Laurel

Laurel is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with smooth green leaves. It is in the flowering plant family Lauraceae, and is native to the Mediterranean region and is used as bay leaf for seasoning in cooking. Its common names include bay tree (especially in the United Kingdom),   bay laurel, sweet bay, true laurel, Grecian laurel, or simply laurel.

Bay laurel was used to fashion the laurel wreath of ancient Greece, a symbol of highest status. A wreath of bay laurels was given as the prize at the Pythian Games because the games were in honour of Apollo, and the laurel was one of his symbols. The symbolism carried over to Roman culture, which held the laurel as a symbol of victory. It was also associated with immortality with ritual purification, prosperity and health.

Bay leaf is also used in folk medicine. Chemicals in bay leaf might affect blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

People have used bay leaf to treat diabetes, common cold, high cholesterol, asthma, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.