Laurel Essential Oil
Laurel Essential Oil

Laurel Essential Oil

Well the past few weeks have surely been living up to their Winter weather expectations. First the abundance of snow that came seemingly out of nowhere. And now the rain. If that doesn’t leave a person yearning for a nice bowl of hot soup, then I don’t know what does!
Most of you have made soup before, so you’re likely familiar with Bay leaves, you may even have some sitting in your spice cupboard right now. But did you know that Bay leaves, also referred to as Laurel or by their Latin name Laurus nobilis can be steam distilled into a wonderful essential oil? The oil has quite a lovely sweet medicinal herb smell to it. Simply divine!

Bay Laurel originates in the Mediterranean, where the evergreen tree can grow up to 20 meters tall. Once mature, the trees have a grayish tint to them while the younger stems still have a reddish tint to their smooth and shiny bark. The leaves are a glossy dark green, and the berries are black. In some parts of the world you’ll often see this tree being grown as an ornamental shrub.

In Greek, the word for Laurel is ‘Dhafni’, and according to myth, it was named after the nymph Daphne who was changed into a Laurel tree by Gaea. Gaea transformed her to avoid Apollo’s attempted rape, after which Apollo made the tree sacred and thus it became a symbol of honour.

In ancient Greece, triumphant athletes were awarded Laurel garlands, and since 776 BC, the winners at Olympic games got a Laurel garland as well. Today, you can often find Grand Prix winners adorned with a Laurel wreath.

Traditionally, the herb was used to treat indigestion, hysteria, to help promote menstruation and sometimes to help break a fever. These days it is quite often found in cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics, and some toiletries. It is also extensively used as a flavor additive in alcohol, processed food, and soft drinks.

Precautions: Hypersensitivity may occur on diseased or damaged skin. Should not be used on children under 2 years of age. Do not confuse Laurel leaf essential oil with Pimenta racemosa, West Indian bay oil, used in “bay rum”, and also known as bay leaf oil.

Laurel essential oil has many lovely and practical uses. Used in a diluted topical application it can help clear up acne, bruising and act as an anti-fungal and astringent. Diffusing this essential oil can greatly help when dealing with chronic bronchitis and act as a fantastic expectorant, while also supporting the immune system. The muscular system can benefit a great deal from topical application too. Not only is Laurel essential oil and anti-inflammatory, it is also considered an analgesic working wonders on minimizing the pain due to sprains and arthritis.

Fun Fact: Laurel essential oil is ah-ma-zing for the lymphatic system. In Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt’s book Advanced Aromatherapy, he writes “Its positive effects on the lymphatic system are undeniable. Rubbing a few drops of Bay Laurel oil on swollen lymph nodes will produce an immediately noticeable relieving effect. The positive and pleasant effect of this oil is so distinct and strong that one application will normally suffice to convince the most hardened skeptic to use it.”

 

*Please note that all essential oils are extremely potent and need to be respected. Always make sure you dilute the oils you use. You also don’t need a lot of the oil to reap it’s benefits and it’s always wise to err on the side of caution, especially when using oils on or around small children, elderly or people with underlying health conditions. When in doubt, always consult a Certified Aromatherapist before use.*