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
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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
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Rivera,
D
; Obon,
C
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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,
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p
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