The Essential Oil of Bay Laurel - The Leaves Make a Fitting Crown

By Linda Lee Smith

Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) is in the Lauraceae family and the oil comes from Croatia where it is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs. Bay laurel is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 65 feet in height. It has dark green, glossy leaves and black berries and is often cultivated as an ornamental shrub. Traditionally the leaves of bay laurel were used to crown the victors by both the Greeks and Romans. Both leaf and berry were used for a number of different purposes including hysteria, colic, indigestion, loss of appetite, to promote menstruation and for fever. During the Middle Ages it was used for angina, migraine, heart palpitations, and liver and spleen complaints.

How Can Bay Laurel Be a Health Benefit Today?

Bay laurel today is observed to have antimicrobial, expectorant, mycolytic, antibacterial, antifungal, anticoagulant and anti-convulsant properties. It is used for nerve regeneration, arthritis, and oral, respiratory and viral infections. Bay laurel can be diluted 50-50 and applied on location or on the chakras/vita flex points, it can be directly inhaled, diffused or taken as a dietary supplement. However, many resources state that when taken internally it can have narcotic like properties. Bay laurel blends well with pine, cypress, juniper, clary sage, rosemary, olibanum, labdanum, lavender, citrus and spice oils. This oil is relatively non-toxic, and non-irritating. It can cause dermatitis in some individual. It should be used in moderation due to possible narcotic properties attributed to methyl eugenol. It should not be used during pregnancy.

Want to learn more about the healing properties of bay laurel and other essential oils? Consider becoming a certified aromatherapist. Educational courses in healing energy and aromatherapy can help you understand how essential oils heal the body/mind/spirit.

Check this out for more information on learning to heal through the art of aromatherapy as a clinical aromatherapist. http://www.ISHAaromatherapy.com For educational courses on healing energy and the laying-on of hands, you can go to http://www.HTSpiritualMinistry.com You can also read more about aromatherapy and bay laurel essential oil in Linda Smith's books: Called into Healing, Reclaiming our Judeo-Christian Legacy of Healing Touch, and Healing Oils Healing Hands, Discovering the Power of Prayer, Hands On Healing and Anointing. You can find these books and much more on my web site at http://www.ISHAhealing.com/HealingStore/tabid/348/Default.aspx