Dried bay leaves or tejpatta as it is called in Hindi in India comes in brown or green colour and used in cooking. The flat, long leaf looks drab but is beneficial in many ways. This culinary herb is best known to add flavour and wild aroma to food and is used in many cuisines around the globe. In India, it is commonly used not only in dishes but also in tea.

Tejpatta is also beneficial for health owing to its high-antioxidant and medicinal properties. Hence, this culinary herb act as an essential flavouring agent as well as a healing agent.

What are the health benefits of tejpatta or bay leaves?

Tespatta has high nutritional value and natural anti-oxidants. Hence, they may boost immune system by removing free radicals from the body and regulating the metabolism.

Addition of tespatta in dishes helps in promoting digestion and may cure digestive disorders.

The oil of bay leaves has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that may ease skin infections, bruises, cuts and insect bites.

A glass of tejpatta water helps to get rid of pains caused by rheumatism arthritis, migraine, headache and sprains

Tejpatta in food helps reduce sugar levels in the body and provide protection against type-2 diabetes.

Tejpatta is rich in phytonutrients, which is effective in treating cardio vascular diseases. They may improve the functioning of heart and prevent heart attacks.

The anti-cancerous properties in bay leaf provide resistance against different types of cancer.

It helps in regular and normal menstrual periods. It may also cure UTI.

How to use tejpatta or bay leaves

Boil a glass of water with a few bay leaves for 10 minutes. Strain and drink the solution to relieve any pain.

Drinking hot rinse made from induced bay leaves or a dash of bay leaves in your tea with or without milk may treat cold, cough, sneezing and fever.

For a sound sleep, you may mix a few drops of bay leaf extract in water and drink before going to bed.

To treat dandruff, hair fall and lice, boil 200 grams of bay leaves in a litre of water until it becomes one-fourth. Massage your scalp with this water and leave it on for half an hour before washing it off.