Bay Laurel Uses and Plant Monograph

Bay laurel is most known for its versatile uses as an herbal seasoning in culinary recipes. Commonly referred to as “bay leaf,” the leaves are used as an aromatic herb to add a sweet, mild flavor and to help improve digestion.

Bay Laurel Uses & Plant Profile Summary

Bay laurel boasts wide-ranging medicinal properties, which have been scientifically studied for their applications to human and animal health. The plant is a good source of antioxidants, minerals, and dietary fibers, and has been used for a variety of ailments — ranging from colds and fever to rheumatism and digestive ailments. It is an easily accessible and widely known medicinal plant with wide-ranging and effective healing properties.

Bay Laurel for Digestion

Dried bay leaves are a common aromatic spice added to many culinary recipes for mild flavoring and to stimulate and aid digestion. If you generally suffer from poor digestion, bay leaves are a great addition to a variety of cooked dishes. Adding whole dried bay leaves to soups, stews, sauces, meats, fish, and other savory recipes can help prevent indigestion, burping, flatulence, and bloating. The leaves are removed from the dish after cooking and are not eaten as they do not get soft enough to consume.

One of my favorite recipes with bay leaves is Greek lentil soup, called φακές (fakès). A couple of bay leaves in the soup can help prevent bloating and flatulence often caused after eating legumes. Try adding bay leaves to any dishes that you enjoy eating but cause you digestive discomfort and see if that helps improve your body’s response.

Bay leaves can also easily blend with other culinary herbs, such as garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, fennel, ginger, onion, lemon, parsley, pepper, and many others. In combination with other herbal seasonings, the prepared dish is more flavorful and provides more nutrition. I like to keep my dried bay leaves whole, instead of breaking them up in small pieces, so it is easier to remove them when I am ready to serve the meal. The small pieces can also be slightly sharp in the mouth and can cause discomfort to sensitive gums.

Being based in Greece where bay laurel trees are native, I do have access to fresh bay leaves, which grow in abundance in a nearby garden. However, I prefer using dried bay leaves rather than fresh leaves in my cooking so the flavor is not as intense.

In addition to culinary dishes, the leaves can be enjoyed in an herbal infusion or added to herbal tea blends to improve digestion or relieve discomfort from digestive ailments.

Only a couple bay leaves in an herbal infusion are needed. When I make an herbal tea blend, I like to think of bay leaves as the supporting herb and never the star of the formula. Consuming large doses of strong bay leaf tea can cause vomiting, fulfilling its herbal action as an emetic, so be sure to avoid too much if this is not your intended purpose.

Bay Laurel for Arthritic Pain and Swelling

Due to bay laurel’s analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, bay leaves can help relieve arthritic pain and swelling on any part of the body.¹ There are several ways to relieve arthritic pain and swelling with bay laurel.

Relief using a Poultice

A poultice is a simple way to apply fresh or dried herbs directly to the skin to help relieve pain or heal the skin from infections. You can make a poultice using dried bay leaves (which are generally more easily found than fresh bay leaves) by soaking them in just-boiled water. Wrap the re-hydrated leaves in a soft cloth and then place them on the affected body part for as long as possible, including overnight. Repeat as often as necessary, using replacement leaves after each changing.

Relief using an Oil Infusion

Oil of laurel has been used since antiquity for its wound-healing properties. The oil contains aromatic volatile oils, including pinene, geraniol, eugenol, and cineol. The oil can be applied as a liniment for rheumatic pains, sprains, ear infections, sore muscles, and light abrasions.

If you have access to fresh bay leaves, you can make a traditional herbal oil infusion. Fresh bay leaves are more bitter and aromatic than dried bay leaves and have a higher concentration of healing volatile oils. Chop 2 tablespoons of the leaves and add them to 1 cup of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Let steep for a few weeks. Remove the plant material and massage the body with the oil. (The oil can also be added to the scalp to remove dandruff and support a healthy scalp.)

Relief in an Herbal Bath

A strong infusion of bay laurel leaf tea added to the bathtub can also help relieve arthritic pain, sore muscles, body aches, and fevers. I especially like this method as it is helpful during the winter months to relieve the ache of cold, damp winter weather in my bones and provide a relaxing self-care experience.

Bay Laurel for the Immune System

There are numerous ways to use bay laurel to help stimulate immunity, especially when suffering from a cold or fever. There have also been promising scientific studies that indicate bay laurel can support breast cancer therapies.³

Here are a few of my favorite go-to remedies with bay laurel:

Chest Poultice

Using the same method as above for arthritic pain, apply the poultice to the chest to alleviate coughs and support the respiratory system. Take deep breaths and inhale the aromatic compounds in bay leaves, which are diaphoretic and can help loosen up respiratory phlegm.

Steam Inhalation

You can also do a steam inhalation to breathe in the aromas over a pot of freshly boiled leaves.

Herbal Tea

An infusion of 2–3 bay leaves can be enjoyed as a tea by itself or in combination with other herbs. I often add bay leaves to herbal tea blends made from a variety of other herbs, including sage, hawthorn leaves, nettles, horsetail, rosehips, mint, ginger, lemon, cinnamon, and others. Bay leaves complement any combination of herbs in a tea blend, making it easy to incorporate in a home herbal practice.

Bay Laurel for Cardiovascular Health

Preliminary studies on a group of healthy volunteers that tested daily consumption of bay leaf tea have found a statistically significant rise in HDL cholesterol levels (the good kind), indicating that bay laurel may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.⁴

Bay Laurel as an Insect Repellant

The strong aroma of bay leaves can help repel unwanted insects in food and in the wardrobe. Dried bay leaves can be added to containers of rice, grains, and dried fruits to prevent insects from hatching. In Greece, I often see homemade dried figs packed with dried bay leaves to protect the fruit from insects.

To make an insecticide and pesticide, spray a weak infusion of the leaves in the home garden on vegetables and fruits that are susceptible to hungry insects.⁵

A friend of mine, eager to rid her apartment of unwanted critters, covered her floors, cupboards, and closets with dried bay leaves. She was incredibly relieved with how effective the leaves were in repelling the insects and she also enjoyed the sweet aroma everywhere in her home.

Symbolism of Bay Laurel

Bay laurel has a rich history in the ancient Mediterranean region, where it is native. The plant was known in ancient Greece and Rome as a symbol of honor and victory. Branches of bay leaves were woven into crowns for many occasions of civic and religious celebrations. The word Laurus derives from the Latin name for the tree and nobilis is the Latin word meaning noble and famous.⁶ The tree was also believed to hold protective powers and could prevent misfortunes.

In ancient Greece, bay laurel was associated with Apollo, the god of light, medicine, music, and prophecy. His priestesses at Delphi, the site of his most famous sanctuary, were said to have made use of the leaves when delivering their oracle; although the exact ceremonial uses are debatable, the plant remained an important part of Apollo’s mythic legacy.⁷

In an ancient Greek myth, Apollo falls in love with Daphne, a beautiful nymph who, unfortunately for him, has no interest in her immortal pursuer. Daphne (which is the ancient and modern Greek name for bay laurel) sends pleas to the gods to protect her from Apollo’s unwanted advances. Upon hearing her request, they transformed Daphne into a bay laurel tree. Apollo mourned Daphne’s transformation: “O fairest of maidens, you are lost to me, but at least you shall be my tree. With my leaves, my victors shall wreathe their brows. You shall have your part in all my triumphs. Apollo and his laurel shall be joined together wherever songs are sung and stories told.”⁸

The story of Apollo, with his long flowing hair and youthful vigor, and Daphne, with her tree-shaped body, can be seen depicted in countless works of art. My favorite depiction is the life-size marble sculpture called Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This beautiful piece of artwork is a perfect example of how medicinal plants can inspire masterpieces.

Using Bay Laurel Leaves & Berries

While the ancient Greeks used bay laurel for both medicine and magic, today the therapeutic uses primarily focus on medicinal applications. Scientific research has not confirmed a recommended dosage of bay laurel to receive its health benefits, but the recommended dosage from an herbalist’s perspective is 2-3 bay leaves per herbal tea blend. The recommended dosage remains the same with other varieties of laurel species, although specific uses may differ depending on cultural traditions. Scientific research does not currently provide sufficient guidance to determine dosage for plant species with varying levels of phytoconstituents levels.

Bay laurel is full of antioxidants and is a good source of minerals and dietary fibers. Neither the leaves nor the fruit are consumed as food, and the berries are not generally used in modern herbal practices.

Dried bay leaves can be stored either in a jar on the spice rack or in the freezer, which can extend its shelf life a bit longer.

The famed herbalist M. Grieve wrote that “powder or infusion of the berries was taken to remove obstructions, to create appetite, or as an emmenagogue. Four or five moderate doses were said to cure the ague [malaria, fever or shivering fit]” and that the berries were used in abortions.⁹ They were also said to have a very stimulating effect. Although I have access to the berries and could harvest them myself, I do not have any inclination to use them in my herbal practice.

The seeds of bay laurel are mucilaginous and, in some traditions, are mixed with honey to help relieve sore throats.¹⁰

Using Bay Laurel Essential Oil

The essential oil of bay laurel (not the same as bay laurel oil) is used by the cosmetic industry in creams, perfumes, and soaps for its antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.¹¹ The essential oil is made via distillation of the leaves and should not be used directly on the skin. For home aromatherapy, the scent of bay laurel is considered uplifting and rejuvenating.

Bay Laurel for Animal Care

An ointment with bay laurel oil called Onguent de Laurier is used on horse hooves to soften and nourish them, preserve their elasticity, and prevent infections. There are many brands on the market, but the basic formula is bay laurel oil blended with vegetable oil and fish oil.

A word of caution! While bay laurel may be generally safe for humans, the plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses when consumed in large quantities primarily due to the presence of eugenol, an aromatic chemical compound also found in clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and basil. If you have a pet, make sure that they do not consume large quantities of the leaves as it will cause severe digestive upset.

Botanically Speaking

Bay laurel is an aromatic evergreen tree or shrub that belongs to the laurel family (Lauraceae). The Lauraceae family is comprised of approximately 2,500–3,500 species.¹² A variety of species are cultivated in many world regions, including the Mediterranean region, where it is native; Eastern Asia; South and North America; the Balkans; and Asia Minor.¹³ While each of the species found in these regions can be used medicinally, Laurus nobilis is the most common species and is the species that inspired many myths and rituals in ancient Greece and Rome.

Bay laurel can grow either as a single-trunked tree or a multi-trunked shrub depending on pruning and shaping. The bark is smooth and has an olive-green hue. The leaves, green throughout the year, are shiny, glabrous (smooth), and lanceolate, and are shaped with alternate leaf arrangement. When crushed, the leaf releases a distinct aromatic fragrance. The flowers bloom in the spring and are small, fluffy, and yellow-white. Bay berries are small, green or bluish-black, and single-seeded, similar to olives.

Common diseases of bay laurel include leaf spot and sooty molds. I have seen the sooty black mold on bay laurel trees here in Athens. The mold is caused by aphids that secrete a sugary substance on the leaves. The mold appears shortly after and eventually weakens the plant.¹⁴

The optimal conditions for growing bay laurel are in sunny and well-drained soils in environments with moderately warm temperatures. The country of Turkey is a major producer of bay laurel and exports approximately 7,000 tons of leaves to more than 60 countries worldwide every year.¹⁵ The leaves can be harvested year-round from a fully mature plant.

Bay laurel has a variety of phytoconstituents, including phenols, flavonoids, tannins, eugenol, citric acid, carbohydrate, steroids, alkaloids, triterpenoids, and essential oils. Each of these chemical constituents varies depending on the type of species.¹⁶

Special Considerations

Bay laurel is considered a safe plant to use in food and herbal medicines. However, there is insufficient reliable information about using bay leaf during pregnancy or breastfeeding.¹⁷ Additionally, consuming large amounts of bay leaf tea may cause vomiting (due to its emetic properties) and drowsiness (due to its sedative properties).

Summary

Bay laurel is a versatile medicinal plant in culinary and herbal applications. It can be used to support a wide-range of ailments, especially those related to the digestive, immune, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. In ancient Greece and Rome, the plant was closely associated with religious and civic customs. The medicinal and symbolic legacy of bay laurel continues in modern day herbal practices.

Written by Maria Christodoulou

Maria Christodoulou is a clinical herbalist exploring the wisdom and whimsy of ancient Greek herbal medicine. She teaches and writes about medicinal plants depicted in fantastical myths, ancient scientific texts, and artistic representations that have survived for thousands of years. Maria is a Greek-American based in New York and Athens, Greece.