Keep Bay Close By!
© Sherry Eldridge
Parts Used: Leaves, fruit, (essential oil)
HISTORICAL REFERENCES
- Mythology tells the legend of Daphne, known for her beauty, who escapes the romantic gestures of a love-struck Apollo by changing (or being changed) into a Bay Laurel tree. Apollo names the Bay a sacred tree and makes it his emblem, weaving a wreath to wear from its leaves. Other Greek myths hold the Bay as sacred to Zeus, while the Romans dedicated this herb to Fides, goddess of honor and fidelity. Hermes was told to have invented fire by striking a pomegranate against a Bay Laurel tree.
- The priestesses of the Oracle at Delphi were said to hold leaves of Bay between their lips as they prophesied.
- The Emperor Tiberius was said to have worn a crown of bay laurel to conquer his fear of thunderstorms, but it may have been for its believed protection. Modern folklore still says that a potted Bay protects a house from thunderstorms.
- It is believed that a crown of Bay laurel wreathed the heads of the winners of the first Olympics and Bay was long used to crown those achieving notoriety in scholarshicfm" other honors among the ancients.
- M. Grieve tells us in A Modern Herbal that "the modern term of 'bachelor,' given for degrees, is probably derived from bacca-laureus, or laurel-berry, through the French bachelier".
MEDICINAL USES
CAUTION The berries of Bay Laurel have been used in the past to induce abortion, DO NOT use Bay if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Note: Many other plants are known by the name "laurel" are not true laurels and can be toxic. These include Cherry laurel, Rose laurel, and Mountain laurel. However, California bay (AKA Oregon myrtle) is a strong, but safe, substitute for sweet bay.
Active Constituents The volatile oil contains pinene, geraniol, eugenol, cineol, and a high percentage of oxygenated compounds.
Internally, Bay leaf infusions (or powdered berry infusion) have been used to:
- Ease stomach pain and flatulence
- As a stimulant and/or narcotic
- To increase the appetite and aid indigestion
- To calm hysteria
- To stimulate menstruation or induce abortion
Externally, bay leaves, as a compress, or oils of bay have been successfully used:
- In the treatment of rheumatism
- For sprains and bruises
- As pain-relieving ear drops
- To treat skin rash (as an astringent)
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