No special dish or recipe will be
complete without adding this wonderful spice called bay leaves. Since
olden days, we are using these leaves in our food due to its digestive
boosting, anti inflammatory and respiratory enhancing properties.
The
best thing about the bay leaves is its smell while burning. You might
have sensed particular herbal smell whenever you enter in a yoga class
or meditation class. This is because many of these locations regularly
practice smudging, that uses the smoke of some herbs to purify the room.
That
herb is nothing but most probably bay leaves, like many other herbs and
leaves bay leaves are also capable of relaxing our mind and body that
help us to concentrate on particular thing we need to do.
Herbal Benefits Of Bay Leaves
Traditionally, bay leaves are used
for its analgesic, anti consultant and anti inflammatory properties
that lowers blood pressure and heart rate. This wonderful herb is often
used to treat insomnia, chronic stress and to alter mood. It also
contains powerful compounds called mycrene and eugenol that are used
heavily in stress reduction therapy.
When you burn a bay leaf, the
compounds become airborne. Once you inhale, they works perfect in
reducing respiratory inflammation and prevent you from allergies and bad
cold.
Scientifically, it has been proven that bay leaves are
capable of reducing anxiety and respiratory problems due to its soothing
properties.
How To Use Bay Leaves
Cooking is the
absolute way to enjoy all its benefits from this wonderful herb. Make
sure to remove the leaves before serving because they can be choking
hazard.
Instead, if you are not in a great mood to prepare food or
if you are under high pressure with lot of stress just take a leaf and
burn it in an aluminum baking tray and leave it for 10 minutes.
Just
remember to close windows and doors while burning leaf and keep the
tray away from anything that is flammable such as paper or wood and make
sure not to burn it under smoke detector.
The smoke of the leaves
will make your mind and body feel relaxed and you will find it easier
to concentrate on one single task you want to do.
