Good day! In the plant spotlight this week is a flavorful plant: Bay Laurel, also known as Bay Tree or Sweet Bay.
The botanical name for this plant is Laurus Nobilis.
The leaves of Bay Laurel -- bay leaves -- stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, which aids in digestion and can bring relief from indigestion, constipation, and bloating. These leaves are rich in compounds that help promote heart health by strengthening the walls of blood vessels and reducing cholesterol levels, which in turn lower the risk of heart disease.
The essential oils in bay leaves also contain anti-inflammatory compounds (like eugenol). These compounds can bring pain relief and reduce swelling. Add some bay leaves in with your food as it’s cooking (remove before eating because the leaves are tough and not fun to chew, similar to cinnamon sticks or vanilla beans) or use in a tea infusion for overall well-being.
Have a magical day,
Jenny
PLANT INGESTION WARNING!
As with all herbs and plants you plan to ingest, never ingest them before doing your own research and/or talking with your doctor - it’s possible that medications you take or health conditions you have could have a negative effect if paired with bay leaves. Better safe than sorry!
Photo credit goes to Forest & Kim Starr
