This plant’s scientific name comes from the Latin laurus, meaning “to praise” or “to honor,” and nobilis, “renowned.” 14 It was customary for the ancient Greeks and Romans to praise people of accomplishment with crowns of bay laurel. In addition to decorating shrines and other public spaces with bay, the Greeks and Romans used the leaves for culinary and medicinal purposes. Dioscorides recommended bay to soothe the stomach, and Pliny said to use it to ease rheumatism. The leaves were also used as an insect repellent.

Hildegard of Bingen recommended bay for a range of ailments, as did herbalist Nicholas Culpeper several centuries later. During the Middles Ages, bay was used as a strewing herb for its fragrance and antiseptic properties. As a medicinal, bay was thought to prevent the plague.

Medicinal Uses

Appetite stimulant, arthritis, asthma, athlete’s foot, bloating, bronchitis, bruises, carpal tunnel, colds, dandruff, digestive system support, flatulence, flu, hair care, indigestion, insect bites, insect repellent, jock itch, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains, nasal congestion, rashes, rheumatism, scabies, sciatica, skin care, sore throat, sprains, tooth decay, vaginal yeast infection (vaginitis)

Precautions and Contraindications

The herb: Do not use bay when taking pain or sedative medications; avoid during pregnancy and when nursing.

The essential oils: Herbal precautions also apply; may cause sensitization or dermal irritation in some; use in moderation.

Parts of Plant Used

Herbal remedies: Leaves

Essential oils: Leaves and branchlets

Culinary purposes: Leaves

Growing and Harvesting

Bay may be more familiar as a small potted tree that is often cut into pom-poms or other topiary shapes. It is an evergreen tree that can grow up to fifty feet tall but it is most often kept pruned as a shrub. The dark green, leathery leaves are oval and sharply pointed. They grow on short stems. The small, greenish-yellow flowers grow in inconspicuous clusters and bloom in early spring. The oval berries are small and turn blue-black when they ripen.

Type	Zone	Light	Soil	Moisture	Height	Spacing
Perennial	8	Full sun to partial shade	Sandy loam	Moderately dry	2–50'	Depends on pruning

Bay is a lovely tree for a garden if you live in the right hardiness zones. Luckily, it grows well in a container, so those of us in the north can enjoy it, too. It works well as a houseplant because it is a slow grower that takes several years to reach two feet in height. Let the soil dry between waterings. Bay can be propagated with cuttings. It repels weevils.

Leaves can be harvested throughout the year, just cut off individual, older ones. Remove the stems and place the leaves on a screen with something on top so they dry flat. Turn them over every other day so they dry evenly. Bay leaves usually take about fifteen days to dry.

How to Use the Herb

Best known for its spicy aroma and subtle, earthy flavor, bay gives depth to soups, stews, marinades, and sauces. Add a leaf to the water when cooking grains or beans or making stock. Rub chicken with fresh leaves before roasting or tuck a leaf into a slit in a potato so it bakes with the flavor and aroma of bay. In addition, a couple of dried leaves in the flour canister serve to repel any insect invaders.

Bay is part of the traditional herbes de Provence blend along with fennel, rosemary, and thyme. Not only does bay coax out the flavor of food and other herbs, it also supports the digestive system. Bay improves the absorption of nutrients and aids in breaking down heavy food, especially meat. A tea made with fresh bay leaves comes to the rescue to soothe indigestion, bloating, and flatulence. It also stimulates the appetite. Fresh leaves are not as strong in aroma or flavor as dried ones.

The combination of bay’s antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial properties make it a good choice for a wide range of topical applications. Brew a strong tea for a foot soak or sitz bath to relieve the itching and inflammation of athlete’s foot, jock itch, and vaginal yeast infections. As an alternative, use equal amounts of bay and lavender. Drinking it as a tea and using it topically can help heal from both inside and out. Alternatively, infuse an oil to make an ointment, which may be easier for topical application.

Bay and Lavender Healing Tea

1–2 teaspoons fresh bay leaves, crumbled

1–2 teaspoons fresh lavender flowers, crumbled

1 cup boiling water

Combine the herbs and add the water. Steep for 10 to 20 minutes and strain.

Bay is also effective for healing bruises and rashes. An infusion or strong tea can be used for a compress to place on the affected area. A poultice works well, too. For treating insect bites and scabies, combine bay with lemongrass in an infusion, which can be used straight or made into a cream.

Call on the warming and anti-inflammatory effects of bay by using an infused oil for massage. This oil also works well to relieve the pain and stiffness of rheumatism and arthritis. In addition, it eases muscle aches, sprains, sciatica, carpal tunnel, and joint stiffness. For a healing soak in the tub, combine bay with rosemary and lavender in an infusion to add to your bath water.

Healing Bay Muscle Soak Infusion

3–4 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, crumbled

3–4 tablespoons fresh lavender flowers, crumbled

1 tablespoon fresh bay leaves, crumbled

per quart boiling water

Combine the herbs and then add the water. Steep for 30 to 45 minutes and strain.

As an aromatic with antiviral and antibacterial properties, bay is helpful for relieving cold and flu symptoms. A steam inhalation will soothe inflammation, ease nasal congestion, and help clear the respiratory airways. This helps to ease asthma and bronchitis as well. Combine bay with rosemary to make a chest rub. The physically warming effects and the aromatic vapors of these herbs work together to provide relief and healing.

Bay Chest Rub Infusion and Ointment
Ingredients for the infused oil	Ingredients for the ointment
1 tablespoon dried bay leaves, crumbled	¼–½ cup beeswax or jojoba
1 tablespoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled	1 cup infused oil
1 cup oil

First, infuse an oil by combining it with the herbs in a double boiler. On very low heat, simmer for 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Use a stainless steel strainer lined with cheesecloth over a bowl to strain, and then fold the cheesecloth over the herbs to press out as much oil as possible.

To make the ointment, place the jojoba or beeswax in a mason jar in a saucepan of water. Warm over low heat until it begins to melt, then add the infused oil. Stir gently with a fork for about 15 minutes. Let it cool. Cover and store in a cool, dark place.

A bay infusion also makes a good gargle to soothe a sore throat. Used as a mouthwash, it helps fight tooth decay. Bay is also useful as a tonic for the hair and scalp, especially if dandruff is a problem. Make an infusion, let it cool to room temperature, and strain. After shampooing and rinsing your hair, pour the infusion over your head, and then massage it into your scalp. Wrap a towel around your head and leave the bay rinse on for fifteen to twenty minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Bay is also good for the skin. An infusion can be used for a facial splash or to make a soothing cream. A little lavender can be added to the infusion to make it even more fragrant and healing.

How to Use the Essential Oils

Bay essential oil has a fresh, herbaceous, and slightly camphoraceous scent. Its color is greenish-yellow.

Just as an infusion can be used for a steam inhalation to relieve cold and flu symptoms, so too can the essential oil. Add five to ten drops to a quart of boiling water. The essential oil can also be used as a nasal inhaler that you can take with you wherever you go. For double power, use thyme to make a breathing blend. (Be sure to read the essential oil information and precautions in the profile on thyme.) Without touching the bottle to your nose, take a couple of deep inhalations, put the cap on the bottle, and set it aside. Repeat in half an hour to an hour or as needed.

Bay Cold Relief Nasal Inhaler

2 drops bay essential oil

2 drops thyme essential oil

Combine the essential oils in a small, clean bottle.

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14. Roberta Wilson, Aromatherapy (New York: Penguin Putnam, 2002), 84.