Bay leaf

Neither roast, nor ragout, nor soups does without it. However in addition to excellent tastes this seasoning and a set of "poleznost" possesses that allows to use with success bay leaf in medicine.

Description

Bay leaf – a plant of family of Lavrov. Its homeland are the countries of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. This spice is used by the person from time immemorial. Crowned with branches and leaves of laurels the heads of winners of sports meets and war heroes in the Roman Empire and Ancient Greece, and considered a tree sacred. In the Middle Ages of monasteries considered a symbol of good and believed that it protects from evil forces and lightnings. Actually, the word "winner" comes from the word of "monasteries" and literally it can be translated as "topped with monasteries".

Today the laurels are grown up in the majority of the countries with the climate suitable for it – Greece, Turkey, France, Italy, Spain and other countries of the Mediterranean, the Caucasian countries, Guatemala, Albania and Portugal. In Ukraine bay leaf is grown up in the Crimea.

Judging by numerous responses, bay leaf is widely applied not only in cookery, but also in medical and chemical industry. As raw materials it is used for receiving cineol and camphor.

Bay leaf in cookery

In cookery bay leaf is one of the most widespread seasonings. As spice use seeds and ground leaves.

In the middle of the 17th century the personal cook of the queen Maria Medici, the Frenchman François Pierre de la Varenp, was written a review of bay leaf in its recipe-book where it was spoken that it not only is capable to improve, but also to correct taste practically of any dish. He recommended to add it not only to the first and second courses, but also to puddings and desserts.

Add it to marinades, sauces, broths, soups, use at preparation of fish and meat dishes, and also salty and acid. Add it at preservation of vegetables – vegetable marrows, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, bush pumpkins. Especially well it is combined with pickles, beet, tomatoes and cabbage. Pleasant relish is impacted by bay leaf to goulash, jelly, sauces.

Essential oil of laurels is applied at production of some alcoholic drinks and confectionery.

Composition of bay leaf

100 g of bay leaf contain 75 g of carbohydrates, 8 g of fats, 8 g of proteins, and also ashes, saturated fatty acids, cellulose. Vitamins contain in monastery: Retinolum (A), thiamin (B1), Riboflavinum (B2), pyridoxine (B6) ascorbic acid (C), Niacinum (RR); macrocells: phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium; microelements: zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, iron.

Caloric content at bay leaf makes 313 kcal on 100 g.

Bay leaf is rich with essential oil which gives it specific aroma, organic acids (valerian, acetic, kapron), phytoncides, tannins, fatty acids.

Treatment by bay leaf

Still znamenityeantichny doctors recommended to use bay leaf in medicine as various diseases medicine. So, Hippocrates left comments about bay leaf, as about fine means against spasms and for reduction of pains at patrimonial attempts. Avicenna considered that treatment by bay leaf kills joint pains, reduces an asthma and helps at nervous tension, and bark and seeds of a plant are useful at an urolithiasis and cholecystitises.

Now apply bay leaf in medicine not only national, but also official. It is known that treatment by bay leaf removes puffiness, increases appetite, suppresses development of a tubercular stick, improves digestive processes, increases immunity, helps at a diabetes mellitus and a pseudorheumatism.

It possesses the exciting, diuretic, knitting, antifungal, antibacterial action. Therefore in the absence of contraindications bay leaf is used for prevention and treatment of fever, stomatitis, kolik, by amenorrheas, nervous breakdowns, and also as sudorific. In high doses of monasteries has emetic effect.

From flowers, fruits and leaves of a plant receive essential oil which is excellent insecticidal and disinfectant. To them bruises, stretchings and joint pains treat. Use it and in production of medicines. So, essential oil and the crushed fruits of laurels are a part of antiseptic soap and some ointments.

It is considered that at treatment of oncological diseases dried fruits of a plant well help.

Bay leaf – contraindications

Contraindication to bay leaf is:

• Heart diseases, kidneys and liver;
• Period of pregnancy and breastfeeding.