Bay leaves, from the Laurus genus, are commonly used in cooking and medicine. They have a distinctive taste and are safe to eat. Fresh or dried leaves can be used, and bay leaf essential oil is available. Bay leaves have astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
A bay leaf is a leaf from any plant in the genus Laurus, but most often refers to the leaves of Laurus nobilis or bay laurel. Laurel bay leaves are also known as bay leaves, and have been used by humans for thousands of years for both cooking and making medicine. Many grocery stores carry bay leaves, as do health food stores and stores that carry herbal medicine supplies.
The laurel is an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean. The leaves have a distinctive strong, slightly pungent, bitter taste. Companies may also sell California bay leaves as bay leaves. These leaves are much stronger than their Mediterranean cousins. Although the leaves of some plants in the genus Laurus are poisonous, bay leaves are quite safe to eat; other bay species such as cherry laurels and mountain laurels produce plant toxins, but are not used in the production of leaves and essential oils for culinary and medicinal uses.
Bay leaves usually come as dried leaves. These need to be stored in a cool, dry place to retain their properties, and are best used within six months, though they can last up to a year if stored properly. The shredded leaves can be used in sachets to flavor food and make herbal teas for medicinal use. Whole leaves can be used as is and strained; eating whole leaves isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it’s not terribly convenient.
Sometimes fresh or frozen leaves are available. People can use them the same way they would use dried leaves, although it is important to use less, because the flavor is stronger. Bay leaf essential oil is also available. This essential oil is sold in both pure and diluted forms and it is important to know which form is being used as pure essential oils can cause skin irritation and damage.
Both the Greeks and the Romans attributed a series of properties to the laurel tree. People were given laurel wreaths to commemorate exploits, hence the term “resting on the laurels”, and the leaves were also widely used in flavoring food and traditional medicine. Many Mediterranean dishes even today are made with bay leaf seasoning.
Medicinally, bay leaf has astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. It can be used in the treatment of irritated skin, conditions such as acne, and for mild inflammation. Hot poultices made from bay leaves are sometimes recommended for sprains and strains. It can also be taken internally for an upset stomach.
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