LAUREL

LAUREL

Throughout history, the bay has been given religious significance tied to the triumph. Greek mythology as to consecrate Apollo, god of health and medicine. Were crowned with laurel the Roman emperors and the victors in tournaments and battles. With palms and bouquets of laurel was hailed Jesus Christ in his entry into Jerusalem, and to commemorate this episode the world. Cristiano has instituted on Palm Sunday, when runners are blessed and complacent.

The bay is related to trees as diverse as cinnamon (which is extracted from the tree, cinnamon) the alcanforero (producer of camphor) or avocado.

USES AND APPLICATIONS: It may take as a tonic aperitif to stimulate the appetite (before meals) or stomach (after meals) a cup of infusion made with 2 or 3 dried leaves. However, in all corners of the world exploit the qualities of the bay using it as an integral part of meals. It is part of the so - called bouquet garni, a bouquet composed of bay leaves, thyme, oregano and parsley, used for the flavored stews. It also breaks the insipidez of a food boiled: fish, rice or spaghetti boiled with one or two bay leaves, an onion and a trickle of oil are most desirable male. To provoke menstruation when it is delayed, can be taken three times a day, after meals, a glass of wine and juniper bay, prepared macerate for nine days 100 grams of fruit laurel and juniper, to equal loaves, in a liter red wine. The bay oil can be extracted by boiling fruit (games) and hot, crushed to extract juice. To leave him at rest, the oil will form a layer on the water: with this fat layer can rub the abdomen to soothe the pain caused by a heavy digestion, rubbing the skin of pets with laurel leaves were eliminating the parasites, it is recommended as anti - inflammatory in bruises or dislocations. The leaves and berries of the laurel are used throughout the world for its healing properties digestive and culinary.

Used Part.

The leaves, fruits.

Active Principles.

Leaves: Essential oil (1%) cineol, eugenol, lactones Sesquiterpenes, tannins.

Fruits: Essential oil (2 - 3%) cineol (30 - 50%) pinene (10%) linalol (10%) geraniol, sabineno, limonene, canfeno, p - cymene; Sesquiterpenes lactones (costunólida, laurenobiólida. Lipids (25%) glycerides of lauric acid, oleic, linoleic and palmitic.

Drug Action.

The essential oil produces an effect antiseptic, expectorant, Carmine and spasmolytic. The lactones Sesquiterpenes (bitter principle) also presents a stimulating appetite, digestive and colagoga. The essential oils in topical use, and is pediculicides rubefaciente. Also popularly used as emenagogo and Antihaemorrhoidals. Another property of the bay, today once disdained but very well known and applied, is its ability to facilitate menstruation. The oil seed eliminates external parasites (of the skin and scalp) and attenuates the abdominal pains.

Indications.

Anorexia, dyspepsia hiposecretoras, gastrointestinal spasms, meteorism, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma.

Topically: stomatitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis; the oil obtained from the fruits ("butter bay") inflammation in osteo - and lice.

Contraindications.

Unless otherwise indicated, we recommend not to prescribe essential oils through internal during pregnancy, lactation, children under six years or patients with gastritis, gastric ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, hepatopathy, epilepsy, Parkinson and other neurological diseases.

Do not administer, or topically applied to children under six years old or people with respiratory allergies or with known hypersensitivity to this or other essential oils.

Side Effects.

Because of the lactones (alpha - methylene - gamma - butyric - sesquiterpene lactone) is the laurel, after the balm of Peru, the plant that produces more frequent contact dermatitis and phenomena of photosensitization.

Gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer (see precautions)

Caution / Poisoning.

The essential oil and traces of alkaloids, can have a toxic action on the nervous system. The greatest danger stems from his confusion with the cherry - laurel, who heterósidos contains abundant cyanogenic.

Due to the presence of lactones and tannins, the concentrated infusions can cause irritation of the gastric mucosa.

Galenica forms / Dosage.

Internal use:

Using food as a condiment.

Infusion: 3 or 4 sheets per cup. Infuse 10 minutes. Two or three cups a day, before or after meals.

Tincture (1: 10) 30 drops three times daily.

Essential oil: 2 - 4 drops, twice a day.

Topical use:

Decoction: 5 sheets per cup, boil 3 minutes. Used as a mouthwash, gargarismos or towels on the forehead (sinusitis)

Oil, alcoholaturo of Fioravanti: as anti - topic or parasiticide.

Bibliography.

Bézanger - Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M. Dans la Plantes Les Thérapeutiques Moderne. 2. Paris: Maloine, 1986, pp. 267 - 8.

Bézanger - Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M; Trotin, F. Medicinal plants of temperate Regions. Paris: Maloine, 1980, p. 114.

Bruneton, J. Elements of Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy. Zaragoza: Acribia, 1991, pp. 263; 288.

James, A; Duke, Ph. D. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. 5. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 1987, pp. 271 - 2, 520; 558.

Lastra, JJ; Bachiller, LI. Medicinal Plants in Asturias, Cantabria and the cornice. Gijón: Ediciones Trea, 1997, pp. 166 - 7.

Le Floc'h, E. Etude Ethnobotanique une contribution to the Flore Tunisienne. Imprimerie officielle de la République Tunisienne, 1983, p. 96.

Mulet, L. Ethnobotanical survey of the province of Castellon. Castellon: Provincial, 1991, pp. 243 - 4.

Mulet, L. Toxic Plants of Valencia. Castellon: Provincial, 1997, pp. 253 - 4.

Paris, RR; Moyse, M. Summary of Matter Médicale. Take II. Paris: Masson, 1967, pp. 168 - 9.

Peris, JB; Stübing, G; Figuerola, R. Guide to Medicinal Plants of Valencia. Valencia: Las Provincias, 1996, p. 222.

Rivera, D; Obon, C. The Guide INCAFE of useful and Poisonous Plants of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearics. Madrid: INCAFE, 1991, pp. 24; 234 - 9.

Trease, GE, Evans, WCh. Pharmacognosy. Mexico City: Inter - MacGraw - Hill, 1991, pp. 186 - 7.

Van Hellemont, J. Compendium of Phytothérapie. Bruxelles: Association Pharmaceutique Belge, 1986, pp. 224 - 5.

Villar, L; Palacín, JM; Calvo, C. Gomez, D; Montserrat, G. Medicinal Plants of the Aragonese Pyrenees and other tierrras Huesca. 2. Huesca: Provincial, 1992, p. 136.

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