You might need bay leaf if . . .

Do you feel like you are ballooning from bloat after you eat? Do you feel a crash after you eat? Are you tired of getting sick after you just started feeling better? Bay leaf could help. Bay leaf is a versatile herb that is easy to use in cooking.

Bay leaf is a great choice for those that:

• Frequently experience bloating and gas after eating

• Have a cough or respiratory illness

• Keep getting sick repeatedly

• Want to balance their blood sugar levels

• Often feel nervous and stressed

Benefits of Bay Leaf

Culinary, aromatic herbs like bay leaf can be a wonderful place to start if you are new to herbs. They are extremely safe, easy to find, and easy to add into your daily routine. Food as medicine is the backbone of natural health and adding a few herbs into your meals is an easy, affordable, and delicious way to kick it up a notch. Besides simply being a delicious addition to a meal, bay leaf offers some great health benefits as well!

Aids digestion: There is not a person alive that couldn’t use some digestive support. Bay leaf is believed by some herbalists to be a carminative. This simply means it helps reduce and release trapped air in the digestive system. So, it can help with bloating and gas. Bay leaf also has some eugenol (much less than clove). Eugenol is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and has antioxidant properties. This may also account for some of how bay leaf aids digestion. Regardless of exactly how it aids digestion, bay leaf has long been used in many cultures as a culinary and medicinal herb to aid digestion.

Improves glucose and cholesterol levels: One study (discussed in greater detail at the end of this article) demonstrated that bay leaf has powerful effects on people’s glucose level and their cholesterol. Its effects on glucose levels continue to be studied and analyzed, as bay leaf is considered safe, and its effects were extremely impressive.

Improves the functioning of nervous system: Various studies found that bay leaves may affect the central nervous system, possibly including soothing nervous disorders and ensuring that communication occurs smoothly within the body.

Common Ways to Use Bay Leaf

Recipes: Bay leaf is a commonly used herb in the culinary world. It is frequently used in soups and stews in many countries' dishes including Mexico, Thailand, India, The Mediteranea and more.

To burn: The smoke of burning bay leaves has a calming and soothing effect without making you sleepy. The smoke from this is also said to help your airways recover from ailments such as asthma or allergies. In some cultures, bay leaf burning is part of their spiritual practice.

Tea: You can make a simple herbal tea with bay leaf by steeping about 1 tsp of dried bay leaves in 8 ounces of boiling water for at least 15 minutes. You can sweeten it with raw honey to taste.

Growing and Foraging Information

It is possible to grow your own bay leaf at home! They need a full sun spot with moist soil. You can likely find bay leaf plants at local nurseries. You can use cuttings to grow new plants. You may also try growing from seed, but it is said to take up to 12 months to germinate!

Bay trees are not only a lovely plant they are very functional. They are easy to take care of and have very few pests and disease problems. You not only get leaves that have culinary and medicinal uses, but also a cute houseplant!

Safety Concerns & History

Bay Leaf is considered a very safe herb used and cultivated since ancient times. It is said they were used during the Middle Ages as medicine and a spice. It is also said that the ancient Greeks discovered the bay laurel tree over 3,000 years ago on a voyage and brought it back to Greece and Rome for cultivation.

The only real hazard known to be possible with bay leaf is if you try to eat them whole, their tough texture makes them impossible to chew. It can be a choking hazard or can damage your throat and intestines. They are best if ground or removed from your recipes before consumption.

It is important to consider safety concerns in the context of history. You also must realize that many of the departments that bring up safety concerns, are responsible for managing pharmaceutical drugs that have been manufactured in recent history. In the United States, there is no controlling authority or regulatory board specific to herbs. The most common reason you will see that these organizations bring up to question the safety of various herbs is “insufficient evidence to determine safety.” Since there is no way to patent a naturally growing plant, there is often insufficient funding to conduct massive human studies.

Drug Interaction: If you are taking any prescription medications, it is important to always consult with the prescriber before adding any herbs to your diet.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: There are no known contraindications for breastfeeding and pregnancy. However, it has been said that in large doses bay leaf can interfere with blood sugar levels, so that is something to consider.

Other Concerns: Bay leaf is a very gentle herb. There are very few concerns. As with any food, there is a chance that someone could have an allergy to the plant itself, but this is extremely rare. If you have diabetes, note that the bay leaf may interfere with blood sugar levels in large does.

Select Studies About Bay Leaf

Bay leaf improves glucose and lipid profile in people with type 2 diabetes

In this placebo-controlled study, people with type 2 diabetes had significantly lower glucose levels and healthier lipid levels after just 30 days of supplementing 1-3 grams of bay leaf each day. The study concluded that consuming this moderate amount of bay leaf decreases “risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and suggests that bay leaves may be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes.” It would be interesting to see what the benefits would be in a longer study. This study stands out as well because it used the herb itself, not an extract and in a reasonable amount (1-3 grams depending on which group in the study). All the groups that had the bay leaf benefited, meaning as little as 1 gram of bay leaf a day for 30 days was enough to have significant benefits.

Bay Leaf and colorectal cancer

In this study, an extract of bay leaf was shown to be effective against colorectal cancer cell growth. This study was conducted in vitro, which is Latin for “in glass.” It simply means that the scientists conducting the experiment did so in an isolated way. So, this study was not performed on cancer cells in a person’s body, but rather, the research was done on cancer cells in some sort of laboratory setting. While the concentration of these extracts would not be the same as if you made a soup and added some bay leaves, a study like this is still testament to the healing power of herbs.

How Earthley Uses Bay Leaf

Immunity Soup – For Delicious Immune Support | Earthley Wellness

Support your immune system with this delicious soup blend! Use it as a base for soup, stock, or your favorite recipe. Packed with nourishing and immunity supporting herbs and spices, supporting your immunity has never been easier than making a pot of delicious soup! Simply simmer, strain, and enjoy!

Immunity Soup can be used as a stand-alone broth or as a base for other soup recipes.

Check out these reviews:

“I love adding this to all my soups! I fill a tea bag/stainer so the flavor can infuse in the soup while it cooks. Great, earthy flavor! Will purchase again!” -Lisa

“This blend is super flavorful! It worked really well when I made broth from it as my soup base when my family was beginning to feel congested. You’ll need a strainer to scoop out the dried herbs. Glad I bought it.” -Jaelle