A decoction of bay leaves: benefits and harms

Bay leaf has a rich history. A wreath from it was considered an indicator of greatness and glory, they covered the heads of the winners of competitions and heroes of military battles. Now the laurel leaf is most often known as spicy seasoning. He gives the dishes some piquancy. It is added in the preparation of dishes such as broth, goulash, stew, jellied meat. Mistresses especially like to use this spicy spice in home preservation. He is rightly considered the king of seasonings. True, the bay leaf found a place not just in the kitchen, but also in cosmetology and medicine.

Composition and calorie content

Bay leaf calories. 100 grams contains more than three hundred kilocalories. In such huge portions, of course, no one uses the laurel, so it does not cause any harm to the figure when added as a seasoning in different dishes.

The bay leaf contains not so many different substances, but all of them are extremely necessary and beneficial to human health. For example, this applies to polyunsaturated fatty acids. These include:

1. Linoleic. The body is not able to produce this acid itself, but it needs it, because helps cells survive in extreme conditions for them. That is why it is very important to eat foods rich in linoleic acid.
2. Linolenic. The body is also not able to synthesize this acid on its own, and its lack provokes acne and causes brittle nails and hair.
3. Omega 3. Helps the body as a whole. It is especially useful for the cardiovascular system, the brain. Thanks to omega-3, the storage of bad cholesterol is minimized.
4. Omega 6. Charges the body with the energy it needs. Helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

Bay leaf is rich in the following trace elements:

1. Iron. Contained in a sufficiently large amount. Participates in the production of hemoglobin and oxygen saturation. In this regard, the role of iron is huge, so you need to eat more foods rich in them.
2. Manganese. It is also an important trace element for the body and its vital functions. It helps to absorb calcium and phosphorus, and also plays an important role in the formation of hemoglobin, helps the exchange of B and C vitamins between cells.
3. Copper. Nutritionists rarely pay attention to it to their patients, but this trace element is also important for health. He participates in the processes of hematopoiesis, metabolism, helps in regulating the structure and structure of connective, bone and epithelial tissue.
4. Selenium. In large quantities, it is poison. In small doses, it is necessary to increase the body's defenses - immunity. This microelement evokes a metabolism between cells. On the basis of many studies, scientists have concluded that selenium does not allow cancer cells to develop, so foods rich in it are used to prevent oncology.

In the bay leaf there are macrocells:

1. Calcium. It is important for the formation of bones, muscle tissue. Helps in the regulation of metabolism, makes hair, nails, teeth strong and healthy.
2. Potassium. It is necessary for energy production, it helps muscles to function normally. Its lack leads to spasms, and in some cases to paralysis. In addition, he is responsible for the water balance in the body.
3. Magnesium. A very necessary item. Participates in the regulation of energy, necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses. Helps to absorb calcium and glucose.
4. There are few vitamins in the bay leaf, but all of them are necessary and very important:
5. AT 6. His most in the laurel. It is necessary for blood formation, it helps to absorb fats and carbohydrates, and prevents the development of skin diseases.
6. Vitamin A. Provides youth and beauty. A very important female vitamin.
7. Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid. It is also successfully synthesized and recommended for regular consumption. Folic acid is necessary to improve the protective functions of the body, helps with anemia and is important for blood vessels.

Vitamins K, PP, C are also found in the laurel, only their content is very small.

Essential oils, tannins, as well as organic acids (such as acetic, valerianic, nylon), phytosterols, and resins are also noticed in the composition of the spicy plant.

What is useful decoction of bay leaves

General benefit

Even Hippocrates in his works noted the usefulness of bay leaf. He suggested using it for joint pain, in the treatment of nervous diseases and shortness of breath. Laurel is a natural antiseptic that is famous for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Nowadays, bay leaf is often practiced not only in folk, but also in evidence-based medicine as an additional medicine. It applies:

1. With nervous excitability and sleep disturbance. It is proposed to take baths with him or use aromatherapy.
2. To eliminate excess fluid from the body. This property of him is widely used in the war with unnecessary kilograms.
3. To improve digestion, against intestinal colic. Acids in the laurel improve metabolism, which increases the formation of the necessary enzymes. Also, these acids are able to protect the body from the unwanted effects of harmful compounds that accumulate in the intestine.
4. In the treatment of diabetes. Laurel helps lower blood sugar. True, this does not mean that you should stop drinking the medications recommended by your doctor. Lavrushka in this case acts only as an auxiliary therapy.
5. In resolving the issue of bad breath. Laurel helps with stomatitis or other similar infections.
6. To strengthen the immune system. Laurel decoction helps to defeat viruses and improves the body's resistance.
7. To reduce blood pressure (blood pressure) with a slight increase.
8. To reduce joint pain. This is due to the removal of salts from the body with the help of infused bay leaves.
9. For the treatment of fungus on the feet, sweating feet, in the presence of irritation and smell.
10. In eliminating problems in the respiratory system. Bay leaf perfectly fights cough and sinusitis.

For women

Used for violations of menstrual bleeding in girls and women. Properly prepared decoction of bay leaves, as experts say, helps to improve uterine contractions and the movement of blood in the body. If there is no pregnancy, but there is a delay in menstruation, then a decoction of laurel will help bring its onset.

In addition, a decoction of bay leaves is successfully used in an industry such as cosmetology to enhance hair growth, as well as the prevention of dandruff.

For men

A drink is used for problems with the reproductive system that occur when potency decreases. A decoction of laurel helps to raise and normalize male power. It is worth taking relaxing baths with laurel, as well as consuming it inside in the form of tinctures and decoctions.

During pregnancy

In ancient times, an unwanted pregnancy was interrupted by a decoction of this spice. The use of an excessively large amount of decoction from laurel helps to reduce the uterus, which causes bleeding and the exit of the embryo. Bleeding can be quite strong, so you should use this method with caution.

When breastfeeding

Bay leaf is a benefit not only for adults, but also for children, so do not be afraid to add it to food. It contains many vitamins and elements that are passed on to the baby with mother’s milk. However, bay leaf is considered an allergenic product and may cause a rash.

If everything is fine, and the child responds well to innovations in the mother’s diet, then you should not remove the bay leaf from the nursing diet, you just need to observe the baby and its condition and not abuse the amount.

For kids

Bay leaf is used to combat allergic and other rashes in children. It is recommended to make a decoction of fresh leaves of laurel, which should be infused, preferably several hours. The resulting broth is poured into bathing water. You can also wipe the rashes themselves with this broth. Instead of a decoction, laurel oil is also allowed, but also only externally.

In case of sleep disturbance, it is recommended to put a bay leaf near the head of the bed.

When losing weight

The plant is used to eliminate the problem of excess weight. A decoction of bay leaves activates metabolism, removes excess water from the body, as well as additional salt and slag. Of course, it is desirable to use a decoction along with physical activity and a healthy diet. You need to drink it for 2 tbsp. tablespoons thrice / day half an hour before meals.

Medical use

Many experts, in addition to medicines, offer to pay attention to such a seasoning as bay leaf.

1. It is very common in the treatment of diabetes, especially in the initial stages. Regular use of bay leaves contributes to a significant reduction in blood sugar. This is due to the regulation of metabolism and lower cholesterol. Patients with a disease such as diabetes mellitus note that the use of laurel helps to improve the general condition, increase mood and reduce symptoms of the disease.
2. Use laurel and gastritis. When diagnosing inflammation of the gastric mucosa, it is recommended to adhere to a diet and refuse spices. But the bay leaf is not included in the list of bans. On the contrary, it organizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract and helps to cope with stomach pains, flatulence, and also regulates stool.
3. For bowel problems, it is also recommended to use laurel. It relieves spasms, prevents constipation, and also protects the colon from the effects of various toxins.
4. A decoction of bay leaf is also prescribed in the complex in the treatment of gout. It is able to restore tissue, improve protective functions and remove salts. A laurel tincture is used to reduce pain, especially with exacerbation of the disease.
5. A decoction of laurel is recommended to alleviate the symptoms of hemorrhoids due to the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and the presence of essential oils, fatty acids and tannins. Essential oils eliminate the effects of microbes, tannins constrict blood vessels, which reduces the risk of internal bleeding. It is also important to note that bay leaf relieves pain and itching.
6. Laurel helps in the fight against cystitis, which reduces the duration of treatment and the number of antibiotics used.
7. Respiratory diseases can also be treated with laurel. This seasoning can eliminate not only the consequences, but also the cause of the disease. Laurel oil is used to rub the chest, and decoctions are taken orally or used for inhalation.

A decoction of bay leaves in cosmetology

Bay leaf is used in cosmetology to combat skin imperfections, because It is an excellent natural antiseptic. Seasoning infusion is able to adjust the sebaceous glands, remove pigmentation, acne, acne, allergic rashes. It helps smooth the skin of the face, and makes the hair shiny and well-groomed.

For face

To eliminate oily sheen, improve skin color and give it elasticity, you need to prepare a tonic from bay leaves. To make it, you need to take 100 grams of leaves, pour boiling water and cook for about fifteen minutes. Then cool the prepared product and put it in a cool place so that direct sunlight does not fall on it. Apply the product several times a day on clean skin until it dries completely. Then wash with warm water and apply a moisturizer.

To eliminate acne and wrinkles and increase skin elasticity, use the following mask. A glass of hot water is poured several bay leaves, cool, and then filtered. In this broth, 3-5 tablespoons of blue clay are bred and a mask is applied to the cleansed face. When the clay begins to crack, the mask is washed off with warm water and a moisturizer is used.

When dealing with acne, alcohol tincture helps well. Finely chop one part of bay leaf and pour five parts of medical alcohol. The mixture is cleaned in a cool place for two weeks. At the end of the specified time, an amber liquid with a specific odor will be obtained. Apply it only to problem areas.

Often use laurel oil. It eliminates dry skin. It can be applied not only to the face, but also to the hands and décolleté area. It is better to use it warmed up, then a positive result will not take long.

Laurel oil also calms irritated skin, helps get rid of traces left after bruises or falls.

For hair

For hair, laurel is most often used in masks. The crushed leaves are poured with boiled water. This broth is insisted for an hour, filtered and honey dissolved in it. The mask is recommended to use warm. For best results, cover your head with foil and a bath towel. Keep the mixture for about an hour, and then rinse with warm water and shampoo.

To prevent hair loss, use a mask of laurel oil and Borodino bread. Laurel oil is easy to obtain on your own. To do this, fill in chopped leaves with unrefined vegetable oil. You can take both olive and sunflower. The mixture is cleaned for a week in some dark place. And to prepare the mask itself you need only 2 tbsp. tablespoons of such oil. Pre-soaked bread in kefir and after softening add oil. The resulting mixture is applied for an hour under a film and washed off with warm water using shampoo.

To give hair shine and strength, a laurel broth is used to rinse it. The leaves are poured with boiling water and cooked for twenty minutes over low heat. Cooled broth rinse hair for a month. The broth from the hair is not washed off.

Bay leaf is ideal for dandruff. In a liter of boiling water you need to brew 25 leaves of parsley. Then wrap the container with broth well and do not touch for two hours. Strain the broth and put in place instead of the rinse aid after washing the hair. According to many hairdressers, this infusion perfectly stimulates hair growth.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the enormous benefits of bay leaf, it is actually not so harmless.

1. Do not eat a lot of parsley during pregnancy, because she may cause a miscarriage or premature birth.
2. Unlimited use of laurel while breastfeeding can change the taste of milk or cause an allergic reaction in the baby.
3. It is not recommended to use laurel for stomach ulcers and 12 duodenal ulcers.
4. You should not use this spice for kidney and liver diseases.
5. Frequent use of laurel leaves can cause constipation.

Of course, the small amount that is used in cooking does no harm to the body. It is enough to add 1-2 leaves to provide the food with a pleasant taste and aroma.

How to make a decoction of bay leaves

1. In the fight against diabetes, they drink a decoction made from 15 leaves, filled with 300 ml of water. The broth is boiled a little and insisted for four hours.
2. To combat cystitis, a decoction of laurel leaves is prepared as follows: 30 grams of a leaf is poured with a bucket of water and boiled for twenty minutes. The broth is cooled slightly, poured into a basin and sit in it so that the genitals are in the water. They sit for ten minutes, and then go to the toilet.This is necessary so that a small fraction of the decoction gets into the genitourinary system for disinfection. After this procedure, take a shower and dress warmly. Usually, once is enough and cystitis recedes. If symptoms persist, the procedure can be repeated the next day.
3. For the treatment of sinusitis, the following broth is prepared: several large sheets are poured with boiling water. Brew them for twenty minutes. A napkin moistened with this decoction is placed on the face so that it covers the nose and forehead. Repeat until the broth cools down. This is best done in the evening before bedtime.
4. When combating sweating feet, it is recommended to make baths with a decoction. About 30 leaves pour a glass of boiling water. The broth insist and do foot baths with it.
5. To clean the vessels, five leaves of laurel are poured into 300 ml of boiled water and boiled for another five minutes. The resulting broth is poured into a thermos and insisted for at least five hours.
6. Around the same time, a decoction is prepared to normalize the menstrual cycle. About ten pieces of sheets are poured into 500 ml of water and boiled for five minutes, and then insisted for at least three hours in a thermos.
7. To correct the figure, bay leaves are boiled with a cinnamon stick in a liter of water for fifteen minutes.
8. A decoction for use in the deposition of salts and osteochondrosis is prepared as follows: 1 teaspoon of chopped laurel is filled with 2 cups of boiling water, covered with a lid and boiled for five minutes. Without removing the lids, insist the broth for two hours.
9. For the treatment of psoriasis, 10 sheets of laurel are placed in a thermos and filled with half a liter of boiling water. Insist two hours.
10. For the treatment of otitis media and other diseases of the ear, insist 2 tbsp. tablespoons of crushed laurel for two hours. In the future, the solution is used to rinse or instill in the ear three times a day. You can do this once a day at night.
11. For the treatment of hemorrhoids, the recipe for the decoction is this: 25 leaves are brewed in three liters of boiling water and insisted for ten minutes.
12. In conjunctivitis, an infusion of three leaves of this fragrant spice, boiled for an hour, is recommended to relieve inflammation. Adults make lotions, and keep about half an hour. In children, the decoction is used only for washing.

How to drink a decoction of bay leaf

1. To clean the vessels, the prepared broth is taken in the morning two sips.
2. With a delay of menstruation, laurel broth is consumed several times during the day. Most likely, the next day, menstruation will begin. If this does not happen, you should consult a doctor.
3. To reduce weight, the broth is drunk on an empty stomach for three days, but then it is recommended to take a break.
4. During therapy in patients with diabetes, decoction of lavrushka is consumed 150 ml per day before meals, divided into three doses. After two weeks, sugar levels usually return to normal.
5. With psoriasis, a decoction is taken in half a glass twenty minutes before meals three times a day.
6. With hemorrhoids, a decoction is recommended to drink inside a glass a day.
7. To withdraw salts, the infusion should be consumed in 1 tbsp. spoon twice a day for two weeks. To achieve the best effect, it is advisable to cleanse the intestines first.

Interesting facts about the laurel

1. Bay leaf was considered an indicator of power and power.
2. In ancient Rome, a laurel wreath was the highest military distinctive sign.
3. People living in the Sahara desert add bay leaf to arabica coffee in its preparation.
4. The Romans and the inhabitants of Medieval Europe protected their homes with laurel branches from lightning.
5. Laurel essential oil is used in soap making, for the manufacture of massage oils, fragrances for cosmetics and in the creation of aromas in the perfume industry.
6. Many countries, such as Algeria, Cuba, Greece, etc., choose laurel branches to decorate their emblems.
7. Bay leaf is endowed with magical properties. It is used to attract good luck in financial matters.To do this, put the leaflet you like in a purse or bag closer to the money.
8. For a calm atmosphere at home, the bay leaves are set on fire, they fumigate every corner with them, and they make them smolder in the pan over the threshold.
9. A small twigs with laurel leaves hidden in secluded corners will not allow anything bad to settle in the house.
10. In order to have a prophetic dream, sprigs of laurel should be put in the mattress.
11. If you write a desire on a sheet of laurel and throw it into the fire, then it will certainly come true.
12. The laurel branch by the child’s bed will take the evil eye away from him.
13. The height of the laurel tree can reach more than ten meters.
14. In Russia, bay leaf is the second most popular seasoning, second only to black pepper.
15. In early Christianity, an evergreen laurel is considered a symbol of new life, and a laurel wreath spoke of martyrdom.

Photo decoction of laurel