Laurus nobilis L.
Lauraceae
- Bay Laurel
- Laurel
- Sweet Bay
- True Laurel
- ghar غار
- עָר אָצִיל
- ar atzil
Tree
- Mediterranean maquis and forest
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distribution and other botanical details.
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. |
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) |
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. |
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) |
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) |
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) |
Fruit, Leaf | B, Z |
Musculoskeletal/ Joints | Back pain |
Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory | 1.Decoct leaves & apply locally to affected area x 2/day. . |
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. |
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) |
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 |
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.
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.
Laurus nobilis contains sesquiterpene lactones especially in leaves & berries & can cause contact allergic skin conditions. Large doses may cause diarrhea, vomiting & nausea.