Bay leaf
Laurus nobilis
Spices. Middle Eastern & Unani.
Also called Bay laurel, Sweet bay, Laurel leaf, True laurel
Pinyin: Yuè Guì Yè
Spanish: Laurel
Remove whole leaves before eatingDried leaves of the laurel tree, simmered in soups and stews for flavor and removed before eating.
Did you know? In Greek myth, the nymph Daphne turned into a laurel tree to escape Apollo, and the god kept the laurel as his symbol.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Digestion & gut health. Used as a tea for stomach upset and gas. No good human trials.Traditional proof
- Blood sugar. Animal and lab studies suggest bay leaf can lower blood sugar. Human proof is missing.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooks have used bay leaves in stews and broths for centuries. Folk healers used the leaf as a tea for stomach upset and the oil for sore joints.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Carminative, Antimicrobial, Analgesic. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Simmered whole in soups, stews and rice for flavor, then removed. Tea is made by steeping leaves in hot water. No medicine dose is set.
Food and tea.
Where to get it
A laurel tree native to the Mediterranean and grown in warm areas worldwide. Sold dried, whole or ground in grocery stores, and bay oil is sold for skin use.
Be careful
Whole leaves are stiff and sharp and can get stuck in the throat or gut, causing injury, so remove them before eating. Bay oil can irritate skin and is harmful if swallowed.
Avoid if: children (bay oil); pregnancy (medicine doses).
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Core herbs in bouquet garni, a bundle that flavors stocks and stews.
- Works well together
Core herbs in bouquet garni, along with thyme.
- Works well together
Whole peppercorns and bay leaves often flavor stocks and braises together.
- Worth knowingDiabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Animal studies suggest bay can lower blood sugar. Watch for low blood sugar if you take diabetes medicines.
The honest take
Bay leaf adds real flavor, and that is its main value. Its blood sugar and digestion claims come from lab and animal studies, and human trials are missing. The real safety issue is swallowing whole leaves.