Composition and calories
The ratio of the main components in 100 grams of lavrushka is:
- carbohydrates - 48 g;
- fats - 8 g;
- proteins - 7 g.
A decoction of laurel is full of a variety of useful substances. It contains vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids:
- linoleic (increases the resistance of body cells to stress);
- linolenic (fights brittle nails, hair weakness, skin problems);
- omega-3 (special support for the heart, blood vessels, brain);
- omega-6 (provides strength).
There is a noticeable amount of iron in the bay leaf, which is its undoubted benefit. It contributes to the production of hemoglobin, blood oxygenation. Manganese helps him in this , thanks to him vitamins B, C, phosphorus, calcium are also absorbed in the body. Copper , which contains useful leaves, is responsible for improving the process of hematopoiesis. Selenium stimulates the immune system, prevents the development of cancer cells.
Lavrushka has calcium . It forms the bones and muscle tissue of the body. Health of nails, teeth, hair depends on it. Potassium also has a beneficial effect on muscles, and its deficiency causes spasms. Thanks to magnesium , the work of the nervous system is getting better, glucose and calcium are absorbed in the body.
Bay leaf is high in calories. 100 grams contains 313 kcal. In fact, we do not use such an amount of seasoning, so there is no need to be afraid of these numbers.
The benefits of laurel decoction
Healing decoction of bay leaf came to us from traditional medicine. Following her, the traditional one also suggests using it as an additional medicine. It has the following properties:
- supports during stress, nervous overload, improves sleep;
- rids the body of accumulated water;
- normalizes bowel function (this is facilitated by acids that trigger metabolic systems);
- reduces blood sugar;
- relieves stomatitis, musty smell of breath;
- treats fungus, sweating of the foot;
- in small quantities reduces pressure;
- supports joints, relieving them of salts;
- treats cough, runny nose;
- increases the protection of the body in the off-season.
Medicinal properties of bay leaf
- supports immunity (useful substances, vitamins and acids (especially lauric), micro and macro elements increase the strength of the body and help it resist infections);
- kills bacteria and fungi (a decoction of bay leaf is a natural antiseptic that disinfects abrasions, prevents infections and inflammations on the skin and mucous membranes, it fights stomatitis, bleeding gums, gingivitis);
- calms the nerves (a healing decoction of bay leaf, thanks to linapool, relieves stress overexcitation and improves sleep);
- removes liquid (butyric acid and essential oils, which saturate the decoction, speed up metabolism, help get rid of stagnant fluid and, as a result, lose weight).
The benefits of bay leaf for the human body: diabetes
Lavrushka-based decoction for diabetes is taken internally and used externally. However, in this case, it is only an additional remedy for the main treatment and can provide significant assistance only in the early stages of the disease.
Laurel decoction slows down the flow of food into the intestines and, accordingly, the level of glucose in the blood also rises slowly and without jumps. They also treat non-healing wounds in diabetics.
The benefits and harms of bay leaves for joints
The healing properties of bay leaf create an analgesic effect. It is based on the fact that laurel removes salt deposits from the joints. In this case, you can limit yourself only to taking a decoction, or you can apply an integrated approach to treatment and lie down in a bath with bay leaves. Another option is to make a special ointment by adding bay leaves to it. She is lubricated with sore spots, relieving inflammation, this is her benefit.
Important! Bay leaf removes water from the body. Keep this in mind and do not take the infusion more than the prescribed course, take breaks between courses, and best of all, consult your doctor.
Laurel: benefits for men
The healing properties of bay leaf for men are based on the fact that it helps with kidney diseases and inflammation of the genitourinary system. This plant is a natural diuretic. In addition, the bay leaf decoction contains zinc, which is useful for men - it stabilizes the functioning of the genital organs and improves potency. To do this, take baths with laurel and add it to the diet in the form of tinctures and decoctions.
Laurel: benefits for women
A decoction of bay leaf helps women delay menstrual bleeding, promotes better blood flow in the body and uterine contraction.
Laurel leaves are constantly used for cosmetic purposes to maintain the beauty and health of curls and face.
The benefits and harms of lavrushka for health during pregnancy
Women in position should not take decoctions or infusions from bay leaves, because they can provoke a miscarriage!
The benefits and harms of lavrushka for health during breastfeeding
Bay leaf is an allergenic plant, so a nursing mother needs to monitor the condition of the child and check if he has a rash. If there are no manifestations of allergies, you should not remove lavrushka from your own diet - nevertheless, it is rich in vitamins and is very useful.
The benefits and harms of bay leaf during menstruation
Bay leaf can accelerate the arrival of menstruation with a delay associated with increased physical and emotional stress in a woman, with past illnesses, and sudden weight loss. In this case, a concentrated decoction of lavrushka will cause the uterus to contract - and menstrual bleeding will begin.
How to take a decoction?
It is recommended to strain 200 ml and drink at a time. Menstruation, if the remedy works, should begin the very next day. It can be used only with a short delay (up to 10 days).
Note! Before taking a decoction of laurel, you need to make sure that the delay is not related to pregnancy, otherwise the fetus will be seriously harmed: a miscarriage may occur! In addition, you cannot repeat the procedure twice - in increased quantities, a decoction of bay leaves can be toxic, and will not bring any benefit to the body.
The benefits and harms of laurel for children
Laurel, unlike other seasonings, is allowed even for children under 3 years old, however, you need to start with very small doses and weak decoctions. It is recommended to observe the reaction of the baby and monitor for possible allergies, although the likelihood of their occurrence is small.
For children, bay leaves as part of decoctions are used externally to combat skin rashes, including allergic ones. They wipe problem areas, add to the bath for bathing. After 3 months, the bay leaf can be introduced into the child's food, but also with caution.
If children do not sleep well, it is recommended to put a fresh bay leaf near the pillow, but so that the child does not accidentally reach it.
The benefits and harms of bay leaf for the body of an elderly person
Bay leaf treatment in old age is especially important. In this case, it is necessary to take into account what benefits and harms can be from a decoction for people in old age. Laurel helps with pain in the joints, removing salt from them, relieves muscle inflammation, and is additionally recommended for diabetics. Laurel leaf also lowers blood pressure, but only at certain, small doses. Exceeding it can cause the opposite effect!
Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
Bay leaves are a strong natural antiseptic with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Its infusion is used in the treatment of infectious diseases of the oral cavity, mucous membranes, for the disinfection of abrasions and skin lesions. The antiseptic effect is achieved by the presence of formic and caproic acids, camphor and tannins.
✔ Calming effect
A decoction of the leaves is used for nervous excitability, severe irritability and insomnia. Taking a bath with the addition of decoction and the aroma of the plant has a beneficial effect on the human nervous system. The linapool contained in the composition has a gentle sedative effect.
✔ Helps with colds
Healing decoction helps fight viral infections, strengthens the immune system during epidemics of colds. The benefits of the remedy are palpable in combination with a complex of therapeutic procedures. The presence of lauric acid in the bay leaf endowed the plant with such a useful property.
✔ Slimming, diuretic
The decoction helps to remove excess fluid from the body. As a result, having freed from it, a person feels lighter - with stagnant fluid, excess weight also goes away. This effect is expressed due to the presence of butyric acid and essential oils in the composition of bay leaves, which trigger metabolic processes. And in the fight against extra pounds, an important role is played by the acceleration of metabolism.
✔ Removes salt
Salt deposits accumulate in the joints, they provoke pain and stiffness of movements. Bay leaf treatment comes to the rescue here too. It helps to remove salts. It is necessary to take it for 6 days, then take a break for 3 days. With rheumatism, this method of treatment is used. Be sure to follow the diet.
✔ Cosmetic effect
A rich complex of macro- and microelements in a healing decoction helps fight skin problems (greasy sheen, purulent acne, acne, enlarged pores), improves the condition of weak, dull hair (split ends, brittleness). With cotton pads soaked in a decoction, wipe the skin with acne. The infusion rinses the hair, make wraps to get healthy and shiny hair. The tool is advised by many hairdressers as a hair growth stimulant and in the fight against dandruff. Women note the positive effect of tonic masks with bay leaf extract.
✔ For fungal infections
With a fungal infection, severe sweating, burning and itching, the feet are rinsed with infusion of bay leaf. The procedure soothes and dries the damaged skin of the feet, the smell disappears.
✔ Breath odor
The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action of the water infusion will help remove bad breath if it is caused by a bacterial infection - stomatitis, gingivitis and bleeding gums. Regular rinsing helps to neutralize harmful bacteria.
✔ Has an expectorant effect
It is useful to take a decoction as an expectorant for respiratory diseases (sinusitis, bronchitis, dry cough). The active action of bay leaf substances accelerates the healing process.
✔ Improves digestion
In case of problems with digestion, weak metabolism, taking a decoction acts as a catalyst for metabolic balance, since butyric acid, which is part of bay leaves, has a protective effect on the large intestine, protecting it from the harmful effects of toxins. The pungent pleasant aroma of dried bay leaves stimulates the appetite. With a weak bowel disorder, a decoction of bay leaves will help to cope with the disease, since the composition includes substances that “fix” loose stools.
✔ Normalizes blood pressure
Infusion of bay leaf in small doses will help reduce blood pressure. It is necessary to exercise moderation, since the camphor contained in it increases blood pressure and heart rate.
The use of bay leaf in traditional medicine
Traditional medicine has preserved different recipes for the preparation of bay leaves.
The most popular are decoction and infusion, tea with bay leaves, ointment and oil with the addition of bay leaves.
How to make a decoction of bay leaves?
25-30 medium laurel leaves are poured with water and boiled over medium heat for about 5 minutes without a lid, and then insisted for several hours.
This is the most common recipe that is suitable for many diseases.
The decoction is taken three times a day, several sips.
How to make an infusion of bay leaves?
Bay leaf infusion is prepared from crushed laurel leaves (1 teaspoon), they are poured with boiling water and brewed for at least 8 hours in a thermos.
Infusion is a good remedy for inflammation and stomach problems.
At the reception, drink no more than 1 tablespoon, so as not to harm the body.
Also, infusion, which includes bay leaf, lubricates abrasions and skin lesions.
Attention! Spend at least 8 hours brewing the infusion to maximize the healing effect.
How to make bay leaf tea?
Tea with bay leaf - prevention of colds.
First, 3 leaves of laurel are boiled over a fire for 15 minutes, and then ordinary tea leaves are added to the resulting broth and drunk like traditional tea.
It is not recommended to drink more than 2 cups of bay tea.
How to make bay leaf ointment?
Ointment from bay leaves is good to rub into sore joints.
Traditional medicine has preserved the recipe for the preparation of this healing agent.
You need to take a handful of chopped bay leaves and butter in a ratio of one to two, melt the butter, mix with the leaves and steam for 30 minutes.
How to make laurel oil?
Laurel oil is used for inhalation for colds, for the treatment of wounds and cuts on the skin.
To prepare it, crushed bay leaves are poured with olive or sunflower oil and insisted for 2 weeks in a dark cabinet.
For joints
When diagnosing arthritis and arthrosis of varying severity, lotions and compresses from plant materials are used. The joint begins to become inflamed due to wear of the cartilage and disruption of the blood flow structure. A remedy prepared according to a traditional recipe is cooled to body temperature.
A lotion or compress is placed on the affected area, covered with plastic wrap, fixed with a special bandage, insulated with an additional cloth. Most often, the course of treatment lasts from 14 to 21 days. Compresses are done at night or twice: in the morning and in the evening. Relief from the use of lotions and compresses occurs after 3-5 days of use, but the therapeutic course is not recommended to be interrupted so as not to reset the results.
Facial skin benefits: decoction, tonic, mask, tincture and laurel oil
A decoction of bay leaves relieves allergic manifestations and has antiseptic properties, therefore it removes redness and irritation on the skin, heals acne marks, improves the secretion of the sebaceous glands and even smoothes small wrinkles.
To eliminate oily sheen, not a bay decoction is prepared, but a tonic from bay leaves: 100 g of leaves are brewed with boiling water and kept on fire for 15 minutes, then cooled, put in a dark place. Using the tonic is simple: you need to carefully apply the product 3 times a day to cleansed skin with a cotton swab, wait until it dries, and then wash your face with water at a comfortable temperature.
A special mask is prepared for wrinkles , in which bay leaves are combined with blue clay. Several leaves are poured with boiling water (it is desirable to brew them in ceramic dishes), the infusion is cooled and filtered. Then add three tablespoons of blue clay to it and make a mask.
For acne, an alcohol tincture is prepared on bay leaves. To do this, grind the lavrushka and pour it with medical alcohol in a ratio of 1 to 5. All this is removed in a cool dark place for 14 days. As a result, a golden-colored liquid with a special smell is obtained. Use it carefully, only for problem areas on the skin.
If the skin of the face is dry, an oil can be prepared for it based on the bay leaf. How to do it? A few leaves of laurel are crushed and poured with olive or sunflower oil, removed for 14 days to infuse, and then filtered through cheesecloth. The resulting elixir wipe dry areas on the skin, removing excess oil with a cotton swab. Warm the oil up to room temperature a little first. Thus, cosmetic problems of the skin can be solved not only with a decoction of bay leaves, but also with other means on laurel leaves, the benefits of which we have already learned so much.
Contraindications
Any drug has contraindications - even an unconditionally useful bay leaf can harm the human body. We will take a closer look at who should take the drink with caution - be sure to read this section of the article.
Immediately, we note that harm can be provoked by immoderate, excessive use. In no case do not take the drug without a prescription from your doctor - first get a detailed consultation and make sure that you have no contraindications.
The use of such a drug is highly discouraged in the following cases:
- A decoction of bay leaves during pregnancy can cause uterine contractions and an increase in muscle tone, which leads to miscarriages or the development of anomalies;
- The drink is harmful during lactation and is dangerous for newborns;
- Intestinal obstruction, gastric and duodenal ulcer;
- Tendency to constipation;
- Recorded cardiovascular diseases, since the drink affects the change in blood pressure;
- Acute forms of kidney and liver diseases, as the plant removes fluid from the body and can provoke the release of stones;
- Severe form of diabetes. However, the decoction is indicated for mild forms of the disease;
- Tendency to allergic reactions or individual intolerance to the plant.
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Proper use of the drug in reasonable doses will not cause any harm - it will bring only benefit.
Please note that we do not give advice on treatment, our review is for informational purposes only. To prescribe a drug, you should contact a specialist for advice and determine the correct dosage.
Hair Health Benefits: Bay Leaf Mask and Rinse
Based on the infusion of bay leaves, a mask is prepared with the addition of honey. It should be applied to the hair in a warm form, then cover the head with a film and a towel, wash off the mask with shampoo after an hour. Useful components of the plant will add shine to the hair.
If you add Borodino bread previously soaked in kefir to laurel oil, you get a laurel mask against hair loss . She is also kept on the hair for about an hour with a film and a towel and washed off with shampoo. Only a few plants have this property.
Bay leaf is also an effective remedy for dandruff. For this, a hair rinse is prepared on its basis. : 25-30 sheets of laurel are poured into 1 liter of boiling water and the brewed elixir is infused for 2 hours, wrapped in a warm blanket or towel. Then the conditioner is cooled and used when washing your hair after shampooing.
Procurement and storage
You can buy spice at any grocery store, but for treatment it is better to use fresh laurel or prepared in the form of brooms, leaf plates with such a preparation retain more essential substances. Collect leaves from trees that have reached the age of 2 years.
The collection of raw materials is carried out from April to October, dried on ventilated shady verandas for 2 weeks.
Bay tree can be grown at home, the culture is unpretentious, does not require frequent care. The aromatic substances emitted by the spicy plant disinfect the air well, kill viruses and bacteria. The tree propagates by layering.
Harm and contraindications for use
Bay leaf in the form of a decoction should be used in certain dosages so as not to harm your body.
Contraindications include:
- pregnancy;
- intestinal obstruction;
- ulcerative conditions;
- kidney and liver diseases;
- frequent bleeding;
- heart and vascular problems;
- diabetes at an advanced stage;
- stones in the kidneys.
There will be no benefit from the bay leaf if, after drinking the decoction, you notice a rash, itching and redness on your body, you experience symptoms of poisoning, indigestion. Harm from the bay leaf can also be expressed in the occurrence of internal bleeding, and this is very dangerous for the body.
cinnamon tea
Cinnamon has many health benefits. Bay leaf, like cinnamon, has a beneficial effect on the body when losing weight. Spices only have a short-term effect, and to get rid of extra pounds, it is advised to combine tea intake with exercise. Cinnamon well reduces appetite, restores the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Tea with cinnamon and laurel improves metabolism, helps cleanse the intestines and lose weight. How to brew cinnamon drink?
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