-4 drops, and at the same time drink 3 tablespoons of it.
For joint pain. You need to chop the bay leaf (5 g), pour boiling water (300 ml) into it, and cook for 5 minutes over low heat. Pour the broth into a thermos, leave for 4 hours, then strain and drink 12 hours before, in small sips. The procedure should be carried out within 3 days. At first glance, this treatment is almost no different from the method of strengthening the immune system described above, but there are differences. The break in taking the decoction is not 2 weeks, but 3 days, and then the procedure is repeated.
Infusion of laurel leaves for paralysis and convulsions: leave 30 grams of crushed leaves for 7-8 days in a glass of linseed or sunflower oil in a warm place. Strain, squeeze. Rub daily into paralyzed parts of the body, rub during convulsions.
For barley: take three large bay leaves and brew them in a mug of boiling water. Cover with a saucer and, when it cools down a little, you can drink, not immediately, but little by little, until the infusion has cooled down. Do this every hour, replacing the leaves with new ones. In total, you need to drink 6-7 cups per day, from morning to evening. The barley will ripen overnight, and by morning it will be gone.
Folk beauty recipes
- Toning lotion for face and neck skin:
Pour 25 laurel leaves into ½ cup of water, bring to a boil, boil for 5 minutes, leave for 4 hours. Strain. Wipe your face, neck and décolleté with this lotion morning and evening. This lotion also lightens freckles and age spots. For oily skin add 1 dessert spoon of vodka to the lotion.
- Bay leaf decoction for oily skin:
Pour 2 bay leaves into 1/3 cup of water, let cool, strain and wipe your face.
If you do this morning and evening every day, the pores will narrow, oily shine will disappear, and the skin will become smooth and matte.
- Bay oil:
Pour 2 laurel leaves into ¼ cup of vegetable oil and leave for 7 days in a cool, dark place. Use to rub into dry skin of the face and hands to give them elasticity, softness and get rid of wrinkles.
Rinse hair with a decoction of bay leaves to get rid of dandruff. Brew a pack of bay leaves with 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 1-2 hours, filter and rinse your hair. It is advisable not to squeeze them too hard and let them dry naturally.
-Bay leaf for acne. Recipe No. 1.
A homemade tonic based on bay leaves will allow you to carefully and effectively care for your skin. problem skin and prone to acne formation.
To prepare it, bay leaf leaves are tightly filled into a small glass container, you can use a glass or a small jar, and filled to the top with hot water. After a few hours, the tonic is filtered.
By treating your skin with this product daily, you can dry out inflammation, eliminate oily shine and narrow enlarged pores.
In addition, for greater effectiveness, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the prepared tonic, which will help reduce inflammation on the skin. Rosemary or tea tree essential oil is suitable for this purpose.
- Bay leaf for acne. Recipe No. 2.
This alcohol-infused lotion is more suitable for problem skin, as well as skin that is overly oily.
To prepare it, bay leaves are thoroughly crushed in any way and, similar to the first recipe, placed in a glass container. The crushed mass of bay leaves should fill half of the selected vessel. The selected container with bay leaf is completely filled with vodka.
The lotion is infused at room temperature several days (3-5 days), then filter. The prepared product is used for skin care every other day; it helps cleanse the skin of rashes, eliminate age spots and even out skin tone.
Contraindications for use
Laurel is contraindicated in case of glomerulonephritis, tendency to bleeding.
Doctors believe that it is undesirable to use bay leaf infusion for medicinal purposes for gallstone disease, cholecystitis (although traditional medicine, on the contrary, recommends such treatment), pancreatitis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
However, it is worth saying that even with these diseases it is quite possible to take this infusion, just be sure to cool down and not warm, and 10-15 minutes after eating, so traditional medicine is still not mistaken.
You should not put too much bay leaf in dishes, or drink too much infusion or decoction - this can cause poisoning.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, acute liver and kidney diseases, it should also be used in very small quantities.
Treatment of metabolic disorders
Diseases associated with metabolic disorders can be caused by insufficient synthesis of enzymes in the body, disturbances in the nervous and endocrine systems, poor nutrition, pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc.
Treatment should be carried out only after a comprehensive examination by specialists, and the use folk remedies must be agreed upon with them.
Recipe 1
20 g of laurel leaves are poured into 200 ml of boiling water, simmered over low heat for 20 minutes, cooled and filtered. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.
Recipe 2
1 tablespoon of rose hips, 1 tablespoon of red rowan fruits, 1 bay leaf are crushed, pour 600 ml of boiling water, leave for 1.5 hours, then filter. The infusion is taken a quarter glass 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals.
Treatment of heartburn
Heartburn usually accompanies a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, so if it occurs, you should see a doctor. You can reduce discomfort with the help of folk remedies.
Recipe 1
1 teaspoon of chopped bay leaf and 1 teaspoon of oregano herb are poured into 400 ml of boiling water, left for 15 minutes, filtered. The infusion is taken 2 tablespoons 3 times a day before meals.
Recipe 2
2 teaspoons of St. John's wort, 2 teaspoons of chamomile and 1 teaspoon of chopped bay leaf are poured into 1 liter of boiling water, left for 3 hours, filtered. Take 1 tablespoon for frequently recurring heartburn and pain in the stomach.
Recipe 3
1-2 fresh leaves of bay laurel are crushed, poured with 150 ml of boiling water, left for 15 minutes and filtered. A tablespoon of the prepared broth is mixed with 100 ml mineral water and taken for heartburn.
Recipe 4
1 crushed leaf of bay laurel, 1 tablespoon of St. John's wort herb, 1 tablespoon of marsh grass and 1 tablespoon of yarrow herb, pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, filter. The infusion is taken 100 ml 3 times a day.
Recipe 5
1 teaspoon of chopped bay leaf and 1 tablespoon of dry plantain leaves are poured into 300 ml of boiling water, left for 1 hour and filtered. Take 1 tablespoon of infusion 3 times a day.
Treatment of rheumatism
To reduce rheumatic pain, use the essential oil of bay laurel and ointment from the leaves of this plant.
Recipe 1
Mix 1 teaspoon of laurel essential oil with 2 drops of clove essential oil. Used as an external rub.
Recipe 2
60 g of laurel leaves and 10 g of juniper needles are crushed in a mortar and mixed with 120 g butter. The ointment is used for rubbing.
Recipe 3
30 g of fresh laurel leaves are crushed, poured in 200 ml of vegetable oil, left for 6 days and filtered. The oil is used for rubbing.
Treatment of cholelithiasis
During treatment for gallstone disease, it is recommended to follow a diet, in particular avoid eating foods rich in cholesterol.
It is best to take food often, but in small portions. You can relieve attacks of hepatic colic with the help of remedies prepared from medicinal plants.