Do you have a laurel in your garden? This is good, because its leaves are perfect for giving a more intense taste to your sauce dishes. Consumed as an infusion or herbal tea, they contain many benefits for the heart, liver and kidneys. However, as with other medicinal plants, bay leaf should be eaten in moderation. Although it is not as poisonous as other varieties belonging to the family of Lauraceae, this plant has certain dangers for the body. So what are the bay leaf side effects? Does it make you sleep? What is the recommended dosage? Is it dangerous to eat bay leaves? Deavita.fr takes stock for you!
What are the side effects of laurel on health?
If you consume excessive amounts of bay leaves, in the form of herbal teas, infusions or decoctions, some side effects can occur. Here are 5 of the most common:
- They can cause drowsiness due to their relaxing properties.
- Laurel can slow down the nervous system.
- It can also lead to abdominal cramps.
- Bay leaf tea can cause gastrointestinal upset.
- It can also cause headaches.
Since bay leaves have the property of rapidly lowering blood sugar, they can cause hypoglycemia or blood sugar levels below 3.5 mmol/L.
To avoid the undesirable effects of laurel, it is important that the consumption of this medicinal plant takes place under the supervision of a phytotherapist or nutritionist who will advise you on the dosage. And this applies to both laurel tea and essential oil. For information, the latter should not be ingested. It is used exclusively for external use to treat an affected area, but it is always better to consult a specialist in dermatology, especially if you suffer from allergies.
And the counter-indications of laurel?
As a general rule, bay leaf tea should not be consumed in unlimited quantities. In fact, if you drink too much of it, it can cause drowsiness. As for the essential oil, it is strongly not recommended for pregnant and nursing women as well as small children. Ditto for those dieting for gastritis, ulcers or colitis. Therefore, as with other medicinal plants, the noble laurel should be avoided in the cases mentioned. Before consuming it, it is best to consult a health professional first.
Is eating bay leaves dangerous?
Very popular in the garden, laurel has several toxic varieties. Only the noble laurel (or laurel sauce) is 100% edible. How to recognize it? The noble laurel has dark green leaves characterized by a very pleasant smell, which can largely limit the risk of confusion. It is also one of the aromatic herbs used in cooking to give a unique flavor to recipes for stews, homemade sauces or even fish dishes. As a general rule, the leaves are only used to flavor dishes. They are then removed after the end of cooking, as they are hard and do not interfere.
Consumed in the form of tea or essential oil, the noble laurel is renowned for its beneficial effect on sleep and tiredness. In this context it also fights stress, depression and small daily ailments. To get the most out of it, make bay leaf tea with cinnamon or thyme. To do this, boil 1 liter of water. Tear off 3-4 bay leaves, then add them along with 3 cinnamon sticks to a teapot. Pour the water, cover and leave to infuse for 20 minutes before consuming. This herbal tea is perfect for losing weight quickly, lowering blood sugar naturally and controlling stress. To promote restful sleep, drink a cup at night before going to bed. The ideal is not to exceed 4 cups, or 2 teaspoons of crushed and crushed dried leaves per day.
