Bay leaves are taken from a large, old tree. The leaves contain essential oil and the main compounds of the oil are cineole, linalool, farnesene, faterin, tannic acid, gel, and resinous substances. Uses: Bay leaves are used as a flavoring and for digestive problems, for joint pains and inflammations, and as a good tonic for the stomach. They stimulate appetite and increase the secretion of digestive juices; therefore, bay leaves are added to cooked food as they improve digestion and make nutrient absorption easy. Bay leaves induce menstruation.
