Bay leaves are added to the first and second courses, and also crushed and used as a seasoning. Raw materials are widely used in cooking for preserving vegetables for the winter. Laurel is known for its miraculous qualities, it is often used to treat diabetes, low immunity and other diseases. Therefore, it makes sense to consider the beneficial qualities of the plant and its possible contraindications.

The plant has an impressive list of useful qualities that healers are happy to put into practice. In folk healing, bay leaf is used to treat colds, diabetes, oncology and other "misfortunes". But first things first.

Broth on bay leaves
To prepare the product, you need to collect fresh leaves, then wash them, dry them and boil them. Dried raw materials are used if desired, but do not abuse to avoid overdose.

With the systematic intake of a decoction on the laurel, the body has the following effect:

• the psycho-emotional environment comes into tone;
• sleep is normalized;
• improves the activity of the digestive system;
• the first signs of colds and flu are eliminated;
• immunity increases;
• diseases of the oral cavity are cured;
• problems with skin and hair are solved;
• the body leaves toxins, slags;
• improves blood composition.

In the process of preparation for 1 liter. water is taken 10 leaves of laurel, more is unacceptable. If you regularly use a highly concentrated decoction, you run the risk of poisoning.

Infusion on bay leaves
Sometimes a medicinal plant is kept in medical alcohol or vodka, due to which a tincture is obtained from many diseases. Such a tool effectively copes with acne, acts as a natural antiseptic and pain reliever.

Tincture is rubbed with sore muscles, sprains, joints. As a result of 2-3 procedures, the course of diseases is facilitated. You can not take the tincture in the presence of problems with the organs of the digestive tract, so as not to aggravate the condition of the mucous membranes.

To prepare the composition, you need to take 400 ml. vodka and 10 laurel leaves. The components are placed in a dark glass container and kept at room temperature away from light for 2 weeks.

bath on bay leaves
Taking a bath is recommended for people who suffer from problem skin, severe rashes, stretch marks. A relaxing procedure will also bring the psyche back to normal and promote sound sleep.

The therapy is available to everyone, the preparation will not make it difficult for you. First you need to prepare a strong decoction of 30 leaves and 2 liters. water, insist it for 2 hours, then pour into the typed bath. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes, the frequency is at least twice a week.

The tool is no less effective, moreover, it is easy to store and use for its intended purpose at any convenient time. The oil is good because it is suitable for internal consumption and external use.

The useful qualities of the composition include:

• treatment of colds;
• prevention of influenza and beriberi;
• elimination of dermatological problems;
• treatment of sinusitis, ailments of the nasopharynx and ears;
• fight against fungal infections;
• healing of abrasions and wounds;
• relief of allergy symptoms;
• treatment of sprains and joint pain.

To prepare the oil, you need to take 25 gr. leaves and mix with 250 ml. olive or corn oil. Laurel is better to grind beforehand. After mixing, the components are heated to 40 degrees, then removed from the heat. The oil is aged in a dark glass container for 15 days. Once filtered, it must be kept refrigerated and applied as needed.

Areas of use of laurel oil:

1. To carry out inhalation and prevent (cure) insomnia, you need to mix 5 drops of oil with boiling water. This composition is inhaled 10-15 times or placed on the bedside table for aroma.
2. If you need to heal non-healing wounds and cracks in the skin, the oil is used in its pure form. Treat damaged areas with it, then keep the skin open.
3. With severe migraines, frequent headaches, pulsations, you need to rub the whiskey with oil, applying the composition to the fingertips.
4. The oil is added to homemade face and hair masks. Enough 3-5 drops for a therapeutic and prophylactic effect.
5. If an allergic reaction to medications is noticed, apply 2-3 drops of oil to a sugar cube and dissolve.

Diabetes

1. A decoction based on a plant stabilizes glucose levels. It is important to take the remedy regularly. The therapeutic composition shows positive results in the shortest possible time. In this case, you need to see a doctor.
2. The specialist will take a blood test. The result will be shown after laboratory tests. The positive effect of the reception can be felt on yourself without consequences.
3. To prepare raw materials, you need to combine 20 fresh laurel leaves and 350 ml in a saucepan. filtered water. Send the container with the contents to the stove. After boiling, reduce the heat to a minimum, boil for 5-6 minutes.
4. Pour the finished product into a thermos and leave for about a day. After that, strain the decoction. The composition should be drunk during the day for 3 doses. The decoction also helps to cope with allergic reactions and relieves swelling of the extremities.

Cleansing the blood channels

1. Bay leaves perfectly cleanse the cardiovascular system of toxins. Such properties of the plant have been known since ancient times. To carry out an effective procedure, it is necessary to properly prepare the product.
2. This will require 10 dried bay leaves and 0.5 liters. steep boil. Combine the components and boil over low heat for about 7 minutes.
3. Insist 4 hours, then strain. The remedy should be drunk in small sips throughout the day and between meals. The effect is felt after the first day.

Colds

1. Seasoning is recommended to be added to various dishes during the period of seasonal diseases and beriberi. The systematic intake of bay leaf avoids the development of SARS and similar ailments.
2. If you have already been infected, taking bay leaf in combination with other drugs will be a great addition and will quickly get you back on your feet. It is recommended to drink a decoction based on laurel before going to bed and do inhalations.

Cystitis

1. In addition to the directional medications prescribed by the doctor, it is recommended to take a decoction of bay leaves in parallel. The natural composition relieves inflammation, pain and allows you to go to the toilet without discomfort.
2. The remedy also helps with a progressive disease. With the help of a decoction, you can carry out conservative treatment of the bladder. Please note that before the procedure you need to make sure that there are no contraindications. The composition is prepared according to the above recipe.

Joint pain

1. If you are experiencing joint problems, you can resort to the help of this plant. A leaf-based decoction will restore the mobility of cartilage and connective tissue. The remedy eliminates pain and inflammation.
2. This method of treatment is considered the safest, the only condition is that you need to consult a doctor in advance. In this case, you can resort to the help of tinctures based on alcohol or water decoction.
3. Let's use the recipe. For cooking, you need 10 dry laurel leaves and 700 ml. steep boil. Boil the components for a while. Leave to infuse for a couple of hours, strain. Mix to raw materials 40 gr. flower honey. Divide the decoction into 3 parts and drink throughout the day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

Sinusitis

1. To cope with the disease and other problems of the upper respiratory tract, you need to resort to the help of a healing infusion of bay leaves.
2. Regular procedures are highly effective. The unique composition is able to cope even with chronic pathology. Prepare the decoction in the classic way. Breathe over the hot composition, covered with a blanket.

Oncology

1. A wide range of unique qualities of bay leaves extends to oncological disorders. The plant greatly facilitates the patient's condition with throat cancer.
2. Grind a glass of bay leaves and pour 500 ml. vodka. Infuse the remedy for 15 days in a dark, cool place. After that, strain and take 40 gr. three times a day half an hour before a meal.

Bay leaf contraindications

1. It is forbidden to take bay leaf in any form with alcoholism. This category of people is more of a temporary limitation.
2. Laurel leaf is categorically contraindicated in renal failure, individual intolerance, allergic reactions, breastfeeding and pregnancy, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis, ulcers and impaired protein synthesis.

Bay leaf has a lot of useful qualities and a wide range of applications. With the help of the plant, you can get rid of serious pathologies. Consider the benefits of raw materials and how to use them. Before the treatment course, be sure to consult with a specialist. It will not be superfluous to undergo a full examination and pass tests.

Video: amazing properties of bay leaf

Bay leaf is one of the most common spices. Laurel makes dishes richer, tastier and more aromatic. The plant has been known since ancient times. In the Middle Ages, the bay leaf was considered a symbol of goodness. And in ancient Greece, laurel wreaths were hung around the necks of the winners of the Olympic Games.

Today, the plant is used in cooking, the chemical industry and medicine. Bay leaf has many beneficial properties that help fight various diseases.

The use of laurel

Bay leaf can be used fresh or dry. It is commonly added to soups, stews, and meat dishes. The plant has a bitter taste and a resinous, sweet aroma.

In the first dishes it is put five minutes before readiness, and in the second - ten minutes. For one liter of water, one leaf of the plant is required. Store the bay leaf in vacuum packaging or a glass jar, no more than a year from the date of assembly.

Mineral composition

Bay leaf is rich in vitamins and minerals. It consists of:

• Vitamins - they are represented by the group A, B (2, 6, 9), C, and PP is contained in a small amount.
• The number of trace elements includes calcium (100 grams contains 80% of the daily norm for a person), magnesium (30%), potassium (20% of the daily norm), fluorine (15%), zinc, iron, manganese.
• Essential oil.
• Salicylates - elements that contribute to blood thinning.
• Tannins.

Beneficial features

Bay leaf is not consumed whole. From it make infusions, decoctions and oils. They can help with a number of diseases.

Benefits of laurel:

• Effect on the digestive system- bay leaf stimulates appetite, helps to normalize digestion. The special enzymes contained in it contribute to the breakdown of heavy food, the rapid removal of digested products from the body.
• Benefits for joints Laurel helps to remove excess salt from the body. It is able to free the joints from unnecessary deposits, relieves inflammation and pain.
• Strengthening the immune system- the bay leaf contains a large amount of vitamins and useful trace elements that increase immunity, so decoctions are used for colds.
• Influence on the genitourinary and reproductive systems. The spice contains zinc, which is good for men's health. Folic acid (vitamin B9) has a beneficial effect on the female reproductive system, and folates are responsible for the development of the nervous system in the embryo. Due to these properties, bay leaf is recommended for women planning a pregnancy. But after a successful conception, you should stop using the seasoning, since the laurel can provoke a miscarriage.
• Benefit for skin- baths with a decoction of seasoning help in the treatment of dermatitis, psoriasis, allergic rashes and other skin diseases.
• Bay leaf is widely used in cosmetology. It helps to get rid of dandruff, fights acne and pimples, relieves age spots. Vitamin A, included in the bay leaf, regenerates the skin of the face, rejuvenates the skin.
• Laurel oil helps people with dry skin, gently softens it, nourishes it with the necessary elements. This tool helps smooth wrinkles, fights dry hair.
• Bay leaf has anti-aging, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating, detoxifying properties. It can be used as an emetic for poisoning.

Nutritional value and calories

100 grams of bay leaf contains 313 kilocalories. Of these, 48, 7 are carbohydrates, 8.4 are fats, 7.6 are the protein component.

Contraindications

The benefits of bay leaf are invaluable. But along with it, the laurel has contraindications. Before using this seasoning, you should read the following recommendations:

• Bay leaf - powerful allergen, it should not be used by people with hypersensitivity to this plant;
• seasoning is prohibited during pregnancy and lactation. Chemical compounds can provoke uterine contractions, which increases the risk of miscarriage. Salicylates, which are part of the laurel, thin the blood and can lead to bleeding in pregnant women;
• spice has astringent properties, with prolonged use bay leaf leads to constipation;
• bay leaf is prohibited for stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, inflammatory processes in the intestines;
• laurel should not be used in diseases of the kidneys, liver, urolithiasis.

The widespread use of bay leaf in cooking has led people to the erroneous belief that this plant is completely safe. Laurel should be used exclusively for the purpose of flavoring dishes and in small quantities.

If the bay leaf enters the stomach, it can provoke poisoning. External use of bay leaf is used without restrictions.

ethnoscience

Laurel is widely used by traditional healers in the treatment of many diseases. The beneficial properties of the plant help to forget about debilitating diseases forever. Before using bay leaf, you should consult with doctors, if they give the green light, then you can safely proceed to treatment.

• Help with. Take ten laurel leaves, finely break them. Add one liter of cold water, boil for fifteen minutes over low heat. You need to breathe over hot steam for about 5 minutes. For a successful procedure, you should pour the broth into a basin and cover your head with a towel to create a "bath" effect. After this inhalation, pus may come out of the nose. The procedure should be repeated if necessary.
• The use of laurel with bad breath. Bay leaves help with sore gums, stomatitis leading to bad breath. Take a small leaf and chew it for five minutes, then spit it out. The procedure should be performed several times a day until improvement occurs. Within an hour after chewing the laurel, you should refrain from eating and drinking.
in the treatment of joints. Laurel is able to dissolve salts and contributes to their removal from the body. Take 5 grams of the plant (about 30 leaves), fill them with 400 milliliters of boiling water, place in a thermos for 12 hours. Strain the resulting infusion and drink throughout the day in small sips. Treatment is carried out within three days. The course can be repeated no earlier than six months later. During therapy, you need to give up protein foods, during this period, food should be vegetarian. It is necessary to completely exclude alcoholic beverages from the diet.
• Bay leaf helps fight bad breath caused by excessive sweating of the feet. To do this, it is worth making a special infusion: pour 30 - 35 leaves of laurel with 250 milliliters of boiling water. Let it brew for 3 hours. Add it to your foot bath. The procedure should be carried out daily for 10-15 minutes.
• Bay leaf contributes to the fight against. Take a tablespoon of chopped laurel, pour half a liter of boiling water and boil over low heat for about 20 minutes. The broth should be filtered and taken half a cup twenty minutes before meals, in the morning, afternoon and evening. Such treatment will increase immunity and help to easily cope with a cold.
• Treatment. Pour 10 leaves of bay leaf with a glass of boiling water. Place the resulting mixture in a thermos, leave for 3 hours. The infusion should be taken three times a day half an hour before meals. After 2 weeks, blood sugar should return to normal.
• The use of laurel in the treatment of barley. Take three large leaves of the plant, chop them. Pour a glass of boiling water, leave for about 20 minutes. Drink the resulting tea throughout the day, every hour. The barley will come off the next morning.

Use for weight loss

The diuretic effect of the leaves helps to get rid of excess weight. Essential oils contained in the plant help to remove excess fluid from the body and eliminate swelling. A large concentration of diuretics can remove about 4 liters of unnecessary fluid, ridding the body of accumulated toxins.

You can use a decoction for weight loss no longer than 3 days so as not to cause dehydration. Prepare the infusion in the following way:

• take a cinnamon stick, drop it into a liter of boiling water. Then add 6 bay leaves. Cook spices over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. The resulting infusion should be taken before each meal. Dosage - 1 tablespoon.

While taking the decoction, it is recommended to consume no more than 1500 kilocalories per day., which speeds up metabolism and helps to reduce weight. Before using this method of losing weight, you should consult a doctor, since the uncontrolled use of bay leaves can lead to negative consequences and health problems.

Bay leaf can provide invaluable assistance to the body. At the same time, this plant has a number of contraindications. Uncontrolled use of laurel can lead to health problems. Before starting treatment, it is worth evaluating the possible benefits and harms of seasoning.

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.
• Preparation. 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 blood sugar and cholesterol levels. 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 to 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 carry out right at home, because ready-to-eat dried leaves are sold in 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.

Oil

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.

Bay leaf everyone knows it as a spice that is used to give dishes a rich taste and aroma. In the Middle Ages, this plant personified goodness. And in ancient Greece, wreaths of its leaves were worn around the neck of the winners of the Olympiads. Currently, lavrushka is used not only in cooking, but also for the treatment of diseases. The beneficial substances contained in it help to fight a variety of ailments.

Laurel is very rich in useful substances. All parts of this plant contain resins, tannins, essential oils and bitterness. Also, the composition of the laurel is distinguished by some interesting elements, such as formic, butyric, acetic acids, phytosterol, linalool, camphor, starch.

The nutritional value per 100 g of the product is:

• - 7.61 g;
• - 8.36 g;
• carbohydrates - 48.67 g;
• dietary fiber - 26.3 g;
• water - 5.44 g;
• ash - 3.62 g.

Caloric content of bay leaf - 313 Kcal.

Did you know? In ancient Rome and medieval Europe, laurel branches were hung in houses to protect the home from lightning.

Of the macroelements, the composition includes, and of the microelements -,. There are many vitamins in the bay leaf, such as,.

Due to the rich chemical composition, the plant has a significant healing effect on the body, including:

• does not allow cancer cells to develop;
• helps to remove toxins, salts from the body, as well as excess fluid;
• has a general strengthening effect, fills the body with useful substances, improves immunity.

• has antifungal, antiseptic, antibacterial, wound-healing effect.

Formic acid, which is part of Lavrushka, is a natural antibiotic that slows down the processes of decay. And butyric acid provides energy for a good metabolism and helps protect the colon from disease. Thanks to phytosterol, cholesterol levels are lowered. And linalool calms the nervous and cardiovascular system.

Infusions from this plant help with insomnia, promote good digestion, improve appetite, lower blood sugar levels, and inhibit the viability of tubercle bacillus.

Bay leaves, even when dried, do not lose their beneficial qualities.
When buying a product, you need to pay attention to the following things:

• The leaves should have a uniform dark green hue. Khaki color indicates the expiration date, and the presence of spots or "rust" indicates diseases of the plant;
• the aroma should be rich and spicy. If the smell is weak or bitter, then the leaves are most likely spoiled.

The place for storing lavrushka should be dark, with a maximum humidity of 75% and an air temperature of + 10–15 ° С. The best place would be a separate pantry. But if one is not available, you can put the laurel in the refrigerator. It is allowed to store in kitchen cabinets, drawers and on open shelves, but the leaves should be marked in an opaque container.
The containers in which the lavrushka is stored must be airtight. It is better to put the leaves in tin or glass jars, which are tightly closed with lids. Laurel can only be stored in linen bags in a separate pantry, as they allow heat and moisture to pass through.

Important! It is not recommended to store the spice on the windowsills and shelves that are near the gas stove - the leaves will quickly lose all their qualities.

Recipes for medicinal purposes

Traditional healers use laurel to treat various ailments. Due to its beneficial qualities, the plant is able to get rid of many diseases.

With sinusitis

To cure sinusitis, you need to grind ten bay leaves, pour 1 liter of water and boil for 15 minutes over low heat. Then the decoction is poured into the basin, lean over it, covering the head with a towel, and breathe for 5 minutes. After such manipulation, pus may be released from the nasal passages. If necessary, inhalation can be repeated.

With otitis media

To relieve pain and reduce inflammation, you need to pour five leaves with one glass of water, boil, and then pour into a thermos and leave for two hours. Use the product should be no more than four times a day, dripping three drops into each ear. This infusion is also recommended to drink 4-5 times a day, one tablespoon.

In case of inflammation of the eyes - conjunctivitis, it is recommended to make lotions using an infusion of lavrushka. Three or four leaves are crushed, poured with one glass of boiling water and infused for 60 minutes. Then filter and wash the resulting infusion of the eye at least ten times a day.
In addition, before going to bed, it is recommended to put cotton pads soaked in a solution of laurel on the eyes. Procedures should be carried out until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely.

With hemorrhoids

From this common problem, an infusion of lavrushka helps well. 25 leaves pour 3 liters of boiling water and insist in a thermos or other insulated container throughout the day. Drink the resulting remedy should be before or after meals.

To reduce swelling and inflammation in the anus, you need to do laurel compresses. 10 g of laurel is poured with a glass of boiling water and infused for no more than 10 minutes. The agent must cool to room temperature. After that, gauze is moistened with it and applied to the anus for a trio of minutes. It is recommended to repeat the procedure 2-3 times during the day. The course of treatment is three weeks.

Baths with laurel will help get rid of cystitis. To do this, pour 30 g of leaves into 8-10 liters of hot water and boil for 30 minutes. The resulting broth is poured into a bath and diluted with water to a volume that will cover the legs in a sitting position. This bath should be taken every day for 20 minutes.

From cystitis also helps a decoction of 10 bay leaves, brewed in 0.5 liters of water. For a day you need to drink 200 ml, divided into three times.

For sweaty feet

A special infusion will help to cope with this problem: 35 bay leaves should be poured with 250 ml of boiling water and insisted for about three hours. The decoction is added to the foot bath, which must be done every day for 15 minutes.

For joint pain

Lavrushka has the ability to remove salt from the body. For pain in the joints, you should prepare an infusion of 30 bay leaves, which you need to pour 400 ml of boiling water and insist in a thermos for 12 hours. Ready solution is recommended to strain and drink throughout the day in small sips. The course of treatment is 3 days. Repeat therapy is allowed only after 6 months.

Important! During the treatment period, you can not eat protein foods - the diet should be vegetarian. Alcohol is completely prohibited at this time.

To induce menstruation, you can prepare bay leaf infusion. There are several options for the "magic potion":

• 6 bay leaves are poured into two glasses of water and boiled over low heat for 30 minutes. The cooled broth is filtered. It is necessary to drink one glass of the drug per day. It must be taken before eating.
• 10 g of laurel leaves are poured into 0.5 liters of water and boiled for one hour. Then the broth is filtered. Drink one glass.

Important!If the reason for the delay in menstruation is pregnancy, then you can not drink these decoctions. Bay leaf is an ancient abortifacient.

To improve potency

Lavrushka is an aphrodisiac. The use of laurel infusion by men will help lengthen sexual intercourse. It is necessary to brew one leaf of laurel in 200 ml of boiling water and drink on an empty stomach.

You can also prepare a bath two hours before the intended sexual intercourse. Chamomile and laurel leaves are poured with boiling water and infused for 60 minutes. The infusion is added to the bath and diluted with the required amount of warm water.

To prepare homemade cosmetic products, you can buy laurel essential oil at a pharmacy or use dried leaves.
The use of such cosmetics is not recommended for people who are allergic to bay leaves.

For problem skin you can prepare a decoction of lavrushka and water in a ratio of 1: 1 and wipe your face with it. To add a tonic effect, it is recommended to freeze the decoction in ice molds and wipe the skin with the resulting cubes. If the skin on the face is oily, then 1 teaspoon of alcohol can be added to the product.

To narrow the pores on the face and tighten the skin, it is recommended to prepare such a mask: Mix 1 tablespoon of bay broth with 1 teaspoon of honey, egg white, olive oil and add 10 drops of lemon juice. Apply to the skin for 30 minutes. Then rinse with warm water and apply moisturizer.

For acne and rashes on the face: Pour 100 g of bay leaves with a glass of hot water and boil for 5-10 minutes. The product must be cooled and wipe the skin with it.

For hair

oily hair many people have. To solve this problem, you need to add five leaves of laurel to 100 g of apple cider vinegar. It is necessary to insist the mixture in a dark place. Before rinsing hair with tincture, it should be diluted with water 1: 1.

Get rid of dandruff a decoction of lavrushka will help: 30 leaves are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and insisted in a thermos for three hours.

To strengthen hair, you need to brew bay leaves and mix the decoction with honey in a ratio of 1: 1. The resulting mass should be applied to the hair for 60 minutes, and then wash your hair with shampoo.

Did you know? In ancient Greece, bay leaves were placed in mattresses to have prophetic dreams.

People who have thin hair it is recommended to use a mask of three slices of bread, half a liter of kefir and laurel oil. The resulting mixture is applied to the hair roots for one hour, and then washed off using shampoo.

People who are prone to allergies should not use bay leaf for treatment and add it to food, since this plant is a strong allergen. Lavrushka also has an exciting effect on the uterus and it begins to contract strongly. In this case, the pregnancy may be interrupted by a miscarriage.

The tannins contained in the laurel can worsen the well-being of people who suffer from diseases of the liver, heart and blood vessels.
People who often experience constipation should also not take tinctures from the leaves of the plant in question.

You can’t use bay leaf or decoctions from it if you have:

• problems with the liver and kidneys;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• inflammatory processes of internal organs;
• protein metabolism is disturbed;
• acute cholecystitis;
• ulcers;
• stones in the gallbladder;
• pancreatitis.

Bay leaf has many beneficial properties. But there are also contraindications. Therefore, you can add it to food, use it for treatment or use it in cosmetology only after consulting a doctor.

The plant, which according to the public opinion is a common addition to dishes, is healing for the body in many areas. For the health of men and women, it is considered sufficient to add laurel to food. For diseases, there are medicinal recipes, which include a medicinal plant.

Useful properties help to cope with diseases, ranging from osteochondrosis to providing anti-inflammatory therapy for the stomach. Infusions, decoctions and tinctures are used for health as an internal reception, compresses, while bathing. Before use, you should think about the possible harm to the body due to the presence of contraindications.

Application of bay leaf

Despite the fact that the use of bay leaf mainly comes down to enriching the taste of dishes as spices, it has been found that the use in traditional medicine has given effective results.

As a raw material in the composition of healing recipes take:

• fruit;
• leaves;
• branches;
• oil.

Useful properties of the plant used in therapy folk remedies for various diseases:

• stomach diseases;
• with hemorrhoids;
• digestive problems;
• osteochondrosis;
• with psoriasis;
• liver disease;
• cystitis;
• with a cold;
• joint diseases;
• with diabetes.

1. Despite the fact that the list of useful properties includes an increase in appetite, bay leaves are used in weight loss recipes.
2. Traditional medicine contains recipes for hair, scalp. The beneficial properties of bay leaf have proven themselves in the field of cosmetology for the skin of the face and body. The plant has useful trace elements necessary for the eyes.
3. An effective result was shown by the use of the plant for allergies.

Healing recipes of traditional medicine contain bay leaf as the main or auxiliary component.

Contraindications and medicinal properties

Beneficial features bay leaf for the body are applicable in various fields of disease treatment. Before using any traditional medicine recipe, you should familiarize yourself with the components and their contraindications so as not to cause harm to the body.

Harm can be done if it is wrong to store raw materials for recipes. Bay leaf should be used within a year so that its healing virtues are not lost. After the expiration date, the plant has a bitter taste, can spoil the recipe and cause harm.

Harm and benefit bay leaf for the body can have serious consequences as a result of the use of healing recipes.

Contraindications to the use of bay leaf, in the presence of which harm can be caused to the body, are presented:

1. acute, chronic kidney disease;
2. failure of protein metabolism;
3. peptic ulcers of the stomach;
4. the presence of diseases leading to bleeding;
5. undesirable use during pregnancy.

Despite the fact that the use of the plant for the treatment of allergies is known, among the contraindications is personal intolerance to the bay leaf.

Contraindications that are significant for the stomach prevent the use of concentrated infusions and decoctions of the plant. Eating a small amount of spice in dishes will not cause harm.

For the stomach during an exacerbation of inflammation or with an ulcer, the use of medicines with a plant is undesirable.

The benefits of bay leaf for the human body

Useful properties of bay leaf are used by traditional medicine to relieve spasms:

• A medicinal decoction of 5 g of the plant per 300 ml of boiling water is left in a thermos for 3 hours. After straining, it is drunk in 12 hours in small sips. You can get rid of muscle spasms in a couple of days.

With psoriasis The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant play an important role.

• With psoriasis, you need to put 10 sheets of laurel in a thermos, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours. After separating the cake for psoriasis, take ½ cup 20 minutes before meals three times a day. With psoriasis, inflamed skin areas can be lubricated with laurel oil. The composition includes dried raw materials and vegetable oil, which must be infused for a week.

Ear diseases can be treated by washing the infusion of a medicinal plant:

• In a glass of boiling water, insist 2 tablespoons of crushed laurel for 1-2 hours. The infusion is used for washing or instillation into the ear canal three times a day, closing the hole with a cotton swab. The solution can be applied once at night.

There are recipes for infusions for hemorrhoids:

• The infusion is prepared from 25 leaves of the plant per 3 liters of boiling water, left for 10 minutes. The drug is taken orally for hemorrhoids, one glass per day.

A decoction of the plant is useful for the eyes in the fight against conjunctivitis:

• Laurel for the eyes will help relieve inflammation. For the eyes, you can prepare an infusion of three leaves of the plant, soaked in boiling water for an hour. For the eyes of an adult, the infusion is used as a lotion for 30 minutes. In children, eye infusion is used for washing.

Benefits of bay leaf for men and women

The medicinal plant has special beneficial properties for women and men. Its decoctions and infusions help to cope with various gender-related ailments.

Bay leaf, medicinal properties for women which are invaluable for problems during the menstrual period, causing bleeding. For a woman, the beneficial properties of a plant can come in handy if she is faced with prolonged absence of menstruation.

The use of the plant for gynecological purposes for women should be carried out with caution, preferably in consultation with the doctor.

Traditional medicine recipe for inducing bleeding:

• brew 10 g of the plant in 0.5 liters of boiling water, cook on low heat for about an hour, after insisting for 3 hours, drink a glass of broth. The use of funds should be carried out with caution, diseases leading to bleeding are included in the list of contraindications.

A well-known benefit for men is to improve potency. Bay leaf is included in the lists of aphrodisiacs that help lengthen sexual intercourse. For men, there are several traditional medicine recipes to improve potency.

1. Weak infusions for men are prepared from one leaf per 20 ml of boiling water, consumed on an empty stomach.
2. It will be useful to bathe in a bath with a decoction of chamomile and a medicinal plant before going to bed or expected sexual intercourse in a couple of hours. To get a medicinal supplement for bathing in the bathroom, pour bay leaf and chamomile with boiling water and leave for 1 hour.
3. The use of laurel in food contributes to the strengthening and duration of erections in men.

Benefits and harms during pregnancy

The use of decoctions and infusions of bay leaf may be harmful during pregnancy. Pregnancy is included in the list of possible contraindications for the use of the beneficial properties of the plant.

Despite the benefits of laurel for colds or to stop intestinal disorders, during pregnancy, the use of decoctions and infusions of the plant can be harmful in the form bleeding or miscarriage.

Use during pregnancy is considered a contraindication, if decoctions and infusions are used in a concentrated form inside. External use for cosmetic purposes will not cause harm, the consequences of which may affect the fetus during pregnancy.

1. Laurel infusions are good for the skin during acne breakouts .
2. When suppuration occurs you can make a compress from a decoction of a medicinal plant.

Sweating and bad breath legs can be removed with the beneficial properties of laurel. In a bath with warm water, you need to add a decoction of the plant (boil 20 sheets per 0.5 boiling water for 5 minutes) and keep your feet in it for a quarter of an hour. A daily procedure for a week will help to cope with the disease not only during pregnancy, but also during the usual period for women and men. Infusions can be used when bathing.

Using a small amount in meals will not harm the expectant mother during pregnancy and the baby.

How to take bay leaf for weight loss

One of the advantages of bay leaf is considered to be slag removal. In many diets for weight loss, cleaning up slagging is the main task for the body.

The recipe for infusion for weight loss:

• 3 sheets per 300 ml of water.

The resulting broth, after 5 minutes of boiling, is poured together with laurel into a thermos and infused for 4 hours. After separating the plant from the infusion, the drug is applied in a tablespoon 15 minutes before meals up to 4 times a day.

The use of infusion for weight loss is carried out for 3 days. It is not worth increasing the course, since it is possible to cause harm, the consequences of which will be significant for the body.

• For a strong cleansing of the body you need to pour 30 leaves of the plant with a liter of boiling water, leave overnight. The resulting filtered volume is drunk in three days.

For weight loss, you need to combine traditional medicine recipes with a diet.

Medicinal properties of bay leaf for joints

If there is a high probability of arthritis, osteochondrosis, or joint pain for the body, the beneficial properties of bay leaf for joints should not be overlooked.

It is believed that the bay leaf has the ability to remove salts from the body. For joints, the removal of excess salt can be of invaluable benefit.

The recipe for a healing infusion from traditional medicine:

• a bay leaf-based recipe for joints consists of boiling 5 g of the dried plant in 300 ml of water for 5 minutes. The healing decoction should be infused for 3 to 5 hours in a thermos.

After straining, drink the infusion for the day. A useful infusion should be consumed within three days, after which a week-long break is necessary before a second course.

For joints healing procedure should be carried out once a quarter during the first year of treatment. Further, the positive effect for the joints will be noticeable when using the infusion as part of the course once a year.

Increased pain can be considered as harming the joints, increased pain during therapy is considered normal. Such an infusion has healing benefits for the prevention of arthritis, osteochondrosis and for human health in general.

For joints, in the presence of cramps or bedsores, a mixture is used:

• from 30 g of dry crushed raw materials, filled with 200 g of linseed oil. Sunflower oil can be used instead of linseed oil. The connected components can be infused for a week in a warm place or boiled for 1 hour in a water bath. The healing mixture is applied to the inflamed or sore spot.

Bay leaf infusion for diabetes

If a person has diabetes, you need to consume during the day healing infusion for the body:

• ½ cup half an hour before meals. Traditional medicine therapy lasts 2 days. Infusion recipe: brew 10 leaves of a dry plant in 3 cups of boiling water, leave for 2 hours in a thermos.

Medicinal properties in diabetes mellitus will appear after a couple of weeks of using an infusion that is healing for the body. After the first course, a two-week break is needed. As a result of the application, subject to a normal carbohydrate balance, the sugar level should return to normal.

The use of products based on a useful plant should be used with caution, a severe form in diabetes is included in the list of contraindications.

What are the benefits of bay leaf tea?

The use of bay leaf tea will benefit in the treatment of barley. To make this tea you can use the medicinal recipe of traditional medicine:

1. a plant in the amount of three sheets is poured with one glass of boiling water;
2. let the tea brew a little;
3. the resulting volume must be drunk while it is hot;
4. after an hour, replace the leaves;
5. during the day it is desirable to consume about 6 cups of brewed tea.

• Brewed tea from the plant is used for weight loss. Combined cinnamon, lavrushka, black tea after draining the brewed mixture for the first time will be an excellent cleanser that is beneficial to the body.
• There is a recipe consisting of a medicinal plant and cinnamon, which are added in volume to taste. Instead of cinnamon, ginger can be added to brewed tea.

Bay leaf medicinal properties for allergies

The use of a medicinal plant for allergies in children and adults is known. Allergy manifestations are expressed on the skin, digestive system disorder, respiratory problems.

Compresses, infusions, lotions are used to treat allergies. Allergy treatments are available for adults and children.

Recipe:

• For outdoor use for allergies, you need to brew 5 leaves of bay leaf in a glass of boiling water, cook for 15 minutes, add boiling water to the original volume.

A decoction is applied to the skin in the presence of a rash or redness with a moistened swab. It is necessary to wait for the decoction to dry completely on the skin to achieve the best effect in the fight against skin inflammation in case of allergies.

It is useful to take baths with infusions and decoctions:

• 100 g of plant per 1 liter of boiling water. For children, when bathing, the dosage of the infusion should be halved.

In folk medicine, bay leaf oil is used for skin allergies:

• 200 ml of oil (linseed, olive, vegetable);
• 30 g of laurel;
• place the plant filled with warm oil in a warm and dark place for a week.

Oil lubricates the affected areas on the skin. With allergies in the form of rhinitis, you can drip 3 drops into the nose. For children, the procedure is carried out starting with 1 drop.

Why is it good to chew bay leaf?

Traditional medicine practitioners believe that bay leaf juice, chewed before use, has healing properties. He relieves inflammation, relieves pain and itching, will have an antimicrobial effect. The chewed plant can be applied to the place where the person was bitten by a bee.

The use of bay leaves in folk medicine is known in the course of treatment of stomatitis. If you chew the plant for some time, its healthy juice will help to cope with the disease.

Chewing laurel removes bad breath. The chewing process lasts a quarter of an hour, after which you should not eat for an hour.

Bay leaf for cystitis - useful properties

With cystitis, baths with a decoction of the plant are useful:

• 30 g of bay leaf is added to 10 liters of water, the broth is boiled for 1 hour at a low temperature. The temperature of the bath should be about 38 degrees, adding a decoction, you need to sit in the bath for 15 minutes. With cystitis, a sitting position is mandatory.

With cystitis, it is not necessary to fill the bath; you can use a basin with water and a decoction of the same temperature.

Oral treatment is carried out with a decoction:

• from 10 leaves per 1 liter of water, boil for several minutes and infuse for 3 hours. With cystitis per day, you need to drink a glass of the resulting infusion.

Bay leaf infusion for hair - recipes

The use of the plant in cosmetology is known for recipes for hair. Traditional medicine offers several ways to use the beneficial properties of laurel for hair.

1. A decoction of bay leaf (10 g of bay leaf per glass of boiling water) is useful to rinse the scalp and apply to hair after shampooing.
2. In ordinary oil, you can add bay oil (20 bay leaves, infused in 200 ml of olive oil for a week). The oil is used as an additive in shampoos, conditioners and other hair cosmetics. It is believed that laurel oil accelerates hair growth.
3. For oily hair tincture of laurel will help: 5 leaves of laurel per 100 g of apple cider vinegar, the mixture should be infused for a day in the dark. Before use, you need to dilute the tincture in the same proportion with water and rinse your hair. It is believed that tincture can help with gray hair.
4. A decoction (30 sheets per 0.5 l of boiling water for 3 hours in a thermos) or a diluted tincture of laurel with vinegar will help from dandruff.
5. To strengthen hair you need to combine the bay leaf, brewed in boiling water for an hour, and honey in equal proportions. The mask should be applied to the hair, bypassing the tips, for an hour and then washed off with shampoo.
6. For fine hair a mask of 3 slices of bread, 0.5 l of kefir, laurel oil will help. The mask is intended for hair roots for an hour, rinse with shampoo.

The benefits of bay leaf for the face - recipes

The plant has antioxidant properties that help rejuvenate the skin of the face.

1. Decoction helps get rid of acne, rashes on the skin of the face. The composition of the recipe is represented by a glass of boiling water and 100 g of laurel. The broth is boiled for 5-7 minutes. The resulting product should be left in a cold place.

The composition of the face mask:

• 5 leaves of laurel;
• a glass of boiling water;
• 4 spoons of blue clay.

Boil the plant in boiling water, separate the liquid, add clay to the cake. Mix the mixture, gradually adding the broth. Before using the mask, cleanse the skin, apply the product until completely dry.

• Facial skin mask prepare from a decoction of a plant with, insist a couple of minutes. The composition of the mask is simple, the result is effective.

In the fight against acne on the skin of the face, bay leaf tincture will help:

• For a glass of vodka, according to the composition of the traditional medicine recipe, 5 crushed leaves of the plant will be required. After separating the cake from the tincture, the product can be applied pointwise to the skin of the face.

Decoction for kidney disease

The initial stage of kidney disease can be treated with the beneficial properties of bay leaf for the body.

• A teaspoon of the crushed plant is boiled in 2 cups of water, defended for a couple of hours, consumed in a tablespoon a couple of times during the day.

It is worth remembering that in the acute or chronic form of the disease, which is included in the list of contraindications, the decoction can be harmful, with serious consequences for the body. The use of bay leaf decoction should be agreed with the doctor.

How to cook a decoction for a cold - recipe

According to folk medicine, with a cold in the patient's room, it is necessary to disinfect the air with an infusion of the plant.

• Within 20 minutes, you need to insist the laurel in boiling water, then pour it into a container and put it in the room. For colds, you can use laurel oil in an aroma lamp.
• The use of a decoction or infusion of the plant inside will be beneficial for colds. The composition of the drug for colds includes a spoonful of crushed raw materials for 0.5 liters of boiling water, cook for 10 minutes, leave ready for a quarter of an hour. For colds, the remedy is taken three times a day 20 minutes before meals.

With a cold or as a result of it, a complication in the form of sinusitis may develop. For the prevention or treatment of sinusitis, it is useful to use a laurel decoction that is healing for the body.

• Steam inhalation decoction of the plant can help cope with sinusitis and runny nose with a cold. In a liter of water you need to boil 5 minutes 10 bay leaves. Inhalation is carried out for 5 minutes over a dish with a decoction under a towel or bedspread.