A plant that the housewives use as a spicy seasoning can be useful not only in cooking, but also in the field of medicine and cosmetology. We learn what properties have a decoction of bay leaf, the benefit and harm of which has long been researched by specialists, and how to apply it with a therapeutic and recreational purpose.
Bay leaf - good and bad
Any dish in which a laurel leaf of the noble is added becomes not only more appetizing, fragrant and tasty, but also more useful. One should only take into account that to preserve the valuable qualities of this spice, it can not be subjected to its heat treatment for more than ten minutes, so it is desirable to add the leaves about five minutes before the end of cooking. From the ready-made dish, seasoning should be immediately removed so that undesirable bitterness does not appear.
The expressed medicinal properties of the bay leaves are manifested when preparing a decoction from which the useful components of the chemical composition of the spice are preserved. Let's list, what active substances cause influence of leaves of a laurel on an organism of the person:
- essential oils;
- tannins;
- bitterness;
- organic acids (valerian, caproic, acetic);
- phytosterols;
- saturated fatty acids (lauric, myristic, oleic, palmitic);
- resins;
- mineral substances (calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and others);
- vitamins (groups A, B, C).
Broth of bay leaf is good
The bay leaf, the medicinal qualities of which have been known since the times of Ancient Greece and Rome, thanks to the multitude of its valuable ingredients, can exert a multifaceted effect on the body. Decoction of it is considered a universal medicine, but has some limitations to use, and the experience of its use has reached our days. Let's consider, than the broth of bay leaves is useful, having resulted its basic healing properties:
- antibacterial;
- antifungal;
- anti-inflammatory;
- wound healing;
- immunostimulating;
- restful;
- diuretics;
- hypotensive;
- toxin-excretory;
- decongestants;
- salt-soluble;
- antiallergenic;
- hypoglycemic;
- expectorant;
- antiparasitic.
Broth of bay leaves - harm
It should be understood that before using the decoction of bay leaves, the benefits and harms of it should be carefully analyzed in each specific case. Like any medicine, this drug of folk medicine should be used in strict accordance with the available indications and with the observance of dosages, especially with internal reception. Decoction can be harmful if it is not cooked properly, if it has been stored for a long time or when unsuitable raw materials were used for production.
In addition, undesirable effects can occur if you ignore the limitations to the use of laurel drugs. The contraindication to the internal reception has the following:
- pregnancy, the period of breastfeeding;
- intestinal obstruction;
- peptic ulcer;
- propensity to constipation;
- acute and chronic kidney pathologies;
- tendency to bleeding;
- violations of protein metabolism;
- individual intolerance;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- acute forms of liver disease;
- severe stage of diabetes mellitus;
- urolithiasis disease.
Adverse reactions caused by the reception of laurel broth, often consist in such effects:
- poisoning;
- internal bleeding;
- rash;
- itching;
- indigestion and others.
How to cook the broth from the bay leaf?
Broth of bay leaves, the benefit and harm of which can be manifested both when ingested and when external treatment of affected areas, can be made according to several recipes, selected depending on the diagnosis. In addition, there are universal recipes, how to make a decoction of laurel leaves, suitable for treating various pathologies, separately for internal reception and external application. Let us cite these recipes.
Recipe for decoction for internal reception
Ingredients:
- dried laurel leaves - 15-17 pieces;
- water 350 ml.
Preparation and use
- The bay leaves should be placed in a saucepan.
- Pour water and put on fire.
- Bring to a boil and boil for 5-7 minutes.
- Pour the broth with the leaves into a thermos, close.
- After four hours strain.
Recipe for outdoor decoction
Ingredients:
- dry laurel leaves - 30 pcs .;
- water - 150 ml.
Preparation and use
- Pour the raw material, placed in a pan, with water.
- Bring to a boil and boil another 5 minutes on low heat.
- Remove from heat and insist for at least half an hour, drain.
Broth of bay leaves - application
Treatment with bay leaf is recommended in such cases:
- fungal and pustular lesions of the skin, mucous membranes;
- inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity;
- allergic diseases;
- insomnia;
- neuroses;
- colds;
- weak immunity ;
- overweight ;
- diabetes mellitus in the initial stages;
- delay in menstruation;
- psoriasis;
- joint diseases;
- cystitis;
- sweating;
- indigestion disorder;
- bloating ;
- hypertonic disease;
- otitis;
- sinusitis .
Bay leaf for weight loss
Despite the property to arouse appetite, the bay leaf broth is used to solve the problem of excessive body weight. This drug helps to lose weight by activating metabolic processes in the body, removing excess fluid, salts and slags. The bay leaf should be used in combination with a healthy diet and diet, regular physical activity, alcohol and smoking bans. The dosage is 2 tablespoons three times a day, taken half an hour before a meal. Therapeutic course is one week.
Bay leaf with diabetes mellitus
Many experts recommend the use of a laurel leaf for diabetes in the form of a decoction as an auxiliary. Such treatment is allowed only with mild disease and after consulting a doctor. The action of the drug is that the substances contained in the decoction, contribute to slowing the rate of entry of the food lump into the intestine. Thanks to this, more correct assimilation of carbohydrates and an early conversion of sugars into energy with less use of insulin occur. The broth is taken daily to meals three times at a dosage of 100 ml.
Another way to take a bay leaf with diabetes is associated with its external use. In patients with this diagnosis, there is a poor healing of even the smallest skin lesions, which is explained by the violation of metabolic processes, worsening of blood circulation, and reduced immunity. In view of this, it is recommended to carefully treat any skin injuries, use healing agents, and the laurel broth in this case has an effective effect. On the basis of the decoction for external use, compresses should be applied and applied to the damaged areas.
Broth of bay leaves for monthly at a delay
Women can use bay leaf for menstruation if there is a delay associated with stressful situations, past illnesses, excessive physical exertion and other functional factors. However, the delay should not be more than ten days. In addition, the decoction from the laurel leaf for monthly is applied if it is necessary that the physiological bleeding starts a few days earlier than the expected date (for example, if there is an important event on this day). In this case, the broth should be taken once in the amount of 200 ml.
Broth of bay leaf for allergies
How to take laurel leaves for allergies depends on its type and the available manifestations. When skin rashes, itching, it is recommended to use the product for external use as compresses. You can combine this method with internal use of bay leaf preparations, recommended for symptoms such as rhinitis, swelling, coughing and so on. The broth helps to remove from the body allergens, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, extinguishes inflammatory processes. Use it should be 50 ml three times a day.
Broth of bay leaf for joints
The bay leaf for the joints in that it is able to gently remove salt deposits, causing deformation, stiffness, pain. Therefore, the decoction of bay leaf, the benefit and harm of which has been studied and in terms of application in diseases of the musculoskeletal system, is recommended for internal use as a supplement to the main treatment prescribed by the doctor. Use it should be 350 ml per day, dividing this volume into several receptions (2-4 gulps). The course is 3 days, after which you should make a two-week break and again repeat the course.
Broth of bay leaf for face
The use of laurel leaf is shown and when applied to skin care. The broth has such effects:
- narrowing of skin pores;
- normalization of the sebaceous glands;
- elimination of inflammation;
- disinfection;
- toning;
- reduction of wrinkles;
- improvement of skin color.
Broth from laurel for external use is recommended to use as a face lotion, which can be wiped twice a day. If the skin is excessively oily, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the broth. In addition, it is useful to wipe the skin in the morning with a piece of ice, cooked from laurel broth. To clean the pores, you should hold steam baths for the face over hot decoction (the duration of the procedure is 10-20 minutes).
Broth of bay leaf for hair
Effective decoction of laurel leaves for the hair, which cleans well, helps to get rid of dandruff, struggles with the loss of curls, their dryness and dullness. The simplest method of application is rinsing the hair with laurel broth, which is carried out every time after washing the head. In addition to improving hair, such procedures contribute to improving well-being, relieving nervous tension, fatigue, and headaches.