Indian Bay Leaf Benefits, Plant Description, Various Names, Classification, Nutritional Value, Beneficiary Uses, Side Effects and FAQ
What is an Indian Bay leaf?
Indian Bay leaf is a spice herb widely used in Indian cuisine and serves many health benefits.
Bay leaf is a plant belonging to the ‘Lauraceae’ family. The scientific name of bay leaves is ‘Cinnamomum tamala’. Bay leaf is widely used in India, Nepali and Bhutanese cuisines. It is also an important part of Mughlai cuisine.
Health Benefits and Uses of Indian Bay Leaf
The Indian Bay leaf plant can grow upto 20 meters (66 feet). The leaves have a clove-like aroma with a hint of black pepper taste. This is used for cooking and medicinal purposes. Leaves are oval shaped and quite long, olive green in color and have upto 3 nerves to its length. Indian Bay leaf- the plant originated from the southern slopes of Himalaya are now mainly grown in Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and the North-eastern Himalayan ranges of India.
The following article discusses the health benefits of Indian Bay leaf along with its uses and side effects.
Benefits and Medicinal Properties of Indian Bay leaf
- Carminative
- Antispasmodic
- Immunostimulant
- Antioxidant
- Anti-Diabetic
- Inflammatory
- Anti-bacterial
- Antimicrobial
- Anti-tubercular
- Cardiac Stimulant
- Blood purifier (correctly detoxifier)
- Anodyne
- Mild Diuretic
- Galactagogue
- Digestive stimulant
Nutritional Value of per 100g Indian bay leaf
- Energy: 313 Kcal
- Carbohydrates: 74.97 g
- Protein: 7.61 g
- Total Fat: 8.36 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 26.3 g
- Vitamin
- Folates: 180 mcg
- Niacin: 2.005 mg
- Pyridoxine: 1.740 mg
- Riboflavin: 0.421 mg
- Vitamin A: 6185 IU
- Vitamin C: 46.5 mg
- Minerals
- Sodium: 23 mg
- Potassium: 529 mg
- Calcium: 834 mg
- Copper: 0.416 mg
- Iron: 43 mg
- Magnesium: 120 mg
- Manganese: 8.167 mg
- Phosphorus: 113 mg
- Selenium: 2.8 mcg
- Zinc: 3.70 mg
Different Regional Names of Indian bay leaf
- Tamil: Talishappattiri
- Malayalam: Tamalapatram
- Telugu: Talisapatradi
- Hindi: Tejpat
- Bengali: Tejpata
- Gujarati: Tamalpatra
- Marathi: Darchini
- Punjabi: Tejpat
- Kashmiri: Tejpata
- Assamese: Tejpat
Scientific Classification of Indian Bay leaf
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Magnoliids
- Order: Laurales
- Family: Lauraceae
- Genus: Cinnamomum
- Species: C. tamala
- Scientific Name: Cinnamomum tamala
Benefits of Indian bay leaf
- Aids Digestion
Using bay leaf in a dish containing a lot of ghee, butter and spices can help in digestion. It has also been proven that bay leaves have a strong effect on gastrointestinal as it flushes out toxins from the body through urine or vomit, when something toxic is consumed.
Also Read: 9 Effective Ways to Reduce Health Impacts of Gastritis
- Treats Diabetes
The bay leaves have been found to be effective in treating Type 2 diabetes as they cause lower blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides levels. To get maximum results, these leaves can be powdered and consumed for 30 days. This will reduce the sugar levels in the body as well as control your heart function. This is because the antioxidants in bay leaves enable the body to process insulin more efficiently, thus making it a good option for diabetics and people with insulin resistance.
Also Read: Effective Ways to Minimize Damaging Impacts of Diabetes
- Controls Fungal Infection
According to the researchers, bay leaves have antifungal properties that help protect the skin from any infection or burns from any foreign substance. Regular use of bay leaf creates a protective layer that prevents all types of bacteria from entering your respiratory system.
- Reduces Anxiety and Stress
Bay leaves are rich in a compound called ‘Linalool’ that helps in reducing stress hormone levels in the body and also reduces the chances of anxiety and depression.
Also Read: 10 Effective Ways to Fight Anxiety Disorder Problem
- Anti-cancer properties
Bay leaf contains caffeic acid, quercetin, eugenol and catechins all of which have camo-protective properties that provide resistance against various types of cancer. They contain a Phytonutrients called ‘Parthenolide’ which specifically shows the spread of Cervical Cancer cells.
- Protects Heart Health
The ‘Rutin’ compound in bay leaf strengthens the heart’s capillary and is good at removing caffeic acid bad cholesterol found here. All this makes blood vessels protective of heart health.
Also Read: Abnormal Blood Pressure – Symptoms, Causes and Remedies
- Relieves Pain
Oils derived from bay leaves have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the pain caused by sprains, strain, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis as well as general pain and inflammation. Massaging with bay leaf oil relieves migraine and headaches. Blood vessels also increase blood circulation and increase the feeling of wellness. In case of joint pain, you can make bay leaf and castor leaf poultice, and tie it around the swollen joint to reduce pain and swelling. In case of headaches, you can boil a few bay leaves in the water for a few minutes. Strain and drink this mixture while hot. You can apply a bay leaf paste on your forehead to relieve severe headaches.
- Menstrual Problems
Taking it orally helps in uncalculating regular and normal periods. It can also control abnormal vaginal discharge.
Also Read: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Facts and Treatment
- Clean Teeth
To get a shiny white tooth, brush with bay leaf powder for at least 3 days.
- Insect Repellent
Bay leaves are good insect repellent as they contain ‘lauric acid’. Applying the paste made with bay leaf powder and oil locally can keep you safe from insect bite.
- Kidney Problems
Bay leaf helps in treating kidney infection and even kidney stones. For this, boil 5 grams of bay leaf in 200 ml of water and stop boiling when 50 ml of water is left. Drink twice daily.
- Treats Cold-flu and Infection
Bay leaf is effective in combating cold, flu and infection symptoms. In case of respiratory problems, boil water and add 2 to 3 bay leaves. Let it steam for 10 minutes. Soak a cloth in this water and place it on your chest to reduce flu, cold and cough. Tea from bay leaves is effective in reducing fever. If you sneeze again and again, boil some blood in 200 ml of water until 1/4 is left. Strain and drink this mixture.
Also Read: Everything You Need to Know about General Fever
- Induces Sleep
Eating bay leaves before bed will help you sleep better. For this, mix a few drops of bay leaf extract with water and consume it.
Also Read: Do You Know What Insomnia Problem can Lead to?
- Treats Nostril bleeding
In case of nasal bleeding, crush 2 to 3 fresh or dried bay leaves. Boil them in 200ml of water with 100ml remaining. Strain and drink this mixture for relief.
- Relieves Stressed Skin
Consuming bay leaves reduces your skin pressure, thus preventing wrinkles and skin outbreaks. For this, in a pan, boil 5 dry bay leaves with 2 cups of water with the lid on. Then remove the lid and let it boil for about 2 minutes. Now pour into a large bowl and cover your head with a towel, inhale the steam.
- Removes Dandruff
Wash your hair with your regular shampoo. Then, mix bay leaves in cold water and wash them off. Alternatively, you can also get essential oils of bay leaf. Take about 15 drops and mix it with your shampoo and massage through the scalp. Then wash it thoroughly.
Also Read: Important Health Tips to Treat and Prevent Lice
Other Benefits of Indian Bay leaf
- When you suffer from a severe cold cough, drink bay leaf soaked water 3 to 4 times a day.
- To avoid sweating and itching, apply the paste made of sandalwood and bay leaf on the body and rinse off.
- Apply bay leaf paste on boils to get relief.
- Boil up to 6 bay leaves in water and gargle with that as a mouthwash.
- Soaking bay leaves in water overnight and drinking that water the next morning, it is believed beneficial in diabetes.
Uses of Bay leaf
Bay leaf is used as an excellent spice in India and used in many authentic dishes. Bay leaf enhances the taste of dishes and gives it an aroma. Moreover, raw bay leaves are boiled in water and used to treat different types of diseases. Similarly, bay leaf powder, poultice are also used to cure different diseases and solve skin and hair problems.
Side Effects of Bay leaf
When taken orally, Bay leaf and bay leaf oil is safe for most people when consumed in appropriate quantities. Oral intake as medicine is probably safe for short-term. But, if you cook with a full leaf, be sure to remove it before eating. It is probably unsafe to take the whole leaf by mouth and use it in extreme quantities. The leaf cannot be digested, so it remains intact while passing through the digestive system. This means it can get into the neck or pierce the intestinal membrane.
Also Read: 12+ Curing Benefits of Bay Oil
Conclusion
The above article lets you know what are the benefits and concerns of consuming or using Bay leaf. Information provided in the article is based on trusted sources and only for educational purposes and not intended to replace expert’s advice. Please consult your doctor if you face any health issues after consuming the herb or if you are curious to know more about its health impacts.
FAQ
1) How long does a bay leaf last in a jar?
A. Freshly dried bay leaves can be stored in an airtight jar to use throughout the year. It can be used in various dishes. 2 or 3 leaves are enough for one use.
2) How many times can bay leaves be used?
A. Bay leaf lasts for a long time. Generally, it is better to avoid adding 2 or more leaves to whatever you cook. If you overuse it, it can overtake the basic taste of your dish.
3) How long should I leave a bay leaf in?
A. Fresh dried leaves have a better, deeper taste. Ideally, dry the leaves for 48-72 hours. If you want hardly dried bay leaves, let the leaves dry for 2 weeks in a hot area under direct sunlight.
4) Can I hang bay leaves to dry?
A. They are easy to dry: Just hang a branch in the air, the leaves will dry in a few weeks. They are probably used more than any other herb, to taste stocks, sauces, cacharols and merineds.
5) What are the benefits of using bay leaves in cooking?
A. Bay leaf is often used in dishes to enhance its taste. It has been used for a long time for its potential health benefits. Researchers have conducted studies that can expose ways that can help improve health. However, ultimately, more research, including humans, is needed.