Bay leaf is the secret to a delicious and rich stew or soup, giving subtle intensity and depth to any dish. Besides adding a unique taste to your food, bay leaves have a long list of traditional benefits and uses around the home.
This aromatic, olive-green leaf contains antioxidants and fragrant essential oils. In folk tradition it is used for everything from a stuffy nose to sore joints.
Here’s how people commonly use bay leaves.
8 Health Benefits and Uses of Bay Leaves
1. Respiratory System
Bay leaf is traditionally used when there is mucus and phlegm in the lungs, because its strong aroma stimulates the nasal passages. For a cough, nasal congestion, watery eyes, a stuffy nose, a headache or a common cold, many people add two drops of bay oil or some crushed dried leaves to a steam inhalation. Some also massage diluted bay leaf oil onto the chest. If you have asthma or allergies, ask your doctor first, because strong scents and essential oils can irritate the airways.
2. Fatigue and Anxiety
When dried bay leaves are burnt, they release a pleasant, aromatic smoke that many people find relaxing. Just light a few dried bay leaves in a fireproof dish, in a well-ventilated room, and never leave them unattended. People who do this say the scent helps them feel calm yet alert, and less weighed down by fatigue.
3. Diabetes
Researchers from the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center and the NWFP Agricultural University in Peshawar, Pakistan have published a study on bay leaves and people with type 2 diabetes. In this small study, participants who consumed one to three grams of bay leaves a day had lower blood sugar levels. More research is needed, and bay leaves are not a replacement for any treatment your doctor has prescribed.
4. Dandruff
Mix 4 drops of bay oil with 2 drops of jojoba oil and you’ll get a natural home remedy for dandruff. Apply and massage the warm mixture on your scalp, use a towel to wrap your head, and sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Feel free to add several drops of bay oil to your regular shampoo as well.
5. Heart Health
Caffeic acid is an organic compound found in bay leaves, and researchers are studying its effects on blood vessels and cholesterol. To enjoy bay leaves as part of a heart-friendly diet, just add them to your cooking. For instance, you can use them to wrap a salmon.
6. Digestion
People from Asian and Mediterranean countries have long believed that bay leaf has a warming effect. They say this leaf helps increase the “digestive fire” and supports comfortable digestion. To try this traditional use, add bay leaves to your regular diet, or rub some diluted bay essential oil on your stomach after having a meal.
7. Urinary Tract
Milk mixed with powdered bay leaves is an old folk drink that was traditionally taken for urinary discomfort. A urinary infection needs to be diagnosed and treated by a doctor, so see one if you have symptoms.
8. Joint Discomfort
A study published in Phytotherapy Research reported that bay leaf oil showed pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory tests. Many people rub some diluted bay oil on sore joints, or simply include bay leaves in their cooking.
As you can see, bay leaves have many traditional uses. You can add them to your vegetable dishes, meat dishes, or soups. Bay leaves, as well as bay essential oil, are cheap and easily available. Always dilute essential oils before applying them to the skin, and remove whole bay leaves from food before serving.
Via Home Remedy Daily | Organic Facts | Lybrate | Deccan Chronicle
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk to your doctor about any health concern.