Laurel – Uses & Health Benefits

Laurel

The olive laurel (Laurus nobilis) represents a small leaf with a strong aroma. The laurel tastes very intense and has a tart note. However, many people are not aware that bay leaves can also be used as a natural remedy for many ailments.

General overview

The laurel is very popular as a spice thanks to its intense but warm aroma. Many dishes can be refined with it. For example, it is possible to season soups, sauces, stocks, potato dishes, meat and fish dishes by cooking the laurel with it. One sheet is enough. The taste develops slowly. But the laurel plant has long been valued for its diverse healing powers, for example to strengthen digestion .

occurrence and cultivation

The laurel belongs to the laurel family. It originally comes from the Near East, but nowadays it can be found throughout the Mediterranean region. The plant prefers mild climates, can be in the sun but also in the shade. This makes it versatile. Good quality soil should be used for planting in a bucket. Laurel is also suitable for the balcony, the terrace and for cold and temperate conservatories. The laurel can grow as a tree or shrub to a height of 10 meters.

In spring, small white flowers appear on the perennial, evergreen shrubs and glossy, blue-black berries on the mature females. These give the dishes a spicy, bittersweet taste. The aromatic, fragrant, shiny and leathery leaves of the laurel can be collected almost all year round. These are used in the kitchen as a spice, but also have a healing effect. They can be used fresh and dried. The laurel tree is one of the oldest useful plants. Even the ancient Romans used the laurel as a spice and medicinal plant . Dried bay leaves can be bought all year round. It is especially available fresh in late summer and autumn.

application and effect

The leaves have to be cooked for a long time, because it takes a while for the laurel to develop its full, warm aroma. They are insensitive to heat. Before serving, they are removed and thus not eaten. If the leaves are slightly torn, the aroma is released even better. Bay leaves are a widely used spice with a warm, tart scent and an aromatic, bitter taste. The dried leaves have the same intense flavor as the fresh ones, but they are less bitter.

Laurel is wonderful as an addition to various marinades for meat or fish . The spice is a classic in sauerbraten, for example. The leaves are also ideal for seasoning stews, soups, sauces, aspic, braised, game and potato dishes, fricassees, ragouts, sauerkraut and red cabbage . When grilling, it is very clever if the dry leaves are placed on the embers. The grilled food gets a very special touch from the resulting spicy smoke.

They also go well with vegetarian dishes, for example with beans , lentils , potatoes and tomatoes . The laurel is also a must for pickling cucumbers, herrings and olives. The bay leaves can also be doused with olive or rapeseed oil. This is left to infuse for some time and a homemade “laurel oil” is produced. The leaves are also used to flavor vinegar. It should generally be used sparingly due to its strong seasoning power. The leaves should be protected from light, airtight, dry and kept for a maximum of two years. Laurel does not like too high a temperature during storage.

What does laurel help against?

importance to health

The leaves of the laurel tree are used for internal and external use. The leaves and fruits of laurel contain essential oil that promotes the secretion of gastric juice and thus stimulates the appetite . Laurel is particularly valued as a digestive aid in folk medicine. The bay leaves not only improve the taste, but also the digestibility of the food.

Poured up as a tea after a meal, it is just as useful. For this purpose, three dried leaves are brought to a boil in one liter of water. After ten minutes of steeping, it is poured off and drunk to improve or prevent various digestive problems such as flatulence. Laurel can also stimulate bile production. The leaves also have a styptic and diuretic effect . Due to the blood circulation-promoting and antibacterial effect , they are also used for toothache and nerve pain.

The mucolytic laurel oil, which is used as an inhalation additive in this case, also helps against colds or flu infections. If you have a cough, bronchitis or respiratory infections, you can soak a cloth in water that has been boiled with the bay leaves. It is then placed on the body. Applied externally, the leaves also help against tired feet.

For this, some leaves are added to a warm foot bath. The laurel fruits are only used for external treatment. Some fruits are put in olive oil. This mixture then sits for about five days. This oil tincture can then be applied to bruises or sprains. It also brings relief from rheumatism. However, people with sensitive skin should keep in mind that bay leaves can cause skin irritation.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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