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Bay leaf - benefits, harm and healing properties. The use of bay leaf in folk medicine, useful properties and contraindications Bay leaf in folk medicine

In the modern world, the medicinal properties of the bay leaf have been somewhat forgotten, supplanted by the use only as a flavoring spice. But folk healers remember the medicinal properties of the plant, who actively use the leaves on their own, introduce them into the composition of medicinal preparations.

plant description

In its homeland - in the Mediterranean and Asia Minor - noble laurel grows among other evergreens. This grouping is called "Maquis". It is characteristic of a tropical climate. The heat-loving plant grows well in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal. It is actively cultivated on the territory of the Crimean peninsula.

Unpretentious to the composition of the soil, noble laurel can grow in the mountain steppe, on rocky and sandy slopes. The main condition for normal vegetation is the constancy of temperature and the absence of severe frosts. At temperatures below 12 ° C, the plant dies.

Morphological features

Laurel noble belongs to the evergreen perennials. Depending on the conditions, a shrub or a tree is formed, the height of which sometimes reaches 15 meters.

  • Roots. The root system is well developed, but lies shallow in the soil, which causes the plant to be unstable to severe frosts.
  • Run away. Covered with a brown, smooth bark, laurel shoots stretch upwards, developing especially well in areas flooded with sunlight. Strong branching forms a dense pyramidal crown.
  • Leaves. Densely arranged on the branches of the crown alternately. The elliptical leaf plate can reach a length of about 20 cm. The width is up to 4 cm. The edge of the plate is solid, the surface is leathery, very smooth, glossy. The green tint on top of the leaf plate is several tones darker than the color of the underside. The plate tapers towards the base. Attaches to the branch with a short petiole.
  • Flowers. Small, up to 1 cm in diameter, collected from six pieces in small umbrellas. Several umbels are collected in the axils of the leaves at the ends of the branches. Before flowering, the umbrellas are covered with several dry scales, which fall off when the flowers open. The color of the corollas is white-green, with a yellowish tinge.
  • Fruit. The drupes are black or dark purple in color, reaching 2 cm long, have a round or oval shape. Large seed inside.

It was the laurel fruits that were attributed the most active pharmacological properties in the first edition of the pharmacopoeia. At that time, drupes were called beans, and the ointment prepared from them was called bean.

Procurement process

The main medicinal raw material of the noble laurel is its leaves. Due to the content of a large amount of essential oil, fresh foliage is partially processed. The same is done with freshly picked laurel fruits. The leaves look like this:

  • Collection. It begins at the moment of flowering of the first inflorescences on the plant. As a rule, it is early spring. Only good, sunny weather is suitable for harvesting, so that there are no dew drops or moisture from the air on the foliage. Often, leaves are collected along with young branches. It is these leaves that contain the largest amount of valuable essential oil.
  • Training. Raw materials are sorted for spoiled or damaged leaves. Check the moisture content.
  • Drying. Lay out in dense shade, with good ventilation. When using devices, a low-temperature regime is observed to maintain the concentration of oil. To dry the bay leaf yourself, you can hang young branches on an outstretched twine.
  • Storage. After complete drying, the leaves are collected in an airtight container made of glass or cellophane. Keep the bay leaf in a dark place, in the absence of moisture.

The crushed leaves are processed by the distillation method to obtain an essential oil. The use of high-tech devices makes it possible to obtain an extract from the leaves that retains all the beneficial properties of fresh raw materials. Laurel fruits are harvested in autumn. They are used fresh, harvested for future use by freezing. Under industrial conditions, fatty oil is obtained from fruits, which is a thick granular substance with a characteristic odor.

Medicinal properties of bay leaf

The benefit of bay leaf is the content of a particularly valuable essential oil. Its volatile components have bactericidal, astringent, regenerating properties, have a sedative effect on the nervous system, and stimulate the cardiovascular system. Multicomponent essential oil of noble laurel contains:

  • limonene;
  • camphene;
  • cineole;
  • pinene;
  • geraniol;
  • myrcene;
  • cadinene;
  • sabinene.

Organic acids contained in the leaves (valeric, caproic, acetic) are able to stimulate the production of bile, urine, have anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and vasoprotective properties. Phytoncides and flavonoids provide the antitumor effect of laurel, as well as its ability to improve the condition of blood vessels.

Fatty oil extracted from the fruits of laurel is an excellent source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which comprehensively improve the functioning of the body, reduce sugar and cholesterol levels in the blood. Bitterness and resins help to improve appetite and activate the production of digestive juices.

The vitamin composition of laurel is as follows: vitamins C, A, K, PP, E.

Also, the main macro- and microelements were found in the laurel: potassium, calcium, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, phosphorus, magnesium. The rich chemical composition determines the characteristic taste of the plant, high rates of its nutritional value.

Pharmacological effects

Laurel noble has many therapeutic properties that are actively used in folk medicine. Use fresh and dried foliage of the plant, as well as oils and extracts extracted from leaves and fruits. Due to the low cost, treatment with laurel leaves has the maximum distribution. Indications for use include the following ailments:

An essential oil extracted from laurel has a no less long list of medicinal properties. They disinfect the air indoors, where there are patients with severe infectious diseases. With laurel oil, inhalations are done for bronchitis and pneumonia in order to eliminate coughing fits. Ingestion helps eliminate inflammation of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), normalize stool and bile flow. External use allows you to get rid of scabies, eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis. Laurel oil is dissolved diluted with water intended for washing festering wounds. Essential oil rubs are used for joints, body aches, muscle and vascular spasms.

Fatty oil has tremendous anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties. It is recommended to use it instead of cocoa butter - for the preparation of candles for hemorrhoids. Laurel oil will complement the action of medicines with its own healing properties. Fatty oil ointments help heal wounds, eliminate the symptoms of arthritis, and completely heal varicose veins of the lower extremities. Fatty oil from fruits leads to the cleansing of the body from toxins, radionuclides, provides effective cleaning of blood vessels. Taking it internally helps treat and prevent:

  • atherosclerosis;
  • complications in diabetes mellitus;
  • peptic ulcer;
  • nervous disorders;
  • obesity;
  • hormonal disruptions.

Traditional medicine uses laurel to provoke an abortion. Today, laurel is recommended for girls suffering from regular delays in menstruation, as well as infertility, provoked by hormonal disruptions. Some folk healers successfully treat alcoholism with the help of bay leaves.

Recipes

Laurel treatment is easy to do right at home, because ready-to-eat dried leaves are sold at the nearest store and are available to people with any income level. Before treatment, you need to learn some rules.

  • Who can't. Bay leaf contraindications include individual sensitivity. If you are allergic to a plant, even external use is prohibited.
  • Side effect. Among the side effects is a diuretic, so people with large kidney stones should not be treated with laurel.
  • Timing of therapy is important. The harm of the plant can manifest itself when it accumulates, so the use of fragrant raw materials should be moderate, it is important to take a break every two weeks of treatment.

Butter

Peculiarities. It is used to treat colds, respiratory diseases, as well as articular ailments. Helps improve the functioning of the stomach and gallbladder.

Preparation and application

  1. 30 g of crushed dried laurel leaves are poured into a glass of high-quality olive oil.
  2. The mixture is placed in a dark place for a week, the container is shaken regularly.
  3. Use a teaspoon of oil three times a day before meals.

Decoction

Peculiarities. A decoction of bay leaf at home is used to treat colds, strengthen immunity. They can also wash your face to get rid of acne. The use of bay leaf for hair can also be carried out according to this recipe - the decoction will strengthen the roots, improve the structure of the hair along the entire length.

Preparation and application

  1. A handful of bay leaves is poured with half a liter of boiling water.
  2. The container with the mixture is put on a slow fire, brought to a boil. Boil for five minutes.
  3. After the specified time, remove the decoction, insist it for four hours.
  4. After straining, use the remedy up to six times a day for a tablespoon or use it externally.

Ointment

Peculiarities. According to reviews, this ointment does an excellent job with scabies, boils, eczema and psoriasis, as well as inflammatory diseases of the muscles and joints.

Preparation and application

  1. Powder of bay leaves (6 g) is mixed with 1 g of powdered juniper needles.
  2. Add 12 g of butter to the vegetable mixture, mix until smooth.
  3. Apply ointment under the bandage several times a day.

Slimming Tea

Peculiarities. Laurel stimulates metabolic processes, so the leaves in any form are used to make slimming drinks. It is best to brew bay leaf for weight loss along with cinnamon.

Preparation and application

  1. Five dried bay leaves and a cinnamon stick are placed in a standard tea cup.
  2. Pour the mixture with a glass of boiling water, insist 15 minutes.
  3. Drink three cups per day: on an empty stomach in the morning, after breakfast, and also at night.

Tincture

Peculiarities. The recipe for tincture of bay leaves involves the use of fresh raw materials. The prepared remedy is used to treat such serious ailments as atherosclerosis, oncological diseases of various localization.

Preparation and application

  1. Two glasses of fresh bay leaf are passed through a meat grinder several times.
  2. The resulting substance is poured with a liter of pure vodka.
  3. Place the container with the mixture for two weeks in a dark place, shake it daily.
  4. After straining, the tincture is taken three times a day for a tablespoon.

Dried bay leaf in folk medicine is used after simple steaming in boiling water:

  • from a headache- apply on the forehead and temples;
  • from cough - they are wound up at night instead of mustard plasters;
  • from pain - make a compress from steamed leaves for the night;
  • for wound healing- wind the leaves under the bandage.

The healing properties of the bay leaf are transferred to the essential oil, which is sold in pharmacies in the public domain. It can be used neat and added to neutral base oils.

Bay leaf treatment will help get rid of many ailments, will provide effective prevention of diseases of the blood, immunity, joints, colds and flu. Timely use of bay leaf as a prophylactic will prolong health for many years.

20.03.2019 231 views

If you already know what a bay leaf decoction is, the benefits and harms are those indicators that you should definitely study in detail. This is not just a spice that every housewife is used to adding when cooking soups - it is a unique set of vitamins and useful elements that have a positive effect on health. In our review, you can study the benefits and harms of bay leaf decoction, read useful recipes and learn a lot of new things!

Useful properties and indications for use

A decoction of bay leaf is a medicine. The plant is used in folk medicine, cooking, cosmetology and the chemical industry, but we will only talk about those uses that will benefit the human body. And now let's discuss why they drink a decoction of bay leaves, in which cases the remedy becomes healing.

The unique composition of the plant suggests that the benefits of bay leaf decoction will be enormous - the combination of elements has a beneficial effect on the human body. The scope of the drink is extensive - let's study what the decoction of bay leaf helps from and what effect it has:

  • Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action;
  • Has an analgesic effect;
  • Treats diseases of the oral cavity;
  • Disinfects wounds;
  • Pustular diseases of the mucous membranes and skin;
  • Reduces the level of nervous excitement;
  • Helps with psoriasis - relieves external symptoms;
  • It has a sedative effect, relieves irritability;
  • Drives away insomnia;
  • Strengthens immunity;
  • Accelerates the process of removing excess weight and is used for weight loss;
  • Accelerates metabolism;
  • Removes stagnant fluid from the body;
  • Removes salt from the joints;
  • Used for the face - improves color, eliminates fat, fights acne and helps with acne, tones the skin;
  • Improves the condition of the hair - strengthens, eliminates brittleness and dull color;
  • Helps to get rid of fungal diseases;
  • Normalizes carbohydrate balance and lowers blood sugar levels, allows you to fight the initial stages of diabetes;
  • Allows to alleviate the course of diseases of the nasopharynx, has an antimicrobial and antibiotic effect;
  • Lowers blood pressure;
  • Neutralizes acute allergic reactions.

The benefits and harms of a bay leaf decoction should be carefully studied before use - make sure that you have a real need to drink a drink.

Now you were able to figure out what will happen if you drink a decoction of bay leaves? Let's move on to the next part of our review - we will discuss the possible harm to the plant.

How to assemble yourself

And if you want to collect the plant yourself, remember the following:

  • Recommended collection time - mid-November to mid-February;
  • After harvesting, the plant is dried for 5-10 days in a dark, dry place in a natural way;
  • Storage method - in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid;
  • Keep the spice in a dark place at temperatures up to + 40C;
  • The aroma and beneficial properties are preserved throughout the year.

Recipes and application

To figure out how to make a decoction of bay leaves, you must first get the plant. You can buy it at any store - the product is freely available on the shelves.

And now let's talk about how to prepare a decoction of bay leaves and take it. The first recipe for those who want to improve metabolism and dream of losing weight:

  • In a liter of hot water, put 5 leaves and a cinnamon stick;
  • Hold on fire for about 15 minutes;
  • Cool and take a glass daily for three days.

We figure out how to prepare a decoction of bay leaves to lower blood sugar:

  • Pour 15 pieces with one and a half glasses of cold water;
  • Bring to a boil and simmer for about five minutes;
  • Let it brew for about 4 hours, strain.

Take for three days - divide the glass into several servings of 50 ml.

The same recipe is suitable for external use - it helps to relieve inflammation, disinfects wounds, and has a bactericidal effect.

Next in line is information on how to cook and how to take a decoction of bay leaves to increase immunity:

  • Put ten leaves in a liter of warm water;
  • Boil for 10-15 minutes;
  • Take a tablespoon three times a day (the course lasts a week).

Want to get a product that will benefit the skin and hair?

  • 15-20 pieces pour 100 ml of water and boil for three minutes;
  • Let it brew for an hour;
  • Wipe problem areas with the resulting area / rinse hair.

To improve appetite:

  • 10 whole or chopped laurels pour 0.3 liters of boiling water;
  • Insist for an hour under the lid;
  • Drink 150 ml of liquid before meals.

Finally, let's figure out how to drink a decoction of bay leaves to remove fluids and toxins:

  • Three pieces of parsley pour 0.3 liters of water;
  • Bring to a boil and keep the saucepan on fire for five minutes;
  • Cool, strain through cheesecloth;
  • Drink a tablespoon three times a day fifteen minutes before meals (course - three days).

Contraindications

Any drug has contraindications - even an unconditionally useful bay leaf can harm the human body. We will take a closer look at who should take the drink with caution - be sure to read this section of the article.

Immediately, we note that harm can be provoked by immoderate, excessive use. In no case do not take the drug without a prescription from your doctor - first get a detailed consultation and make sure that you have no contraindications.

The use of such a drug is highly discouraged in the following cases:

  • A decoction of bay leaf during pregnancy can cause uterine contractions and an increase in muscle tone, which leads to miscarriages or the development of anomalies;
  • The drink is harmful during lactation and is dangerous for newborns;
  • Intestinal obstruction, gastric and duodenal ulcer;
  • Tendency to constipation;
  • Recorded cardiovascular diseases, since the drink affects the change in blood pressure;
  • Acute forms of kidney and liver diseases, as the plant removes fluid from the body and can provoke the release of stones;
  • Severe form of diabetes. However, the decoction is indicated for mild forms of the disease;
  • Tendency to allergic reactions or individual intolerance to the plant.

Proper use of the drug in reasonable doses will not cause any harm - it will bring only benefit.

Please note that we do not give advice on treatment, our review is for informational purposes only. To prescribe a drug, you should contact a specialist for advice and determine the correct dosage.

Bay leaf is considered the most common spice among cooks around the world. It is difficult to meet a hostess who would not use fragrant leaves in the cooking process. It turns out that the medicinal properties and contraindications of the bay leaf have been thoroughly studied by scientists, and it is not only a universal spice, but also a powerful remedy.

The homeland of the evergreen plant is the Mediterranean. References to the unique properties of all parts of the tree are found in the manuscripts of Ancient Rome, Greece and even Egypt deciphered by archaeologists. Currently, tall laurel is widely cultivated in areas with a subtropical climate in both hemispheres.

Naked leaves of a simple structure with a peculiar spicy aroma are collected from subtropical trees and shrubs of the Laurel family under the name "Noble Laurel" to improve the taste of many dishes and for medical purposes. Next, the plant material is dried. In this form, the leaves can be stored in a dry place for several years.

familiar stranger

dried laurel leaves, photo

It is difficult to overestimate the economic importance of appetizing laurel leaves as a universal spice used in almost all sour and salty products, from soups, borscht cabbage soup and ending with canned food. No meat, no mushroom, no fish, no vegetable dishes, no sauces, no marinades, no jelly, no goulash can do without lavrushka.

Culinary, medicinal and aromatic properties of bay leaf provide phytoncides and essential oils containing limonene, camphor, cineole, pinene and other phenolic compounds and terpenes. In addition to the listed volatile substances, organic acids (valeric, caproic, acetic), tannins, bitterness, resins, mineral salts, antioxidants and vitamins are present in the composition of plant materials.

In addition to the use in traditional and folk medicine, as well as the use of the product in cooking, bay leaves are also credited with magical properties. The leaves and branches of the sacred tree - noble laurel - since the time of Ancient Greece have been considered a symbol of triumph, glory, victory, conquest, conquest of peaks and greatness.

Ancient healers treated patients with various drugs based on laurel. For example, Hippocrates prescribed leaf extracts to facilitate labor and reduce pain during attempts. The Roman physician Galen used raw materials in the treatment of urolithiasis.

Slavic healers treated feverish conditions with bay leaves, and the eastern doctor al-Razi, using the spice, successfully relieved people of a nervous tic. Oil extracts, obtained by infusion of raw materials in sunflower, flaxseed, corn and other vegetable oils, were considered an effective means for rubbing with paresis and paralysis.

green leaves

The chemical compounds of laurel leaves determine the following therapeutic properties of fresh and dried raw materials:

  • antiseptic;
  • antimicrobial;
  • deodorizing;
  • regenerating;
  • antifungal;
  • rejuvenating;
  • antioxidant;
  • anti-inflammatory;
  • expectorant;
  • anticholesterol;
  • diuretic and decongestant;
  • metabolic;
  • immunostimulating;
  • cleansing;
  • tonic;
  • restorative.

Adding lavrushka to everyday dishes not only improves their taste, but also activates the processes of digestion and assimilation of useful components from food.

The plant has powerful cleansing properties, due to which, together with feces, the intestines evacuate toxins, carcinogens, toxins, metabolites and remnants of processed food. Fats that are difficult to digest, for example, in fried meat, saltison and other fatty dishes, are processed faster in the digestive tract in the presence of bay leaf components.

Medicines made from bay leaf help to remove uric acid and excess salts from the body, thereby improving the mobility and general condition of all joints. Therefore, infusions are so often prescribed for arthritis, gout, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, but not more than 3-4 days in a row.

Biologically active phytonutrients of the spice help to strengthen the body's defenses, and this, in turn, allows you to resist viruses and infections.

Bay leaf in type 2 diabetes helps to stabilize blood glucose levels, normalizing carbohydrate metabolism in the body.

Zinc and folic acids, contained in the spice in sufficient concentration, have a beneficial effect on the health of the entire reproductive system. Lavrushka extracts stimulate uterine contractions, helping with congestion in this organ.

Extracts from spices when applied topically help. Dermatologists and traditional healers prescribe infusions and oil extracts of bay leaf in the complex therapy of dermatitis, acne vulgaris, allergic rashes, and irritated skin.

The spice is also indispensable in dental practice. Chewing fresh leaves neutralizes bad breath after smoking, eating garlic or halitosis. Due to the disinfecting properties of the plant, the raw material has a therapeutic effect in inflammatory processes occurring in the gums and on the oral mucosa, in particular, with stomatitis and periodontal disease.

Traditional medicine recipes with “lavrushka”

oil tincture

The medicinal properties of bay leaf determine its use in folk medicine in the form of decoctions, infusions, alcohol and oil tinctures.

Baths and washings from a decoction of seasoning allow you to get rid of diathesis in infants. 5 leaves are poured with hot water (0.3 l), kept in a water bath for 5 minutes, insisted for about an hour. The filtered liquid is used to bathe the baby in a warm form, adding to the bath or wiping the entire body of the baby.

An alcoholic tincture of bay leaves applied topically helps treat acne by relieving inflammation, disinfecting pustules, exfoliating the skin and tightening pores. To make it, a dark glass container is filled with dried or fresh leaves broken in hands (up to the top, without tamping), pour vodka or medical alcohol diluted in half with water, tightly clog and infuse in a dark place for 20 days, shaking the liquid daily. The lotion is used only externally, wiping problem areas of the face and body.

An infusion of bay leaves will help activate metabolism and remove excess fluid from tissues in the process of losing weight. To prepare a drink, 3 large leaves are poured with boiling water and insisted under the lid for a quarter of an hour. Strained elixir is taken half an hour before meals 5 times 40 ml, but not more than 4 days in a row.

The same infusion is used as a tonic, wiping the face with it after washing 2 times a day. You can freeze the elixir and wipe the skin with ice cubes to smooth out wrinkles and cleanse the skin of age spots and rashes.

Contraindications for use

The spice is not added to food and is not used for medicinal purposes in the presence of all types of allergies.

With an increased tone of the uterus during pregnancy, extracts from laurel leaves are contraindicated.

The spice contains highly concentrated phytonutrients that are undesirable for breastfeeding babies, so it is forbidden for nursing mothers to eat it.

With caution and in minimal quantities, the spice is used by persons suffering from pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, including peptic ulcer, gastritis, inflammation in the digestive organs, and having a tendency to constipation.

In chronic diseases of the kidneys, liver, adrenal glands, spleen, a specialist consultation is required before treatment with folk remedies based on bay leaf.

The amazing is always there. Try to use bay leaf not only in everyday cooking, but also in home cosmetology and the treatment of certain diseases, and you will be surprised at the effectiveness of this inexpensive spice available to everyone. Good health to you!


Laurel tree is the oldest evergreen plant on the planet. In the past, the Greeks laurel was a symbol of glory, victory and wisdom. Warriors-heroes and high-ranking persons were crowned with wreaths from the branches of this tree. Basically, the leaves are used in cooking as a universal seasoning in the preparation of various dishes. Thanks to the spice, meat, fish and vegetable dishes acquire an incomparable taste and aroma. But the medicinal properties of the bay leaf, as well as contraindications to the use of products based on it, were known long before they began to eat it.

Lavrushka - a storehouse of vitamins C, B, A, trace elements, essential oils, tannins, fatty acids. All these components are useful for the human body and are widely used in pharmaceuticals.

Formic acid and tannins give laurel antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. A decoction of bay leaves treats sores in the mouth, inflammation of the gums, inflammation in the ears, and also disinfects abrasions and cuts.

Natural antiseptic can disinfect any room. Brew a handful of leaves, let it brew and pour into a small container. Leave in the room for half an hour. The air in the room will be completely cleansed of bacteria and viruses.

In complex therapy, bay decoction strengthens the immune system and helps to overcome a viral infection in the body. All this is due to lauric acid, which is part of the plant. Inhalations from laurel decoction help well in the fight against the common cold and other inflammatory processes of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract.

Inhalations are done only on the first day of illness, since for 2-3 days, along with inhalation, multiplied viruses can be brought into the lungs.

In type 2 diabetes, a person needs to monitor their blood sugar levels. The leaves are an excellent adjuvant for this ailment. It has been proven that the remedy acts quickly enough, lowers blood glucose levels and lowers cholesterol. The decoction must be taken in courses for two weeks. Both fresh and dried leaves can be used.

The healing leaf has also proven itself in the treatment of fungal skin diseases in the initial stage. To get rid of the fungus on the legs, it is necessary every other day, for 20 minutes, to do foot baths with a decoction of laurel. The procedure is carried out in a course every two weeks, until the signs of pathology disappear completely.

Cleansing the body

Pathogenic bacteria, toxins and salts negatively affect the functioning of the body as a whole. To cleanse the internal systems and organs, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment with laurel decoction for three days.

To prepare a medicinal tincture, pour 30 leaves with 1 liter of boiling water in the evening. In the morning, the decoction should be divided into three equal parts. Drink one part a day, in small sips after meals. For a more pronounced effect, you should follow a fruit and vegetable diet on the days of taking the decoction.

There is a cleansing of the body by this method and contraindications:

  • pregnancy and lactation;
  • ulcer of the stomach and intestines;
  • regular constipation.

Bay leaf contains butyric acid, which is a kind of catalyst for metabolic processes. Regular bowel movements, of course, have a positive effect on the digestive system. In addition, the smell of dried laurel stimulates the appetite, and the decoction helps to cope with minor dysentery.

For those who suffer from indigestion after eating, it is advised to drink 4-5 drops of juice from fresh grass leaves and drink warm water.

Lowering blood pressure, treating joints and bones

Traditional medicine methods are very popular in the treatment and prevention of hypertension, and bay leaf is an effective remedy. In the diet of hypertensive patients, calcium, magnesium and potassium should be present in sufficient quantities, and these elements are contained in the required amount in laurel. Acting as a mild diuretic, a decoction of the plant is able to lower and stabilize blood pressure at the initial stage of the disease.

It is advisable to prepare the broth in a thermos, put 4-5 sheets on a glass of boiling water and leave to infuse for 12 hours. If you put a teaspoon of dried dill in the broth, you get a more powerful medicine that will help reduce sudden pressure surges.

Prevention and treatment of joints and bones with bay leaf is carried out in two stages, after the bowel cleansing procedure:

  • Fabric cleaning. To pass the first stage, it is necessary to boil 5 g of laurel and 300 ml of water in an enamel bowl. Boil uncovered for at least 5-6 minutes. Wrap the finished broth with a blanket and leave to infuse for several hours. Drink within 12 hours, taking no more than 2 sips at a time. The procedure is repeated for 3 days.
  • Cartilage restoration. Prepare a mixture of 1 tsp. peeled and ground eggshell, a pinch of gelatin. You need to drink the resulting biocalcium daily, once a day. Course 2 stages - 1 month.

The use of laurel for other problems

Bay leaf infusion relieves the symptoms of allergies and reduces the reaction to the allergen during seasonal manifestations of this disease. With skin rashes, taking baths with infusion of laurel helps. For a bath of water - 1 liter of tincture. It is recommended to take a bath no longer than 15-20 minutes.

Laurel oil can be used to lubricate irritated skin and even bedsores in bedridden patients. . In addition, the plant is effective in the following cases:

  • Eliminate bad breath. Here, the treatment will give a positive result only if the smell is caused by bacteria. The antibacterial property of laurel water tincture will help destroy the harmful bacteria that cause bad breath.
  • For insect bites. Pain and irritation after a bite from bees, wasps, horseflies will effectively help remove gruel from a chewed fresh leaf. It is recommended to apply the mixture to the affected area of ​​​​the skin and fix it with a bandage or adhesive tape.
  • With neurosis and sleep disturbance. Due to the content of linalool, bay leaf is useful for people suffering from insomnia, excitability and irritability. It has a sedative effect on the nervous system. You can take a bath with a decoction or make a sachet of leaves and put it at the head of the bed.
  • Children. It is useful for babies to take baths with a decoction of laurel. Tannins and phytoncides kill staphylococcus aureus and treat prickly heat. Teenagers can take such baths for acne. Before giving your child such baths, consult a therapist.
  • With sweaty feet. With such a problem, you can prepare a bactericidal foot bath. To do this, pour 6-7 leaves of 500 ml of boiling water. Leave to brew and add to a bowl of water. Keep your feet in such a bath for 5-7 minutes.
  • With a delay in menstruation. If pregnancy is excluded, and menstruation did not come on time, you can use the decoction to provoke uterine contraction and the onset of menstruation will accelerate.
  • With rheumatism. For treatment, you can prepare an ointment yourself. It is necessary to grind 30 bay leaves into powder. The resulting powder is mixed with a pack of butter and kept for half an hour in a water bath. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator and, if necessary, rub it on sore joints.

Use in cosmetology

Oils, tonics, masks, lotions based on laurel are widely used in cosmetology. Thanks to the essential oils, beneficial acids and tannins contained in the composition, laurel is able to:

  • restore the dermis;
  • improve complexion;
  • reduce pores;
  • reduce wrinkles;
  • cleanse the skin;
  • reduce inflammatory processes.

And also often use this spice for the treatment of dandruff, as a preventive measure against hair loss, to restore and strengthen the hair.

Mixtures, decoctions and ointments should be prepared in enameled dishes and stored exclusively in glass.

Harmful properties

Despite such a wide range of useful properties, bay leaf has a number of contraindications and side effects. And if, as a seasoning in food, it is not capable of causing harm, then with the use of medicines based on laurel, care should be taken. The plant is not recommended in the following cases:

  1. Pregnancy. It is strictly forbidden to use infusions and decoctions containing bay leaves for pregnant women. The salicylates contained in this plant can cause bleeding, uterine contractions, and even cause miscarriage. Also, laurel is contraindicated in young children and women during breastfeeding.
  2. Cardiovascular diseases. People with diseases of the cardiovascular system should use laurel-based decoctions with caution, as it contains cardiostimulating substances.
  3. Diabetes. As mentioned earlier, laurel is useful only for type 2 diabetes. For a more severe form, it is contraindicated.
  4. Diseases of the kidneys and liver. It is not recommended to use laurel decoctions during exacerbation of chronic diseases of the kidneys and liver.
  5. food allergy. The plant can both cure allergies and provoke them. You need to be careful, if any symptom of intolerance to the bay leaf component appears, immediately stop using it.
  6. Frequent constipation. The use of decoctions based on the plant often causes constipation. To avoid this, you need to eat as much fiber and coarse fibers as possible during the treatment period.
  7. Ulcer of the stomach and intestines. For people with such diseases, laurel for medicinal purposes is strictly prohibited.

Laurel is also used in everyday life as a remedy for cockroaches and cabbage pests. This is an amazing and unique spice with a lot of useful properties, which can be easily found both on store shelves and grown at home. But in any case, it is necessary to take into account the beneficial properties and contraindications of the bay leaf and first consult with the doctor.

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Medicinal properties and contraindications of bay leaf - this is our topic for today. We will also tell about its use in traditional medicine recipes, bay leaf treatment.

Bay leaf is better known to everyone as a seasoning for a huge number of dishes. But its value is also in a large number of useful components. It contains various vitamins of group B, as well as C, PP, valuable trace elements.

Laurel noble- the plant is ancient, until some time sacred, with a rich history and shrouded in numerous beliefs. Who does not know the laurel wreaths crowning the winner since ancient Greece? BUT laureates various awards, the titles of which came precisely from our now modest lavrushka?

Myths, legends, protection from magic, a means to have a prophetic dream - what else did they admire and what amazingly useful properties were attributed to great-grandfathers bay leaf ...

Medicinal properties of bay leaf

The following beneficial properties of bay leaf are most widely known:

It contains phytoncides in large quantities, which have an antibacterial effect. Laurel is not inferior to coniferous trees in this. Therefore, it is relevant for people suffering from respiratory diseases. In addition, unlike needles, allergic reactions have not been noticed on it. It is also recommended for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.

He is unpretentious in care.

  • Antiseptic and its anti-inflammatory action.

Bay leaves contain a significant amount of tannins. This explains their antiseptic effect and relief of the inflammatory response.

Bay leaf decoction

So, for young children, bathing in water with a small amount of bay leaf decoction is recommended for prickly heat, skin manifestations of diaper dermatitis, and other pathological skin manifestations.

However, along with its useful properties, it has a drying effect. Therefore, if the skin has excessive dryness, then the decoction should not be strong, or along with washing with bay decoction, it is worth using a moisturizer.

The anti-inflammatory effect of bay leaf is also relevant in the treatment of arthritis. It relieves inflammation, relieves pain, swelling.

Bay leaf is used, due to its antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, in diseases of the oral cavity. A decoction of it is recommended for stomatitis, periodontal disease.

In addition, it stops bleeding gums, heals small wounds, ulcerative defects.

  • Strengthening of immune properties.

Thanks to its vitamin composition, it helps to strengthen the immune system.

  • The antispasmodic properties of the plant relieve pain in the intestines.
  • It is worthwhile to include soups, borscht with bay leaves in your diet more often, or even drink a decoction of its courses for hypertensive patients, since the product is able to reduce blood pressure.
  • It is also recommended for diabetes mellitus - it lowers the level of glucose in the blood. To do this, laurel powder, ground on a coffee grinder, is taken three times a day at the tip of a knife.
  • Pillows with dried leaves perfectly aromatize the air in the bedroom, promote healthy sleep, fast falling asleep and relaxation.

Bay leaf in folk medicine - how to drink, use in recipes

  • To strengthen the immune system.

You need to take 15 leaves of laurel in 1.5 glasses of water. Put the container with them on the fire and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. Then remove from heat and pour the broth into a thermos. Leave it for 4 hours. You can leave it to infuse in a container, wrapping it warm. Then you need to strain.

  • The same decoction is used for cleansing, bay leaf removes toxins and toxins from the body.

Bay leaf treatment of joints - cleansing, cleansing

Widely known joint cleaning with bay leaf. Only it must be done after cleansing the intestines and liver, otherwise, when cleansing the joints, too many toxins can be released into the blood at once and it will be difficult for the body to cope with them.

Over the years of an improper lifestyle, the joints become inactive, salts are deposited in them, and cleaning really helps to rejuvenate and begin to move more actively and painlessly.

During the procedure, a vegetarian diet is desirable, at least you will definitely have to do without classic protein products - meat, eggs, milk.

The course of cleansing is not very long - only three days, you need to drink a decoction of 2 tablespoons every half hour. (in the evening, brew a dozen medium-sized leaves with 250 ml of boiling water, hold on a quiet fire for 5 minutes, let it brew in a thermos overnight).

After 2 months, you can repeat if the condition of the joints and bones is close to depressing, if everything is more or less, cleaning is repeated once a year.

In addition to cleansing the joints after the use of this remedy, the condition of the vessels also improves, the metabolism is activated.

There is another video recipe for cleansing joints and bones with a bay leaf with slightly different proportions:

  • For arthritis, rheumatism, gout.

It is recommended to prepare a decoction of bay leaves according to the recipe described above and drink it all in a day in small sips. It is not recommended to categorically drink the entire volume in one gulp. Drink also 3-4 days. Then take a break for a week.

We read about the treatment of joints with gelatin here, and about the use of folk remedies, medicinal herbs in the treatment of articular pathologies - here.

Bay leaf tincture

Bay leaf tincture is used for sore throat, and even throat cancer.

You need to chop the bay leaves. It should be a full glass. Pour into another glass container and pour half a liter of vodka. The mixture should be infused in a dark place for half a month. Use the remedy 30 minutes before meals, one spoonful three times a day.

  • From teenage and other skin problems (acne, age spots). 25 sheets should be boiled for 5 minutes in half a glass of water. Then insist in a thermos for about 5 hours, or leave it warmly wrapped up overnight. The resulting product is used as a lotion for rubbing the skin to narrow pores, even out skin tone, and disappear pigmentation.

If a person has oily skin, then it is worth adding a spoonful of vodka to the solution. Thus, the bay leaf is valuable both as a culinary supplement and as a medicine.

What else is bay leaf useful for?

If you regularly wash your hair with bay decoction (30 g of leaves per liter of water), then it contributes to greater thickness and shine, eliminates dandruff, and helps with seborrhea.

  • Foot baths with a decoction of lavrushka will relieve sweating of the feet.
  • Oil with laurel extract (1 tablespoon of leaves is poured into 200 ml of olive oil and infused for 2 weeks) will help with exacerbations of osteochondrosis. They rub painful places for the coming sleep.
  • A mild diuretic effect has been noted.
  • The plant stimulates appetite and is used in many popular culinary recipes.
  • Do with this tool and inhalation, essential oils actively evaporate and help with coughing (expectorant properties), runny nose, even “pierce” the nose with sinusitis. A couple of leaves are enough for a liter of floating liquid.

The smell of lavrushka scares away cockroaches, does not allow moths to live freely.

The benefits of bay leaf for the human body are wide and varied, but let's talk about the potential harm of this plant.

Bay leaf contraindications, harm

Not everyone is suitable for bay leaf treatment - it also has contraindications.

  • Large doses may lead to poisoning;
  • bay leaf tincture thoroughly strengthens, you need to keep this in mind for hemorrhoids, poor digestion (chronic constipation, "lazy intestines");
  • pregnant women should not be treated with lavrushka (it can provoke unnecessary uterine activity and, accordingly, miscarriage) and small children;
  • with caution it is worth approaching this type of treatment for problems with metabolism, stomach ulcers and 12 duodenal ulcers;
  • with exacerbations of diseases of the liver, heart and kidneys.

Selection and storage

The shelf life of the bay leaf is 2 years, after which the aroma is no longer the same, and bitterness appears when used internally. Naturally, it must be stored in a hermetically sealed container, like all products saturated with aromatic oils.

I do not advise buying in opaque packages - since I already threw out a pack with fragments of yellow twisted leaves covered with black dots. It is really better to buy a bunch - brooms in the season on the market, while it is fresh and fragrant, and dry it yourself at home.

Laurel is an evergreen tree whose leaves are widely used as a condiment. But not everyone knows that the plant has unique healing properties that help get rid of many diseases. In traditional medicine, essential laurel oil is used to prepare medicinal ointments, since the plant has a pronounced antibacterial property. But in folk medicine, decoctions, tinctures, infusions and oils are prepared on the basis of this plant, which help to cope with digestive disorders, gout, type 2 diabetes, delayed menstruation, arthritis, and colds.

Since ancient times, bay leaves have been used to wash hands before eating, as this plant is a natural antiseptic. These qualities are used to treat stomatitis, fungal skin diseases, inflammation of the eyes and prevent tuberculosis.

The chemical composition of laurel is very diverse, which makes it possible to use it in various fields. Its use in cooking helps to improve appetite and normalize the functioning of the digestive system. Despite this, laurel is beneficial in weight loss and is used in various diets.
The chemical composition of laurel differs in the content:

  • useful trace elements (zinc, selenium, iron, potassium);
  • vitamins (A, B, PP);
  • aromatic substances (cineole, limonene);
  • tannins;
  • phytoncides;
  • saturated fatty acids;
  • essential oil;
  • organic acids.

Phytoncides of the plant are considered detrimental to tubercle bacillus, regular chewing of the leaves of the plant helps to eliminate inflammation of the oral cavity, improve the patient's condition with tonsillitis, and prevent the further development of colds.

The use of folk remedies for the treatment of various diseases of the joints is effective, which helps to relieve inflammation, improve blood flow and eliminate swelling with bruises and sprains. Bay leaf has the following properties:

  • improves immunity;
  • lowers blood sugar;
  • improves the structure of hair and skin;
  • prevents the development of cancerous tumors and tuberculosis;
  • protects against the effects of viruses and infections;
  • removes toxins and salts from the human body.

A very simple way to eliminate bad breath in the mouth will help, for this it is enough to eat 1 leaf of laurel per day, while chewing it thoroughly.

You can buy dried laurel leaves in any seasoning department or grow them at home. It is recommended to collect raw materials for further treatment from the end of November to the beginning of March, when they contain the greatest amount of useful substances. Raw materials should have a strong aroma, have a rich green hue and not have any spots or damage on the leaf plate.
It is necessary to dry raw materials at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees for 10 days. For further storage, you need to pick up a glass or ceramic container with a lid, which should be in a dark, cool place. The duration of storage of medicinal raw materials is no more than 1 year.

For the treatment of diseases, it is necessary to prepare medicinal preparations based on laurel, but at the same time strictly adhere to the dosage of raw materials so as not to harm the body.

Diseases and method of application:

  • To relieve inflammation of muscles and joints. To relieve acute joint pain, it is necessary to use a medical compress from a bay leaf. To do this, 5 leaves of the plant should be steamed in 100 ml of boiling water for 1 hour. Add 20 drops of castor oil to the resulting infusion and stir until smooth. Apply a compress to problem areas, covering with a film on top and fixing with a gauze bandage. For rheumatism and sprains, it is better to use ready-made essential laurel oil, which is sold in pharmacies, rubbing it directly into the skin.
  • For the treatment of joints. Need 20 pcs. boil bay leaves in 1.5 cups of water for no more than 5 minutes, but do not cover the container with a lid. Then remove and insist in a thermos for 4 hours. Clear and drink the entire amount throughout the day in small portions. Therapy should be carried out for 3 days, if necessary, after a week should be repeated.
  • With diabetes. To prepare a remedy, you should follow all the steps of preparation. 10 leaves of the plant pour 700-750 ml of boiling water, leave for 3 hours, wrapped in a warm towel. Cleanse and take half an hour before the main meal, drinking half a glass of infusion at a time. During treatment, it is necessary to constantly control blood sugar, as it may be necessary to reduce the dose of insulin.
  • With oncology. The properties of laurel make it possible to alleviate the patient's condition with throat cancer. To do this, you need to prepare a tincture according to the following recipe: pour 200 g of crushed leaves of the plant with 500 ml of vodka. The mixture should be infused in a closed container for 15 days. Reception is carried out before meals, drinking 1 tablespoon.
  • From allergies and diathesis. You can get rid of allergies and diathesis using a special bay oil, which you can do yourself. To do this, pour the crushed leaves of the plant (35 g) into 1 glass of linseed oil. Infuse in dark glassware for 8 days. It is recommended to use the product as a rubbing for skin rashes, as well as for allergic rhinitis, it is recommended to instill 1 drop into the nose three times a day.
  • For the treatment of prickly heat. It is effective to use therapeutic baths for prickly heat in a child. To do this, it is necessary to prepare a medicinal decoction of bay leaves in advance: pour the leaves of the plant (15 pieces) with boiling water (1000 ml) and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. The decoction is recommended to be added chilled to the prepared bath for the child. The entire course of therapy must be continued for 10 days in a row, but improvements will be noticeable on the 2nd-3rd day of the procedure.
  • For hair problems. To get rid of dandruff, it is recommended to use rinsing with a decoction of bay leaves. To do this, pour 30 leaves of the plant with boiling water (1 l) and leave for 3 hours. Before use, the decoction must be filtered. To accelerate hair growth, you should use the oil from the plant. To prepare it, it is recommended to grind 20 laurel leaves and add 250 ml of olive oil, keep in a closed container for 8 days. Apply to the hair roots, but distribute over the entire length only to owners of dry and brittle hair. Therapy is carried out 1 time per week for 2 months.
  • To normalize the monthly cycle. Remedies from this plant will help to normalize the monthly course and to terminate the pregnancy. It is necessary to take folk remedies from laurel only if menstruation is delayed for no more than 10 days. Dried leaves of the plant (10 g) pour water (500 ml), boil for at least 1 hour, without covering the decoction with a lid. Cool to room temperature and drink 1 glass of decoction at a time. Your period should start the very next day. In their absence, the procedure cannot be repeated, since such a concentration is poisonous if it is used more than 1 time. Pour boiling water (250 ml) crushed laurel leaves (35 g), leave for 1 hour. Drink the product warm in one go. Repeat twice more during the day. Your period will start the next day.

For women suffering from excess weight, it is necessary to prepare funds according to the following recipes:

  • Put 5 bay leaves and 1 cinnamon stick in a saucepan, pour 1 liter of boiling water and boil for 15 minutes, insist and drink 5 tablespoons in the morning before meals, the duration of therapy is no more than 3 days.
  • Pour 30 leaves of bay leaf with 1 liter of boiling water and keep in a closed container for 12 hours, drink the decoction three times a day before meals, 100 ml for no more than three days.

Like any other remedy, laurel has its own contraindications for use, therefore, before starting therapy, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with them and take them into account in the future:

  1. 1. The high content of tannins in the composition of the plant excludes its use for people suffering from regular constipation, as this will lead to serious complications.
  2. 2. It is undesirable to use products based on this plant for women during pregnancy, as this can affect uterine contractions and cause miscarriage.
  3. 3. It is forbidden to use funds for HB (breastfeeding).
  4. 4. Do not use for stomach ulcers, inflammation of the gallbladder, chronic pancreatitis.
  5. 5. It is forbidden to use bay leaf for kidney diseases.

The use of high concentration bay leaf products can cause serious harm to health, which will lead to intoxication of the body.

Laurel is a unique plant that helps not only to give food a special aroma and taste, but also copes with various human diseases. However, during treatment, the dosage and timing of therapy cannot be ignored, so it is necessary to consult a doctor in advance.

The benefits and harms of bay leaves are a question that everyone needs to know the answer to, since laurel is widely used in cooking. You can understand the properties of the plant if you study the composition and scope.

The history of the bay leaf

The evergreen laurel tree grows in subtropical and tropical regions. It can be found in the Mediterranean and Transcaucasia, on the Canary Islands, in Asia Minor. The leaves of the plant are highly valued in cooking - they are one of the most famous spices. Remarkable plant for its healing and even occult properties, laurel is a symbol of victory in many world cultures.

A beautiful ancient Greek myth is associated with the laurel tree, telling about the origin of the plant. According to Ovid, once the god Eros punished Apollo by shooting an arrow of love for the nymph Daphne at him, and an arrow that kills love at Daphne herself. The persecution of Apollo only disgusted the nymph, and, in the end, she asked the gods to protect her. The gods fulfilled the wish by turning Daphne into a tree. Saddened, Apollo made sure that the laurel remained evergreen, and the plant has since become sacred.

The chemical composition of the bay leaf

The benefits of bay leaf for the human body are easily explained - just look at the composition. Plant leaves contain:

  • vitamins A and C;
  • vitamins B;
  • acid PP and saturated fatty acids;
  • essential and tannins;
  • potassium and iron;
  • magnesium, copper, zinc and sodium;
  • phosphorus and manganese;
  • cellulose.

The plant not only improves the taste and aroma of dishes, but also gives them additional useful properties.

Nutritional value and calorie content of bay leaf

The product consists primarily of carbohydrates - they are contained in the plant about 48 g. The second and third places are occupied by fats, about 8 g, and proteins, whose share is 7 g.

The calorie content of Lavrushka is quite high - 313 kcal per 100 g.

Healing properties of bay leaf

The valuable composition of the plant contributes to the fact that Lavrushka brings great health benefits. Namely:

  • improves appetite and helps digestion of food;
  • significantly speeds up metabolic processes;
  • strengthens the body's defenses against colds;
  • removes toxins, toxins and excess salts;
  • relieves inflammation and pain;
  • improves skin color and elasticity, strengthens hair;
  • normalizes blood pressure and helps fight swelling;
  • improves the condition of blood vessels and the cardiac system.

The benefits of bay leaf for the kidneys is that the remedy has a strong diuretic effect and prevents the formation of calculi. And the benefit of chewing a bay leaf every day is that the plant will help protect against inflammation of the oral cavity.

Bay leaf benefits for women

The benefits and harms of bay leaves for women's health lie in several areas at once. Seasoning provides effective assistance with menstrual irregularities, helps to relieve inflammation of the genitourinary system. In addition, laurel is useful for weight loss, its valuable properties are actively used in cosmetology - the plant rejuvenates the skin of the face and fights acne and acne.

Benefits of bay leaf for men

For the representatives of the stronger sex, useful laurel is valuable primarily for its diuretic properties - plant-based medicines help in the treatment of kidney diseases and urogenital inflammation.

Zinc in the composition of lavrushka contributes to the proper functioning of the male reproductive system.

Bay leaf for the elderly

Seasoning is especially recommended for use in old age. First of all, Lavrushka regulates blood pressure and protects blood vessels from atherosclerosis. In addition, the plant helps with pain in the legs, which elderly people often suffer from. Laurel relieves muscle inflammation and helps to improve blood circulation, preventing blood stasis.

Is bay leaf good for kids?

Seasoning is one of the few allowed for use even by babies. Bay leaf rarely causes a negative reaction, therefore, the medicinal properties of bay leaf for newborns are used from skin irritations.

After 3 months of life, Lavrushka is allowed for internal use for children - although doses should be microscopic, and parents should carefully monitor the child's reaction. If an allergy to seasoning does not manifest itself, the laurel will have a beneficial effect on children's digestion.

Is it possible to bay leaf pregnant and lactating

Useful bay leaf is strictly prohibited for use during pregnancy. Drinks made from this seasoning stimulate strong contractions of the internal muscles and can be harmful, causing a miscarriage. However, pregnant women can still use laurel externally or add it little by little to dishes.

During breastfeeding, it is better to refrain from eating lavrushka. Sometimes seasoning causes allergies in infants, which is harmful.

How to use bay leaf for weight loss

Lavrushka is a strong diuretic, so it can enhance the effect of any diet. For example, for weight loss, the following remedy is used:

  • several leaves of laurel are poured with water;
  • boil for about a quarter of an hour over medium heat;
  • cool and strain.

You need to drink the remedy at least three times a day in the amount of a large spoon. Lavrushka helps to remove excess fluids from the body - up to several liters. True, the benefits and harms of bay leaf decoction go next to each other. Drinking a drink should not be longer than 3 days, otherwise dehydration will occur. Between courses of use of a useful remedy, it is necessary to take a break of at least six months.

Traditional medicine recipes based on bay leaf

There are several basic recipes for internal and external use of seasoning. The properties of bay leaf in medicine show an excellent effect

Bay leaf decoction

About 30 leaves are thoroughly washed and poured with clean water. Then the container with the leaves is placed on the stove over medium heat, after boiling, boiled for about 5 minutes. It is not necessary to cover the container with a lid. The finished medicine will need to be insisted for a few more hours.

The brewed bay leaf is beneficial for joint pain and stomach problems, with fever and colds. Its dosage depends on the specific disease, but usually the medicine is taken several sips three times a day.

Bay leaf infusion

Another simple remedy based on Lavrushka is a useful infusion. To create it, you need to pour a teaspoon of crushed leaves with boiling water and hold it in a thermos overnight. The infusion is used three times a day for gastric and inflammatory ailments - in the amount of 1 large spoon.

The infusion is also suitable for external use, they treat damage and irritation on the skin.

Tea with bay leaf

For the prevention of diseases and as an anti-cold remedy, they drink healthy tea brewed on bay leaves. It is necessary to pour 4 small leaves with boiling water and boil for a quarter of an hour. Then ordinary tea leaves and medicinal herbs are added to the product and drunk like regular tea.

The benefits and harms of bay leaf tea depend on the dosage - you should not take more than 2 cups of the drink per day.

Ointment from bay leaves

The benefits of bay leaf for joints are manifested not only in decoctions and infusions, but also in the properties of a healing ointment. It is very easy to prepare it:

  • a small handful of bay leaves are carefully crushed;
  • then take twice as much high-quality butter and soften it at room temperature;
  • the oil is mixed with crushed leaves and steamed for half an hour.

The cooled ointment can be rubbed into sore spots.

Laurel oil

For external use, bay leaf oil is used. You can make a medicine at home, for this you need:

  • take a handful of crushed leaves;
  • lightly heat olive or sunflower oil and pour raw materials into it;
  • put the mixture in a dark place for about 10 days.

The infused leaves must be squeezed out and the oil collected in a separate container. The extract, which has absorbed all the useful properties, is suitable for inhalation for colds, for external treatment of wounds and bruises. Laurel oil is often used in aromatherapy - the aroma saturated with valuable substances purifies the air in the room.

Bay leaf baths

A good way to improve health and boost immunity is to take a healthy bath with lavrushka. It is enough to add 2 liters of laurel decoction to hot water and lie down in such a bath. The procedure helps with colds and joint pain, rheumatism and sprains.

How to be treated with bay leaf

The medicinal properties of bay leaf are used for a very wide range of diseases. Seasoning has a therapeutic effect on both internal and external ailments.

For joint pain

Sick joints can be treated with separate remedies from lavrushka, or complex therapy can be used.

  1. Laurel infusion is very popular - a teaspoon of dry raw materials is poured with boiling water and insisted in a thermos throughout the night. The infusion is drunk for 3 days in small sips every few hours.
  2. For joint ailments, baths with lavrushka are taken.
  3. Sick areas can be treated with laurel-based ointment, it will help relieve inflammation and pain.

With cystitis

From cystitis in women, useful baths with bay decoction help well. The anti-inflammatory properties of the seasoning quickly improve the condition of the body, usually only 3-5 treatment sessions daily are enough. To enhance the effect, the remedy can be drunk in a large spoonful in the morning and evening, but not more than 3 days in a row to avoid harm.

With otitis media

To quickly relieve inflammation in the ear, you need to instill 4 drops of bay decoction into it. You can also take the remedy inside - three times a day for a couple of large spoons.

With hemorrhoids

From external and internal hemorrhoids, the healing properties of bay leaf branches and its leaves in the form of a decoction help well. Drink a quarter glass of a drink, shortly before eating, twice or thrice a day. In total, during therapy, you need to drink at least 3 liters of a useful remedy.

To get rid of an unpleasant disease faster, you can take sitz baths: 100 g of dry leaves are poured into several liters of hot water. In total, it is recommended to take about 12 baths.

From sweaty feet

To get rid of the unpleasant smell coming from the feet, mini-baths are made daily, adding 250 ml of strong laurel infusion to them. Keep your feet in the water should be about a quarter of an hour.

From alcoholism

It is believed that a decoction of laurel helps to get rid of cravings for alcohol. A few crushed leaves should be boiled, cooled and drunk in a couple of sips throughout the day. The daily dose of the drug in the end should be at least 2 glasses.

From allergies

The properties of bay leaf help with allergies.

  1. To get rid of nasal congestion and tearing, it is necessary to instill 3 drops of bay oil in each nostril.
  2. To eliminate an allergic rash on the skin, you can take laurel baths - 1 liter of laurel decoction is diluted in 15 liters of plain water.

Also, allergic irritations can be treated with lotions from laurel infusion, the remedy will soften the skin and relieve inflammation and itching.

With sinusitis

The benefits of a decoction of bay leaf for the human body is manifested in chronic sinusitis. You can do inhalations and breathe the hot steam rising from the freshly prepared product. For greater effect, you can cover your head from above with a towel.

When menstruation is delayed

If, against the background of sudden weight loss or stress, the menstrual cycle is disturbed, you can prepare a useful decoction of laurel. The strained product is drunk in one gulp in the volume of a glass. If it works, then the next day menstruation will come.

You can use the medicine only with a short, maximum ten-day delay. If the decoction did not help, it is no longer possible to repeat the procedure - in large quantities, lavrushka is toxic and harms the body.

With diabetes

The infusion lowers blood glucose, if taken daily before meals, three times a day - bay leaves will be useful in diabetes. The effect of the drug should appear after a couple of weeks.

For colds and coughs

Vitamin decoction of lavrushka reduces the temperature and helps fight viruses and infections. To eliminate coughs and colds, it is recommended to drink half a glass of decoction three times a day.

The decoction is also well suited for the prevention of SARS, as it improves immunity.

With osteochondrosis and arthritis

Symptoms of arthritis and osteochondrosis are relieved by bay infusion - you need to drink it throughout the day, several sips before meals. The healing properties of bay leaf for joints are that the remedy removes excess salt deposits, but you can only take it for 3 days in a row. Otherwise, there will be harm due to the fact that the body will lose nutrients and fluid.

With inflammation of the eyes

From barley and other eye diseases, it is recommended to drink several sips of laurel infusion every hour during the day. To prepare a useful remedy, you should take only 3 leaves - the infusion should be weak. Inflammation with this treatment disappears in a couple of days.

To improve potency

The use of bay leaf in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of the seasoning are used to care for the health of the skin and hair. Lavrushka helps fight irritations, regulates the production of subcutaneous fat and restores beauty to the face and curls.

Bay leaf for skin health

The healing properties of bay leaf for the skin help get rid of acne, dry the skin and remove blackheads. For example, the following lotion for oily skin gives a complex effect:

  • a weak infusion is prepared from several leaves;
  • 2 large spoons of lemon juice and a similar amount of alcohol are added to the infusion;
  • natural lotion wipe the skin in the morning and evening every day.

The tool will quickly cleanse the face and reduce the production of subcutaneous fat.

Bay leaf for hair beauty

The medicinal properties of bay leaf for hair are that it helps to eliminate flaking of the scalp and dandruff, strengthens the bulbs and gives the hair a healthy shine. Such a firming mask is popular:

  • 2 large spoons of crushed leaves are poured with boiling water and insisted for an hour;
  • add 60 g of liquid honey and mix thoroughly;
  • distribute the mixture over the curls, trying not to process the very tips - there is a risk of overdrying them.

The benefits of bay leaf for hair will be manifested in the fact that the mask will help stop hair loss.

How is bay leaf used in cooking?

Laurel seasoning is one of the most famous and popular all over the world. Leaves with a bitter taste and a pleasant spicy aroma are added to soups and main courses, meat and fish, seafood and vegetables, cereals and sauces.

The plant is often used in canning - when pickling or pickling vegetables, mushrooms and other products. Laurel not only improves the taste, but also gives canned food additional useful properties.

In order for the product to improve the taste of dishes, you need to add it in the amount of 1-4 leaves. At the same time, laurel is laid in soups 5 minutes before readiness, and in main dishes - 10 minutes before. After a quarter of an hour, the leaf must be removed from the dish, otherwise it will give the food a bitter taste.

The magical properties of bay leaf

In ancient times, laurel was considered sacred. The magical properties of the bay leaf are revered even now - people believe that the plant cleanses the home energy, protects the house from a lightning strike, attracts prophetic dreams and contributes to the fulfillment of desires. There is a widespread belief about the magical properties of bay leaves to attract money - it is believed that in a house richly decorated with laurel leaves, wealth will never be transferred.

Bay leaf harm and contraindications

The medicinal properties of the plant do not benefit everyone. Sometimes they can be harmful. The use of seasoning and products based on it is prohibited when:

  • allergies to this product;
  • pregnancy and lactation;
  • serious diseases of the liver, intestines and stomach;
  • severe cardiac and vascular ailments;
  • chronic renal failure and cholelithiasis.

How to choose a bay leaf when buying

Lavrushka is usually sold in stores in dried form. However, even such a seasoning can be of poor quality and be harmful.

When choosing, you need to look mainly at the color of the leaves. Good leaves are dark green. A greenish-yellow pale color indicates that the seasoning is expired, and spots and rust on the leaves indicate that the leaves are affected by the disease and will be harmful.

Also, fresh leaves should have a pleasant tart aroma. A weak smell indicates that the seasoning has been stored for too long.

Storing bay leaves at home

Dried leaves of the plant are stored for 1 year. It is best to keep them in a glass jar, under a tightly closed lid, in a dark and cool place.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of bay leaf depend on the presence of contraindications. If the use of seasoning is not prohibited, then in moderation it will bring invaluable benefits to the body.