Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Laurus nobilis L.

Bay Laurel, Laurel, Sweet Bay, True Laurel

Family

Lauraceae

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Bay Laurel
Laurel
Sweet Bay
True Laurel

Arabic Name(s)

ghar غار

Hebrew Name(s)

ar atzil

עָר אָצִיל

Life Form

Tree

Habitat

Mediterranean maquis and forest

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Other Uses

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Laurus nobilis L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Dermatological	Brittle/ broken hair (trichorrhexis)	Hair restorer	1. Extract oil from fruits & apply to hair. 2. Decocot leaves + vinegar & apply to hair. 3. Decoct leaves & drink as tea 4. Apply decoction to hair x1/day for several days.	Fruit, Leaf	B
Dermatological	Eczema	Anti-inflammatory	Extract juice from fruits & apply to affected area daily until healed.	Fruit	B
Dermatological	Pruritis & scabies	Anti-pruritic, Scabicide	Apply oil extracted from fruit to affected area.	Fruit	Z
Dermatological	Psoriasis	Anti-inflammatory	Extract juice from fruits & apply to affected area until healed.	Fruit	B
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Throat infection	Anti-Infective, Demulcent	Decoct leaves + honey & drink x3 cups/day until well.	Leaf	B
Endocrine/ Metabolism	Diabetes; to reduce suagr in blood & urine	Hypoglycaemic	Decoct leaves in water, cool, filter & drink.	Leaf	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal bloating	Carminative	Cook leaves + carob (Ceratonia siliqua) fruits in water & drink.	Leaf	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain & gas (Z)/ Flatulence (B)	Carminative	1.Abdominal pain & gas: decoct leaves in water & drink. (Z) 2. Flatulence: decoct leaves & drink x1 cup as needed. (B)	Leaf	Z, B
Gastrointestinal	Appetizer	Stomachic	Decoct leaves, sweeten + sugar & drink 1 cup x3/day until health restored.	Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Diarrhea	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal	Boil leaves & fruit in water & drink x1 cup as needed.	Fruit, Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Haemorrhoids	Anti-haemorrhoidal	1. Boil leaves in water for 30 min, filter & drink x2 cups of filtrate /day. 2.Grind the boiled leaves (described in recipe 1)& apply as poultice to affected area x2 times /day.	Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Improve digestion	Digestive	Decoct leaves & drink x1 cup after meals until improvement.	Leaf	B
Gastrointestinal	Jaundice	Hepatic	1.Decoct leaves & drink x2 cups/day for 40 days. (B) 2. Prepare infusion of leaves & drink for 40 days. ("increases blood flow to the face") (Z)	Leaf	B, Z
Gastrointestinal	Liver disease	Hepatic	Extract oil from fruit & drink in small amounts.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Stomach acidity	Antacid	1. Mix 20 gm leaves + 40 gm dried orange peel & soak in 1L boiling water; cover container & leave for 10-15 min, filter, sweeten & drink 2-3 cups/day.(B) 2. Eat fresh or powdered dry leaves. (Z)	Leaf	B, Z
Gastrointestinal	Stomach ulcer	Anti-ulcer	Mix 1 handful of leaves +2 handfuls dried orange peel, soak in 1L hot water, boil, cover & leave 10-15 min; filter, sweeten & drink x2-3/ day.	Leaf	B
General	Excessive perspiration	Anti-hydrotic	Decoct leaves & use in bath.	Leaf	B
General	Oedema; "zalal"	Anti-hydropic	Cook aerial parts of Dittrichia?viscosa in water in a closed pot + "rand" (Laurus sp.) (See NOTES 1) + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa.) + "feijan" (Ruta sp.). Patient dressed in loose gown stands over the rising steam as long as possible then goes to bed & keeps warm.	Leaf	Z
Haematology	Spleen disease	Non-specific	Extract oil from fruit & drink in small amounts.	Fruit	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Kidney inflammation	Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent	Decoct leaves + honey & drink x3 cups /day until well.	Leaf	B
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Kidney stones	Anti-lithic	Extract oil from fruit & drink small amounts.	Fruit	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Arthritis (B) Rheumatism (Z)	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	Arthritis: 1.Decoct leaves & drink 1 cup x3 /day. (B) 2. Extract oil from fruit & apply to affected area. (B) 3. Rheumatism: Extract oil from fruit & massage back & affected areas. (Z)	Fruit, Leaf	B, Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Back pain	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	1.Decoct leaves & apply locally to affected area x 2/day. . 2. Decoct leaves, sweeten + honey & drink x1 cup/day until recovery.	Leaf	B
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Bone fracture repair	Vulnerary	Cook Laurus branches + aerial parts Thymbra capitata + young branches/ leaves "kharub" (Ceratonia siliqua) + olive (Olea) + "saris" (Pistacia lentiscus) + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa); hold broken limb over steam for few min. After removing bone can be re-broken with a light tap.	Branch /twig	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Joint inflammation; acute	Anti-inflammatory	1.Grind 200 gm of fruits, spread over cloth & apply as poultice to affected area every 5 min until improved. 2. Decoct leaves & branches & drink 1 cup x2/day. 3. Mix oil extracted from fruit + vaseline & apply to affected area until relieved.	Branch /twig, Fruit, Leaf	B
Oral Health	Dental pain & gingivitis	Analgesic, Anti-gum disease	Decoct leaves & rinse mouth.	Leaf	B
Respiratory	Bronchitis	Anti-Infective	Boil 20 gm leaves + 60 gm orange peel in 1L water for 10 min; filter & drink x3/day until well.	Leaf	B
Respiratory	Chest pain in respiratory problems	Analgesic	Prepare infusion of aerial parts & drink x1 cup /day.	Aerial parts	B
Respiratory	Cold	Anti-Infective	Boil 4 leaves in water for 5 min & inhale steam at night until well.	Leaf	B
Respiratory	Influenza	Anti-Infective	Soak leaves in water + aerial parts of rue (Ruta sp.) & drink 1 cup x2-3 /day.	Leaf	B
Women`s Health	Contraception (stops menstruation)	Contraceptive	Decoct leaves & drink 1 cup x1/day for 1 week.	Leaf	B
Women`s Health	Menstrual pain	Analgesic	Boil fruits in 1 cup of water (tea can be added) & drink x1 cup/day a week before menstrual cycle.	Fruit	B
Women`s Health	Uterine swelling	Deobstruent	Decoct leaves & use in a sitz bath. (See NOTES 2)	Leaf	Z
Wound Healing	Wound	Vulnerary	1.Grind leaves, soak in boiling water, squeeze to extract oil & apply to wound. (B) 2. Decoct leaves & use to wash wound x2/day. (B) 3. Extract oil from fruit & apply to wounds until healed. (Z)	Fruit, Leaf	B, Z

Other Uses

Laurus nobilis L.

System/State	Complaint / Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cosmetic	Soap manufacture	Cleansing product	Extract oil from Laurus fruit (in place of olive oil) to make soap.	Fruit	Z
Culinary	Condiment & seasoning for pickles	Nutritive, Seasoning	Use leaves. Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z

System/State

Complaint / Use

Activity / Interpretation

Traditional
Preparation/Administration

Parts Used

Source

Cosmetic

Soap manufacture

Cleansing product

Extract oil from Laurus fruit (in place of olive oil) to make soap.

Fruit

Culinary

Condiment & seasoning for pickles

Nutritive, Seasoning

Use leaves. Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)

Leaf

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

Notes

1.In the recipe for oedema Z uses the arabic name, "rand" for Laurus sp. He also refers to this tree as "el ghar" or "ghar"
2. A sitz bath used in several recipes is a bath of warm water usually with other ingredients added (eg salt, epsom salts), that sitting in helps to relieve local pain.

Cautions

Laurus nobilis contains sesquiterpene lactones especially in leaves & berries & can cause contact allergic skin conditions. Large doses may cause diarrhea, vomiting & nausea.