Herbal Medicine: Bay Laurel


Bay Laurel, native to the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, has been in medicinal use for hundreds of years.

Cultivated in Britain since the 1500's, Bay Laurel was also well renowned by ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Seen as noble, wreaths were made of the leaves to adorn the heads of the victorious.

Dioscorides implemented the leaves, berries, and roots of Bay Laurel in medicine; he believed the leaves to be a vomitive, the berries pectoral, and the roots to alleviate kidney stones. Galen considered Bay Laurel to be a good remedy for liver ailments. St. Hildegarde described the plant to have multiple medicinal uses in the treatment of fevers, asthma, migraines, gout, palpitations, angina pectoris, and liver & spleen afflictions. In medieval times, monks recorded Bay Laurel as a medicine for relieving stomach problems, colic, & renal disease.

Bay Laurel is an analgesic, aromatic, emetic, emmenagogue, diuretic, stimulant, carminative, expectorant, sudorific, and digestive aid.

Bay Laurel has successfully been used to treat asthma and Bronchorrhoea, as well as the flu and related fever and symptoms.

A traditional folk remedy incorporates a poultice soaked in tea, made of steeping the leaves of Bay Laurel in boiling hot water, for the treatment of rashes caused by Poison Oak, Poison Ivy and Stinging Nettle.

Extracts of Bay Laurel leaves have been used to cause menstruation, and the berries to induce labor.

Adding Bay Laurel to your bath can help relieve pain associated with muscle soreness and arthritis; as well as relieving vaginal infections, UTI's and aiding in perineal healing after childbirth.

Oil extracted from the berries has been used to topically treat arthritic pain, lower back pain, ear aches, sore muscles, & sprains.

A Bay Laurel poultice can be made and placed on the chest to help relieve head and chest colds.

Bay Laurel extract diluted can be used in a salve for open wounds. 

The oil of the Bay Laurel is considered to have a positive effect on the lymphatic system, to be a good tonic for stimulating hair growth and strength, and to get rid of dandruff.

Bay Laurel leaves are sharp and abrasive, and even when cooked can still cause harm to internal organs; however, the ground up leaves are safe to ingest.

 *DO NOT USE Bay Laurel medicinally while pregnant or breastfeeding; NEVER ingest Bay Laurel essential oil unless advised to by a healthcare professional or doctor; DO NOT GIVE CHILDREN medicinal doses of Bay Laurel.*

Be cautious when using the essential oil of Bay Laurel, and dilute in a Carrier oil; or it may cause skin irritability. When handling the plant and fresh leaves, it is advised to wear gloves.

Bay Laurel is definitely a plant to add to your medicinal garden and herb cupboard!

To a happier & healthier you!

~Tanya Capps~
Herbal Witchcraft Magazine

https://www.herbalwitchcraftmagazine.com

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