You may already be familiar with bay leaf as an ingredient for soups and sauces. A bay leaf added to the cooking water makes pasta, beans, and rice more flavorful. But bay also has a history rich in mythology and medicine.
You may also be familiar with the idea of the laurel wreath; the bay leaf used in cooking is the same leaf used in making the historic symbol of victory! The Latin name for the evergreen bay tree is laurus nobilis — renowned bay tree.
Greek mythology tells of Apollo, god of the sun, pursuing a nymph named Daphne. Daphne was not interested in the god’s advances, so her father turned her into a laurel tree to protect her. Apollo declared that the tree would be forever sacred. The bay tree became a symbol of glory, honor, and greatness.
Over time, the tree gained a reputation for some amazing powers, including:
- Protection against thunder and lightning.
- Protection against witches.
- Protection against the devil.
Herbalists in the middle ages used bay to promote regular menstruation, treat snakebite and insect stings, ease rheumatism, treat colds, relieve cuts and bruises, and cure urinary problems.
Modern medicine hasn’t spent much time studying the benefits of bay, but some healers suggest the leaf in remedies for digestive disorders and rheumatism. Steep fresh or dried leaves for a stomach-soothing tea. Add bay oil to lotion or oil to make a rub to soothe aching muscles and joints. The essential oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Bay essential oil also contains eugenol, which has been used as a sedative in mice.
Toss a few bay leaves into your bathtub and soak — you may find it soothing for your skin. Bay leaves may also work as an insect repellent. Not long ago, folks put bay leaves in with flour to keep the bugs away.