Spices, Plants and Natural Remedies >>Bay

This is a stout tree with dark purple to black berries. Bay leaves (tejpatta) are commonly used in soups, stews and bean dishes. It releases its flavor for hours. It is commonly used as a pickling spice.

Bay has a cool fragrance and is used in men's colognes and scents. Its black berries and leaves can be used to calm queasy stomachs.

Bay is antiseptic in nature. In olden times, bay leaves were used to improve the memory and cure headaches.

Greek priestesses at ancient Delphi sat over fumes of what were probably burning bay leaves to inspire prophetic visions.

• A paste of bay leaves and honey is effective for removing blemishes.
  
• Bay helps cure skin problems and bruises.