© Brandt, Wilhelm; Gürke, M.; Köhler, F. E.; Pabst, G.; Schellenberg, G.; Vogtherr, Max. · Public domain · Commons
Laurus nobilis
Caution🐾Echter Lorbeer · (Laurus nobilis)
Laurel family (Lauraceae)
Description
No Mediterranean bouquet garni is complete without it: the dried, leathery leaves of bay laurel season soups, stews and braises and are removed before serving. Its essential oil, rich in 1,8-cineole, also stimulates the gastric glands, which traditionally makes bay a digestive aid, taken as an infusion for flatulence and bloating. Oil pressed from the fruits and leaves has been used since antiquity in Mediterranean folk medicine for external massage against rheumatic complaints and is the base of traditional Aleppo soap. Compresses soaked in a leaf infusion are folk remedies for skin irritation and slow-healing wounds, and steam inhalation with crushed leaves is traditionally used to loosen mucus in bronchial catarrh. One caution: whole leaves should never be eaten, as their sharp edges can injure the mouth. The essential oil can also sensitise skin, so gloves are advisable when harvesting or processing fresh leaves.
Dried bay leaves are an indispensable spice in Mediterranean cooking: soups, stews, meat and fish dishes, marinades, bouquet garni. The essential oil stimulates gastric glands, acting as an appetite stimulant and digestive aid. Remove before serving — not for eating.
Infusion of 1–2 dried bay leaves for flatulence, bloating, and mild catarrh of the respiratory tract. The carminative and mildly antiseptic properties of cineole support digestion and relieve bronchial irritation.
Preparation & dosage
Steep 1–2 whole dried leaves (approx. 1–3 g) in boiling water for 10 minutes; remove before drinking.
- Dry amount
- 1–3 g
- Doses per day
- 2×
Bay laurel oil (expressed from fruits and leaves) for external massage in rheumatic complaints, bruises, and sprains. Known in traditional Mediterranean medicine since antiquity; also used in the production of Aleppo soap.
Infusion poultice with bay leaves applied to skin irritations (nettle stings, poison ivy) and poorly healing wounds. Tannins act astringently; sesquiterpene lactones (costunolide) provide anti-inflammatory action.
Animal studies show bay leaf supplementation positively alters gut flora: Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus populations increase, pathogenic clostridia decrease. Relevance for humans not yet confirmed by clinical studies.
Sources: [5]
Steam inhalation with crushed bay leaves in hot water for bronchial catarrh and colds. The high cineole content of the essential oil supports mucus loosening.
Do not eat whole leaves — risk of injury from sharp leaf edges. Essential oil may cause skin sensitisation. Sesquiterpene lactones can cause contact dermatitis — gloves recommended when harvesting or processing fresh leaves. ASPCA classification (accessed 2026-08-10): toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Culinary amounts in food are considered safe. Medicinal doses (tea, essential oil) should be avoided during pregnancy — insufficient safety data.
Culinary amounts are safe. Medicinal doses should be avoided as a precaution.
Culinary use is safe. Medicinal use (tea in therapeutic amounts) in children under 12 only on medical advice.
Drug interactions
Antidiabetika / Blutzuckersenkende Mittel
Bay leaf preparations may lower blood glucose — risk of hypoglycaemia when taken concurrently with antidiabetic medication.
Contraindications
- Known contact allergy or hypersensitivity to bay laurel or other Lauraceae.
- Essential oil (pure) not for internal use.
Harvested part: dried leaves, fruits
- Time of day:
- Morning after dew has dried. Wear gloves — sesquiterpene lactones in fresh leaves can cause contact dermatitis.
- Drying:
- Spread individual leaves or small branches on drying racks in a ventilated, shaded spot; or bundle and hang whole branches. Leaves remain aromatic for up to one year.
- Storage:
- 12 months — Whole dried leaves in airtight jars, away from light. Ground bay loses flavour faster — store whole where possible.
- Time of day:
- Harvest ripe fruits (blue-black) in autumn by hand or by shaking branches; after morning dew has dried.
- Drying:
- Spread fruits on drying racks and dry at room temperature until no further moisture loss is measurable. For oil pressing, process immediately.
- Storage:
- 6 months — Dried fruits in dark, dry containers; bay laurel oil stored cool and dark.
- 1,8-Cineol (Eucalyptol)Essential oilContent: 31,9–45 % im ätherischen Öl der BlätterLeaf
Most abundant single component of bay laurel oil; mucolytic, antimicrobial, and bronchodilatory. Typical for leaves of Mediterranean bay laurel trees.
- SabinenEssential oilContent: 12,2 % im ätherischen ÖlLeaf
Bicyclic monoterpene; antimicrobial and antifungal activity; contributes to the spicy scent of bay laurel oil.
- LinaloolEssential oilContent: ca. 10 % im ätherischen ÖlLeaf
Monoterpene alcohol with anxiolytic and mildly sedative properties; also found in lavender and bergamot.
- Costunolid und Dehydrocostus-LactonSesquiterpeneLeaf
Sesquiterpene lactones; anti-inflammatory via NF-κB inhibition; may cause skin sensitisation upon contact.
- Kaempferol und Kaempferol-GlykosideFlavonoidLeaf
Most abundant flavonols in bay leaves (approx. 50% of total flavonoid fraction); antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic.
- Quercetin und Isorhamnetin (Glykoside)FlavonoidLeaf
Flavonols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; quercetin also known as a mast cell stabiliser.
- MethyleugenolEssential oilContent: 3,3–22 % im ätherischen Öl (Herkunfts-abhängig)Leaf
Phenylpropanoid; genotoxic potential at high doses in vitro — classified as safe in culinary amounts.
- Fettes Öl (Früchte)OtherContent: bis zu 30 % in den FrüchtenFruit
Highly concentrated fixed oil in bay laurel fruits; the basis of traditional Aleppo soap; contains lauric acid and oleic acid.
- [3]MonographLaurus nobilis — Plants for a Future database(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [4]MonographCaputo et al. (2017): Laurus nobilis — Composition of Essential Oil and Its Biological Activities — Molecules(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [5]MonographKhalil et al. (2024): Anti-inflammatory effects of bay laurel towards the gut microbiome in dextran sodium sulfate induced colitis animal models — Food Science & Nutrition(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [6]MonographASPCA Animal Poison Control — Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis): Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses(accessed: 2026-08-10)
- [1]WikipediaEchter Lorbeer (Wikipedia DE)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [2]WikipediaLaurus nobilis (Wikipedia EN)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
Distribution in Europe
🪴 Grow at home
- ☀ Light
- full sun
- 💧 Water
- weekly
- 🌱 Soil
- Container compost with drainage
- 🪴 Pot
- 30 cm
- ⭐ Difficulty
- ★★☆ intermediate
- 🐾 Pets
- toxic to pets
Tips:
- Winter: bright and cool (5-10 °C) — no heated room.
- Marginally hardy — bring indoors below -5 °C.
- Slow-growing — young plants need patience.
Care tips are general indoor-gardening recommendations, not scientific sources.
🤝 Permaculture Partners
In your garden, this plant acts as:
✨ Best symbiotic partners
- 🌿 Rosemary Classic companion-planting partner.
🌟 Neutral neighbours
Source: Helga und Margarete Langerhorst, Mein gesunder Naturgarten (eigene Kuration)