11 Health Benefits of Bay Leaf
No food is complete if a bay leaf is not included. Bay leaf has been used for so many years in India. Apart from food, bay leaf is used to treat diseases in our traditional Ayurvedic system. Here we know the health benefits of bay leaf in a broader sense.
It is an evergreen large shrub primarily found in the Mediterranean region(India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Srilanka, and China). We mainly used it in our cooking.
In Ayurveda, the health benefits of the bay leaf have been described very clearly. It helps in controlling diseases and keeps most of the internal body organs active.
There are multiple health benefits of Bay Leaf, whether it is taken with food, mixed with spices, or in the form of tea is always beneficial.
Here it is not being claimed that just using bay leaf will cure all diseases, but certainly may help to protect from internal infections. People generally ask the scientific evidence for any herbs and shrubs which may help remove the disease.
It may a topic for research, but most herbs are very useful and may have some side effects, if not taken under expert supervision.
But, if we talk about our Ayurvedic therapy people who use herbs under the proper guidance of the ayurvedic doctors (Vaidyas) get relief from chronic disease. Ayurveda broadly helps in curing diseases and gives new life to the body’s organs.
So, we will discuss and draw your attention to how bay leaf helps your body and gives maximum relief or maintains the body’s harmonic changes so that you become healthy for a longer period.
What Bay Leaf (Tej Patta) contains?
The Bay Leaf contains about 1.3% essential oils, consist of 45% eucalyptol, 12% other terpenes, 8-12% terpinyl acetate, 3–4% sesquiterpenes, 3% methyl eugenol, and other α- and β-pinenes, phellandrene, linalool, geraniol, terpineol, and contain lauric acid also. (Source Wikipedia)
Health Benefits of Bay Leaf (Tej Patta)
- India Bay Leaf (Tej Patta) is primarily used in cooking. It enhances the taste of foods.
- It stimulates our digestive enzymes and helps improve the digestion of food and reduces flatulence, abdominal bloating, and indigestion. cough, and cold and also used in asthma patients.
- It has anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial,anti-diabetic,anti-tubercular, anti-flatulent and it is enriched with antioxidant property. Using an optimum level or as directed by the ayurvedic physician (Vaidyas) is useful in different diseases.
- It controls Vata and Kaph dosha and eliminates impurity from the blood. You need to take 2-3 grams and boil it for 5 minutes. Put for some time off from heat and once it comes in lukewarm condition take a sip intermittently. It will help to release cold and balance kaph dosha. You can also take it with honey for cough and cold.
- You can use herbal tea in the morning session which helps to improve your digestion and make you stress-free.
- It also helps in purifying the urinary tract and keep the bladder in a healthy condition.
- It has an antispasmodic and carminative property which helps in abdominal pain and eliminates bloating. The body releases gas, which got accumulated due to some junk food intake.
- You need to take 2-3 grams bay leaf, 2-3 grams cinnamon, and 3 cloves. Boil them and have herbal tea twice a day. Slowly it will reduce cholesterol and balance your sugar level as well.
- It helps to normalize blood pressure (high blood pressure). You need to boil 3-4 leaves in simple water and drink as a tea. It helps in lowering high blood pressure.
- Bay leaf helps in reducing sprains, rheumatism, and arthritis and fights inflammation. It is also useful in migraines and backaches.
- Tejpatta is rich in phytonutrients. It is effective in treating cardiovascular diseases. They may improve the functioning of the heart and prevent heart attacks.