Information About The Herb Bay Laurel

Botanical Name: Laurus nobilis

Common Name: Bay, Bay Tree, Daphne, Grecian Laurel, Indian Bay, Noble Laurel, Roman Laurel, Sweet Bay, True Laurel  

Plant Family: Lauraceae

Origin: Native to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and cultivated in Britain since the 16th century.

History: Crowns and wreaths for heroes and poets were made from the Bay Laurel. The term 'bachelor' for 'degrees' is derived from bacca-laureus or 'laurel-berry', bachelier in French. 

The Native American Indian used Bay Leaves:

• in hot baths for rheumatism
• placed on their heads for headaches
• inside the nostril to clear breathing passages and refresh the brain

Back to the Top

Plant Constituents

Contains:

Leaves

• greenish-yellow volatile oil
• oxygenated compounds

Berries

• fixed oil, containing laurostearine, the ether of lauric acid

Volatile oil contains:

• cineol
• eugenol
• geraniol
• pinene

Back to the Top

Usage

Medicinal Parts Used: Leaves, Fruit, Oil

Bay Laurel leaves were:

• burned to enhance psychic powers
• burned to produce visions
• placed in windows to protect against lightning striking your house
• wish-making (it is said if you write a wish on a Bay leaf and then burn it the wish will come true)
• used to resist the evils ruled by the planet Saturn
• hung over doorways to keep away poltergeists
• used by the Delphic priestesses in Greece in rituals
• used in the Middle Ages to keep away evil and resist witchcraft

Worn in an amulet, it was said to provide protection from:

• evil
• negativity

The Leaves and Berries of Bay Laurel are commonly used for:

Brain and Nervous System Conditions

• hysteria

Female Conditions

• amenorrhea
• brings about a speedy delivery during childbirth
• eases childbirth
• expels afterbirth
• induces menses (periods)

Gastrointestinal Conditions

• flatulent colic
• stimulates appetite
• stimulates digestive system

Inflammatory Conditions

• rheumatism

Respiratory Tract Conditions

• colds
• coughs
• lung disorders

Used as a plaster or poultice in:

• chest problems
• colds

Other

• removes obstructions

Oil is used externally for:

• bruises
• earache
• soothing itchy skin
• rheumatism-
• skin problems
• sprains

Other Uses: The leaves are used:

• as decorations during the Christmas season
• as a flea repellant 
• by sprinkling the crushed leaves in your cupboards to keep out cockroaches and other insects

The Oil is used:

• in perfumery

Action:

• astringent [a binding agent that contracts organic tissue, reducing secretions or discharges of mucous and fluid from the body]
• carminative (berries) [an agent for easing griping pains, colic and expelling gas from the intestines]
• diaphoretic (leaves) [an agent that promotes perspiration]
• digestive [an agent that aids digestion]
• excitant
• emetic [an agent that causes vomiting] (leaves) in large doses
• emmenagogue [an agent that promotes menstrual flow] (berries)
• narcotic [a drug which relieves pain and induces sleep when used in medicinal doses; large doses of narcotics
• produce convulsions, stupor, insensibility, coma or death]
• stimulant [an agent that excites or quickens the functional activity of the tissues giving more energy]
• stomachic [an agent that strengthens, stimulates or tones the stomach]

Back to the Top

Precautions

Caution:

• The berries have been used to induce an abortion, so are not suitable during pregnancy

Drug Interactions:

Do not use Bay Laurel without first talking to your practitioner or healthcare provider if your taking any of the following medications.

• None noted

Back to the Top

Products

Global Herbal Supplies has Bay Laurel available in the following forms:

• Bay Laurel Essential Oil
• Dried Bay Laurel (Bayleaf)

Research

Articles

Information given by our website  is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a physician or other medical professionals. You should not use the information given for diagnosing a health problem or disease. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. The above information is just a guide to general circumstances and in no way should it contradict the advice that you have been given by your naturopath, medical doctor or specialist.

More Herb Information: 

A: Adhatoda Vasica  ||  Agrimony   || Albizia  ||  Alfalfa  ||  Allspice  ||  Aloe vera  ||  Amaranth  ||  Andrographis paniculata   ||  Angelica  ||  Anise  ||  Arnica  ||  Astragalus  || 

B: Baical Skullcap  ||  Barberry  ||  Basil  ||  Bay Laurel  ||  Bayberry  ||  Bergamot ||  Bilberry  ||  Bistort   ||  Black Cohosh  ||  Blackberry  ||  Bladderwrack  ||  Blessed Thistle  || Blue Cohosh  ||  Boneset  ||  Borage  ||  Brahmi  ||  Buchu  ||  Bupleurum  ||  Burdock  ||  Butcher's Broom  || 

C: Calendula  ||  Californian Poppy  ||  Caraway  ||  Cascara  ||  Catnip  ||  Cats claw  ||  Cayenne  ||  Cedar  ||  Celery seed || Chamomile german ||  Chamomile roman   ||  Charparral  ||  Chickweed  ||  Cinnamon  ||  Cloves  || Coleus forskohlii  ||  Coltsfoot  ||  Comfrey  ||  Commiphora mukul  ||  Cornflower  ||  Cornsilk  ||  Corydalis ambigua  ||  Crampbark  ||  Crataeva nurvala  ||

D: Damiana  ||  Dandelion  ||  Devil's claw  ||  Dill  ||  Dong quai  ||  Dragon blood  ||

E: Echinacea  ||  Elder tree ||  Elecampane  ||  Ephedra  ||  Eucalyptus  ||  Evening primrose  ||  Eyebright  ||

F: False unicorn  ||  Fennel ||  Fenugreek  ||  Feverfew  ||  Flax  ||  Frankincense  ||

G: Garlic  ||  Gentian  ||  Ginger  ||  Ginkgo biloba  ||  Ginseng american  ||  Ginseng korean  ||  Ginseng siberian  ||  Ginseng tienchi  ||  Goat's rue || Goldenrod ||  Goldenseal   ||  Gotu kola  ||  Gravel root  ||  Green tea  ||  Guaiacum resin  || Gymnema  ||

H: Hawthorn  ||  Hemidesmus indicus ||  Hops  ||  Horehound white  ||  Horseradish  ||  Horsetail  ||  Hyssop  ||

I-J-K-L: ||  Inula || Juniper ||  Kava kava || Lavender  ||  Lemon balm ||  Licorice  ||

M-N-O: Marshmallow  ||  Meadowsweet ||  Mistletoe  ||  Mugwort  ||  Myrrh  || Neem  ||  Nettles || Oats  ||  Olive tree ||

P-Q: Paeonia lactiflora  ||  Passionflower  ||  Pau_D Arco  ||  Peppermint  ||  Phyllanthus amarus  ||  Picrorhiza kurroa  ||  Plantain  ||  Polygala tenuifolia  ||  Polygonum multiflorum ||  Queens delight ||

R: Raspberry leaves  ||  Red clover  ||  Rehmannia glutinosa  ||  Rheum palmatum  ||  Ribwort  ||  Rosehips  ||  Rosemary  ||  Rue  ||

S: Sage  ||  Salvia militiorrhiza  ||  Sarsaparilla  ||  Saw palmetto  ||  Senna ||  Shepherd's purse  ||  Skullcap  ||  Slippery elm  ||  Squaw vine ||  St john's wort  ||  St mary's thistle ||

T-U-V: Thyme  ||  Thyme wild ||  Uva ursi || Valerian  ||  Vervain  ||  Violet  ||  Vitex agnes castus  ||

W: Walnut  ||  Wild cherry  ||  Wild yam  ||  Willow bark  ||  Willow herb  ||  Witch hazel  ||  Withania  ||  Wormwood  ||

Y-Z: Yarrow  ||  Yellow dock || Zizyphus ||