The laurel is a tree present in all the warm areas of Europe and Asia and is widely spread throughout various countries. Its scientific name is Laurus nobilis and belongs to the family Lauraceae.
Although ornamentally it is an attractive tree that produces a great aroma in the garden, our interest in this article is to discover the healing potential through the laurel infusions.
A comfortable and comfortable way to take advantage of all its properties from its active ingredients, which we can take alone or together with other medicinal plants for various pathologies.
Of the laurel it has been studied a lot as a medicinal use, since it is a well-known plant and used since ancient times.
Commonly used in the kitchen from its dried leaves, today we are going to discover how to prepare an infusion of bay leaf and how it can benefit us.
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How to collect bay leaves
Although bay leaves is a common product that we can find in many supermarkets and herbalists, if we have this tree in our garden, we can collect its leaves and save that money.
We must make sure that these leaves are clean, without diseases, well cared for and, of course, without treatments of fungicides or insecticides within their safety period of non-consumption.
The best date of harvesting of bay leaves it is in summer, since they have less humidity and retain a higher concentration of active ingredients.
Immediately after their collection, we will have to group them and dry them in the Sun. To do this, the most practical thing is to prepare a bouquet with the stems and leaves collected and hang it from a window or let it dry directly in the Sun.
Traditionally, bouquets were made with more than 20 branches with leaves and left to dry to the Sun hanging upside down from a window.
Currently, on your terrace or balcony you can spread the leaves on a clean cloth, so that they are all exposed to light and dry homogeneously.
When to know if the bay leaves are already dry?
Very easy. When you take one and try to bend it slightly and break it into several pieces.
Its conservation is very simple. It will be enough to put it in a plastic or glass container with an airtight closure and store it protected from light and heat. From here we can use them for years to season meals or use them in the bay leaf infusion that we are going to comment.
Active ingredients of laurel
Essential oils and other compounds
- Cineol
- Eugenol
- Sesquiterpene lactones (costunólidas, laurenobiólidas)
- Geraniol
- Tannins
- Lauric acid
- Limonemo
Nutritional composition
Per 100 grams of bay leaf
Nutritional composition
| Composition | Quantity | % recommended daily |
| Calories | 355 kcal | 18,50% |
| Proteins | 7.6 g | 16,00% |
| Fibre | 26.2 g | 88,00% |
| Carbohydrates | 48.7 g | 15,50% |
| Fats | 8.4 g | 15,80% |
Minerals
| Composition | Quantity | % recommended daily |
| Potassium | 530 mg | 26,50% |
| Phosphorus | 114 mg | 16,00% |
| Calcium | 835 mg | 69,50% |
| Sodium | 23 mg | 1,50% |
| Iron | 42 mg | 538% |
Vitamins
| Composition | Quantity | % recommended daily |
| Vitamin A | 0.30 mg | 34,20% |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.01 mg | 0,80% |
| Vitamin B2 | 0,42 | 32,40% |
| Vitamin B3 | 2 mg | 12,50% |
| Vitamin C | 46.5 mg | 51,80% |
How to prepare bay leaf tea
The process is very simple:
- 1 liter of water
- 4 or 5 bay leaves of medium and perfect sizeamente dry
Boil the water and turn off just at the time of boiling. Add the leaves, stir, cover and let cool.
Between 3 and 4 cups a day of bay leaf infusion can be taken. To what end? Let’s see it.
Medicinal properties of bay leaf infusion
Do you know what laurel is for? We will collect all the information and medicinal properties of the leaves of this plant.
Improved digestion
The bay leaf gives an unmistakable flavor to a multitude of dishes, such as stews and pickles.
These leaves were recognized by grandmothers not only for their taste, since they had learned that improved digestion, reduced swelling and reduced future flatulence.
These same properties can be used with the infusion of bay leaf, which can be used as a complement to meals and mixed with other natural extracts that improve its flavor.
In times of anemia or lack of appetite, laurel is also a good ally since they have a multitude of minerals and favors the assimilation of nutrients.
Reduces inflammation of muscles and joints
In this case, the infusion of laurel can also be used to apply it, topically, by massaging in painful and affected areas.
To do this, we will double or even we will triple the number of leaves for each liter of water in infusion (since it will not be for drinking).
We will massage the area with the laurel extract, letting all the active ingredients be absorbed.
With this we will be able to reduce and relieve areas of the skin and muscles affected by blows, wounds, joint inflammations, etc. In addition, we can mix this infusion with other oils, such as castor oil or rosemary, multiplying its healing potential.
Infusion of laurel and cinnamon for sleep
The laurel is a great ally to facilitate the entry of sleep and combat insomnia.
Among the active ingredients that we are taking with the infusion of laurel, such as linolol, we have some that exert a calming action against work or family anxiety.
Taking it an hour before the time to go to bed helps to relax and reduce the state of anxiety, conceiving sleep in a much more pleasant way.
The linalool essential oil, present in the laurel, reduces cortisol levels in blood, a hormone that is released in response to stress and is produced by the adrenal gland.
Infusion of laurel and cinnamon to combat anxiety
- 4 or 5 dried bay leaves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Bring to a boil 1 liter of water and turn off the heat just before boiling. Introduce the bay leaves and cinnamon stick and let cool. When you are at a temperature to consume, take a cup 1 hour before sleeping.
Its relaxing power also used in aromatherapy. Although in many places we can acquire the oil of laurel extract to burn and aromatize the house, we can also burn ourselves, as a homemade way, the leaves of this plant.
This infusion, when we seek our Zen moment of relaxation, we can combine it with other medicinal plants, such as chamomile infusion.
Due to its active ingredients, the aroma of bay leaf (which we can also enjoy in a very hot infusion) reduces anxiety and increases our state of relaxation, in addition to relieve the airways and reduce mucous membranes irritated by catarrhal states.
Other ways to use laurel
Laurel, whether used in aromatherapy, used as a balm or to decongest the nostrils, can also be used using oils.
Here you can find some of the most concentrated laurel extracts on the market:
Contraindications of bay leaf infusion
Although there are not enough studies that allow to make a correct diagnosis about the contraindications of laurel infusion, it is generally not recommended in pregnant women or breastfeeding children.
You have to be attentive to possible allergies to the active ingredients of laurel which, although rare and uncommon, may be the case in chemically sensitive people.
Do not take in people with gastric ulcers and chronic digestive problems.
Respect the doses discussed and go to a doctor before taking any medicinal plant to advise on possible interactions with medications.
Do you know other properties of bay leaf infusion?
