School of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

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Bay Leaf Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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Is Bay Leaf Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Bay Leaf' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.
SERVING SIZE: 1 leaves
SPECIES: Laurus nobilis
FAMILY: Lauraceae

Metabolic Nature of Bay Leaf

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Subtaste:
Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS


Moves Energy:
Outward

OUTWARD

Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating.

SEE ALL 'OUTWARD' FOODS / HERBS

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Upward

UPWARD

Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating, or that move upward in the body.

SEE ALL 'UPWARD' FOODS / HERBS


Affinity: Digestion, Heart Circulation Blood, Respiratory Health
Family: Lauraceae
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Bay Leaf
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Bronchodilator

BRONCHODILATOR

An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. They are helpful in wheezing and asthma.

SEE ALL 'BRONCHODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Antiseptic

ANTISEPTIC

Capable of preventing infection by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Helpful in infections and for those with weak immune systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTISEPTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

Emmenagogue

EMMENAGOGUE

Herbs which stimulate menstruation. Emmenagogues are used for scanty menstruation, to relieve menstrual pain, and improve blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus.

SEE ALL 'EMMENAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Bay Leaf

Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Vasodilator, Bronchodilator, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Mustard Powder

Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

Antiseptic, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Vasodilator, Bronchodilator, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Basil

Basil has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Digestive, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Bronchodilator, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Hing (Asafoetida)

Hing (Asafoetida) has these Actions in Common

Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Bronchodilator, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Emmenagogue, Vasodilator

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Nigella (black cumin)

Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Saffron

Saffron has these Actions in Common

Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Carminative, Emmenagogue

LEARN MORE

Mint

Mint has these Actions in Common

Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Cloves

Cloves has these Actions in Common

Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Fenugreek

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Lowers-blood-sugar, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Bay Leaf

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Trikatu

Trikatu has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Burns-toxins, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Kushta

Kushta has these Actions in Common

Vasodilator, Antiseptic, Bronchodilator, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz

Thyme White Essential Oil - 1/3 oz has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Bronchodilator

LEARN MORE

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Emmenagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Bronchodilator

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Osha

Osha has these Actions in Common

Emmenagogue, Bronchodilator, Burns-toxins, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Pushkaramoola

Pushkaramoola has these Actions in Common

Bronchodilator, Burns-toxins, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Emmenagogue

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Hops

Hops has these Actions in Common

Anxiolytic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Antiseptic

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Guggulu

Guggulu has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Spleen-tonic, Vasodilator, Antiseptic, Emmenagogue

LEARN MORE

Yogaraj Guggulu

Yogaraj Guggulu has these Actions in Common

Anxiolytic, Burns-toxins, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator

LEARN MORE

Hyssop Powder

Hyssop Powder has these Actions in Common

Vasodilator, Antiseptic, Bronchodilator, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Bay Leaf may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.

Clinical Tools & Resources

Give smart recommendations to your clients and improve efficiency in your clinic with these tools.
About John Joseph Immel

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.

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Comments & Impressions of 'Bay Leaf'

Do you like 'bay leaf'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'bay leaf'?

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