Bay leaf

The homeland of the laurel is considered to be the countries of the Mediterranean coast, where its branches were originally in no way connected with cooking. This shrub symbolized strength and kindness, therefore it was considered an honorary award and a symbol of majesty. Laurel wreaths adorned the heads of emperors and powerful heroes. Ordinary people decorated their homes with these leaves and made amulets, which, according to legend, protected from lightning strikes.

About the laurel became known from the first books about ancient Greek mythology. The handsome Apollo fell in love with the nymph Daphne, who does not want to reciprocate. The idea of love did not leave his head, so Apollo did not want to lag behind Daphne. Once, after a hard fight with a serpent, Apollo met the young God of love Eros, who brought with him a bow and a quiver of arrows. From the lips of the hero, inspired by victories, a malicious joke escaped: “Kid, why do you need a bow and arrows? Do you think you can outdo me?” Eros took this joke offensive. His hand itself reached for the arrows, and the first of them hit the body of Apollo, and the second pierced Daphne. And these arrows symbolized poisonous love. Daphne, suffering from the persecution of the hero in love, descended to the earthly Gods with a request to give her a different image. In an instant, the nymph turned into a noble laurel shrub, a wreath of leaves from which the saddened Apollo wore on his head.

Traveling around the world, the laurel reached Europe, where it was used as a remedy. The legendary physician Avicenna used the plant to relieve joint pain, eliminate shortness of breath and relieve nervous tension. A little later, the laurel received the status of a spice, so it began to appear more and more often in puddings, stews and various kinds of drinks. Russia learned about bay leaf about 25 centuries ago from Greek travelers who brought a new spice to the Crimean peninsula along with overseas fruits. Since then, the shrub has spread to all continents and grows in countries with a maritime climate. You can meet him in Greece, Spain, Turkey, Portugal, Albania, Italy, Crimea and on the Black Sea coast.

Studying the positive properties of laurel, it is worth dwelling in more detail on its healing effects.

✅ Natural antiseptic – phytoncides from the composition of “lavrushka” serve as a natural immunity that supports the sick body in the fight against pathogenic flora. This effect served as the basis for the preparation of a number of medicines used against microbes. For example, bay leaf tinctures are good at disinfecting wounds, and inhalations with essential oils have proven themselves in the treatment of sinusitis and tonsillitis.

✅ Anti-inflammatory agent – medical creams, ointments and gels with the addition of laurel extract relieve inflammation from the joints, mucous membranes and soft tissues. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and joints are amenable to complex treatment, which often includes a noble laurel. And decoctions from the leaves help to overcome swelling and inflammation in the throat and sinuses.

✅ A way to combat dermatitis and acne – the previously indicated antiseptic properties are used in cosmetology for the treatment of acne. Ether and lavrushka oils are added to cosmetics and show a good disinfecting and drying effect. Decoctions and tinctures of the shrub have a mild desensitizing effect, so they suppress itching and inflammation in areas of eczema and psoriasis.

✅ Strengthening immunity – long-term use of laurel infusion or its oil helps support the immune system. Especially this effect becomes noticeable during the season of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, as well as at the time of recovery from debilitating diseases.

✅ Slimming remedy – the diuretic properties of this plant were noticed not so long ago, but this fact allowed the use of laurel to eliminate edema. In addition, it stimulates the breakdown of adipose tissue and helps balance the basal metabolism. You should not hope for grandiose results, only with the right use of folk remedies will it be possible to get a small effect of losing weight.

✅ Cleansing the body – laurel provides good help to the liver, kidneys and lungs in the process of removing toxins and harmful metabolic products. If you want to get rid of unnecessary toxins, you should enrich the diet with spice or prepare a weak decoction based on it.

✅ Cosmetic component – you can not ignore the antiseptic and antioxidant effects used in cosmetology. Creams and masks with an extract or extract of the plant are a good remedy for treating acne, and its presence in a shampoo or balm helps maintain the beauty of the hair. Rinses with plant components give dull hair a vital shine, and hair follicles – resistance to external irritating factors.

Any plant always has undesirable effects and contraindications, not in all cases the reason lies in the dosage and frequency of use. Laurel can also become dangerous, so it is worth considering its possible unpleasant effects on the body.

❌ Pathology of pregnancy – an excess of salicylates in the composition of the bush can adversely affect the bearing of a child. Taking tinctures and decoctions with “lavrushka” brings trouble to a pregnant woman in the form of uterine tone and spontaneous bleeding. In severe cases, early miscarriage or premature birth is not excluded.

❌ Impact on breast milk – the same salicylates easily penetrate into breast milk and are transmitted to the baby during feeding. A small body is unable to cope with a new load in the form of essential oils, so it reacts with allergies, intestinal colic and constipation. To preserve the health of mother and baby, it is still worth refusing this spice for the entire period of pregnancy and feeding.

❌ Food allergies are quite rare, but they do occur in individuals with increased mast cell activity, which is the cause of the allergy. This condition is manifested by skin itching, swelling of the larynx and nasal passages, coughing and digestive problems. The described symptoms serve as a “bell” for contacting a specialist and removing the spice from the diet.

❌ The cause of constipation – stool disorders can be triggered by excessive intake of bay leaf esters. The components of the spice have a strengthening effect, which brings a lot of problems for the body.

❌ Exacerbation of peptic ulcer – gastric and intestinal ulcers do not like a food menu with irritating spices. “Lavrushka” stimulates the secretion of digestive acids, which exacerbate a chronic disease.

With the appearance of the first signs indicating intolerance to laurel, it is worth immediately abandoning its further use. Having chronic diseases, it is advisable to consult a doctor about the possible negative impact of seasoning on the course of the disease.

The taste of laurel is quite bitter, so it is not suitable for consumption in its pure form. Spice is more valued not for taste, but for a pleasant aroma. Its smell is specific with rich notes of camphor, which gives the ethereal component – cineole.

Most often, spice leaves are used to add flavor and aroma to soups, broths and canned foods. In fact, the range of its application is much wider. For example, laurel emphasizes the taste of sweet preserves, which include jam and compotes. Alcoholic drinks are also combined with this spice. To do this, just add 1 small leaf to the bottle and let the alcohol brew for a day. Especially good taste after such an experiment is obtained by various liquors. Cereals and beans can also “make friends” with bay leaves.

In the process of cooking soups, it will be more correct to add spice 5️⃣-1️⃣0️⃣ minutes before the end, after which the leaves are removed. Laurel can be added to the main dishes earlier – 3️⃣0️⃣ minutes before readiness. The spice has a bright aroma, so you should not get carried away with its quantity. Cooks recommend adding 1 leaf per 1 liter of liquid to the pan.

When buying you should pay attention to the recommended shelf life, which each manufacturer may have its own. The bay leaf can be stored fresh for 9️⃣ months before the packaging period and another 1️⃣ year as a packaged spice. An expired spice most likely will not cause any problems in the body, but it will not please the taste either. The old seasoning gives the dish more bitterness instead of the desired flavor. Such leaves change their olive color to a faded brown color, and they also begin to crumble easily.

It is undesirable to store opened packaging in order to avoid loss of culinary properties. To preserve the delicious aroma of the spice for the entire shelf life, it is better to move all the leaves into a glass jar and store them under the lid.