Bay Leaves, an Over-looked Wonder Herb

These wonderful leaves that once crowned the champions of the first Olympic Games have grown to have so many more uses. Besides being used in many soups and stews, bay leaves are also used for medicinal purposes.

Wiccans use bay leaves in potions for visions, clairvoyance and wisdom. You can put them under your pillow to help bring about psychic dreams. Carry them to ward off evil, and scatter or burn for exorcism. Add them to cleansing teas and to purification baths before rituals. They scatter them on the floor, and then sweep out for protection. It is said if you put a bay leaf in your wallet it will bring you prosperity.

Bay leaves are a spicy and bitter herb. They are also used in the making of bay rum, which originated in the West Indies.

It is a stimulant that improves digestion and is also a local antiseptic. You can make a weak infusion of bay leaves and take at meal times to improve digestion.
It is also used for flatulence, dyspepsia, and indigestion. Through the years it has been used for bladder and kidney ailments. The bay leaf has also been used to treat rheumatism, amenorrhea, and colic. This miracle herb has also been used to treat high blood sugar and migraines.

Many people use this great herb in many forms. From treating dandruff to sprains, bruises and boosting hair growth the uses seem endless. If you heat the leaves in a little olive oil it makes a nice save to relieve arthritis and aches. Some even go so far to use it as deodorant. Other uses have been in form of cosmetics , dyes, and perfumes. Crushed bay leaves are also used as an effective roach repellent. In potpourri and sachets, bay leaves are used as a filler.
Here is a nice homemade recipe for potpourri:

4 tablespoons rosemary leaves
4 tablespoons lemon balm leaves
1 tablespoons broken up bay leaves
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon of clove oil or cinnamon oil
Take the dry ingredients and put in a ziplock bag. Sprinkle the oil in the bag over the dry herbs. Close bag and shake. If the smell is too weak you can add 1/2 a teaspoon more of the oil. You can put this in pretty bowls and set out for a decoration or poke small holes in the bag and run a wire hanger through to hang in a closet for a nice fresh smell. You can also put in a small sauce pan on stove and add 1 cup of water. Set the burner to lowest setting and turn off once water starts evaporating.

One caution with using the bay leaf as a cure for anything...make sure you do not use the Mountain Laurel. It is a native of the United States and has poisonous leaves. Make sure you use Bay Laurel. Also, as with anything else you ingest or rub on your skin, if you are pregnant, consult with your physician first.