Bay leaf benefits and functions

Bay leaf is a traditional Chinese medicine. There are precedents of using bay leaf to treat diseases in ancient times, so we can eat it with confidence. Next, I will mainly introduce to you the benefits of bay leaves.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The leaves of the laurel plant of the Lauraceae family.

[Original form] Evergreen tree, up to 9-12m tall, with dark brown bark. The leaves are alternate, leathery, oblong or lanceolate, about 6-11cm long, 2-4cm wide, with sharp tip, cuneate base, entire or slightly wavy, curled, dark green, and fragrant when broken; the veins are pinnate and raised on both sides; the petiole is about 1cm long and purple. Umbels are axillary and dioecious; flowers are small, 3-4mm in diameter, yellow, with a peduncle about 1cm long and an involucre at the base of the peduncle; male flowers have 4 tepals, obovate, obtuse at the apex; 12 stamens, arranged in 3 in each whorl, anthers dehiscent inward; female flowers have 4 tepals, 1 pistil, 1-chambered ovary, short stigma, slightly capitate. The berries are oval, dark purple. Flowering period is April.

【Habitat distribution】Ecological environment: Native to the Mediterranean region.

[Properties] Identification of properties: The leaves are oblong or lanceolate, 6-11cm long, 1.5-4cm wide, with sharp tip, cuneate base, entire or wavy margin, curled, gray-green on the upper surface, light on the lower surface, with prominent lateral and reticulate veins on both sides, and glabrous; petiole is 5-8mm long and glabrous. Leathery, not easy to break. It has a fragrant aroma and a spicy and cool taste.

[Chemical composition] The leaves contain aromatic oil, the main components of which are linalool, eugenol, geraniol, 1,8-cineole, terpineol, aceiyleugenol, methyleugenol, α-pinene, phlandrene, etc.; it also contains sesquiterpene lactones: germacranolide, laurenobiolide, costunolide, artemorin, verlotorin, santamarin (balchanin), and reynosin. It also contains flavonoids: 3-rutinoside, 3-glucoside, 3-galactoside, 3-rhamnoside, 3-arabinoside and rutoside of kaempferol and quercetin. It also contains (D-glucoglycercr-3-octulose). It also contains biological alkalis: reticuline, boldine, actinodaphnine, N-methylactinodaphnine, isodomesticine, noriedomesticine, neolitsine, launobine, nandigerine, hernangerine and cryptoodorine.

[Pharmacological action] The antiviral effect test in a plate showed that a 2cm diameter round filter paper was soaked in laurel leaf oil and allowed to evaporate in the plate. 0.02ml of rhinovirus type 17 dilution (containing 100TCID50 of the virus) was added to the plate cover. The virus was killed after contact at 33℃ for 60 minutes. After contact with rhinovirus type 17, influenza virus A3-Kunjun 75-5 strains, and adenovirus type 7 on gauze strips for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes, the effect was most obvious when contacted for more than 60 minutes. 0.2 ml of rhinovirus type 17 100-1000 TCID50 was added to human embryonic tracheal blocks and adsorbed for 30 minutes. The virus was killed after contact with the gas released by bay leaf oil (impregnated on 2 cm diameter circular filter paper) for 90 minutes. If the adsorption is extended for more than 3 hours, the volatile oil cannot completely kill the virus. This suggests that some viruses invade the cells of the tracheal block, while volatile oils cannot enter the cells. The nasal drops of laurel leaf oil acid preparation were given to humans, and tannic acid was used as a control, which showed that the volatile oil had a short-term effect in preventing colds without side effects.

【Nature and flavor】 Spicy; slightly warm

【Functions and indications】 Strengthens the stomach and regulates qi. Mainly used for abdominal distension and pain; injuries caused by falls; scabies

[Usage and Dosage] For internal use: decoction, 3-6g. For external use: appropriate amount, decoction for bathing.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

This article introduces to us what bay leaves are. We know that bay leaves have very high medicinal effects, but we must remind everyone that bay leaves are generally not to be eaten indiscriminately, otherwise it will cause serious consequences. I hope everyone will treat it with caution.