Benefits Of Bay Leaves
September 15, 2009
We don’t eat bay leaves directly. Nonetheless, bay leaves are added to stews and curries to give them a nice flavor. When bay leaves are cooked, they supply vitamins A, C, manganese, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron to our foods.
Although, much work on the health benefits of bay leaves are not available, nonetheless, herbalists use bay leaves for treating several diseases.
There are several varieties of bay leaves used in cuisines in different parts of the worlds. Bay leaves are leaves of the Bay Laurel tree. In India, leaves of the Cinnamomum tejpata or malabathrum tree are also known as bay leaves.
In Indonesia, the leaf of the Syzgyium polyanthum is called bay leaf. The leaf of the California bay tree or Umbellularia californica is also a type of bay leaf, known as the California bay leaf.
Relieves aches
Bay leaves can heal body aches. Boil four to five bay leaves in a liter of water for about ten to fifteen minutes. Add this decoction in your bathwater. Bathing in this water can soothe aching muscles and rejuvenate your body. Bay leaves can cure arthritis pain. Applying bay leaves oil on the inflamed joints can reduce arthritis pain. Bay leaves can reduce headache.
Prevents infection
Bay leaves have antibacterial and antifungal properties. Applying bay leaves essential oil on your skin can cure skin infections. You can also boil five to six bay leaves in 250ml of water for about fifteen minutes. Allow the decoction to attain room temperature. Applying this bay leaves solution on skin cures skin infections. External application of bay leaves tea or bay leaves oil can also be used for healing insect bites, cuts and bruises.
Drinking warm bay leaves tea can help to cure cold and cough. Bay leaves help to clear congestions, providing relief from cold.
Menstruation
Women suffering from irregular periods can benefit by drinking bay leaves tea.
Promotes digestion
Bay leaves helps in digestions. Adding bay leaves to your cooking is a natural way of boosting appetite.
Food for diabetics
Bay leaves can improve insulin function. It is useful for normalizing the blood sugar level.


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