Basically derived from an “aromatic leaf” is an essential oil known as Bay. This oil is extracted from the “Bay leaf” which essentially belongs to the “Lauraceae” family within the kingdom “plantae”. Furthermore, this leaf is basically obtained from a tree known as “Bay” which can be found on the Caribbean Island. In addition, the oil is then extracted from the leaf using the “steam distillation” process.
A. Chemical Constituents of the Bay Oil:
This oil is basically extracted from Bay leaf which belongs to a species known as “Laurus Nobilis”. In addition, this oil also comprises of chemical organic compounds such as alpha pinene, alpha terpineol, beta pinene, chavicol, geranyl acetate, eugenol, limonene, linalool, methyl chavicol, myrcene, and neral.
B. The uses/benefits of the Bay Oil:
Bay oil possesses a number of beneficial medicinal properties, and they are as follows:
- Antiseptic: This oil comprises of “antiseptic” properties and hence when used helps in destroying disease causing organisms such as bacteria, and therefore proves to be extremely useful in treatment of wounds.
- Antispasmodic: This oil also consists of medicinal properties that prevent any kind of muscle spasms. For example, conditions such as coughs, aches, diarrhea, convulsions etc caused by muscle spasms can be cured using this oil.
- Analgesic: This oil also possesses curative properties that relieve pain. And so this oil can be used to inhibit pain caused during conditions such as cough, cold, viral infections, infections, and sprains.
- Antibiotic: This oil also possesses “antibiotic” properties which help inhibit the growth of microorganism and, thereby cure infections that are bacterial, viral, and parasitic in nature respectively.
- Anti-neuralgic: This oil also possesses “anti-neuralgic” properties that help in providing relief from “neuralgic pain” that mainly affects areas such as throat, ears, tonsil, base of the nose, larynx, and pharynx.
C. The adverse effects of the Bay Oil:
There are a couple of adverse effects that could occur if Bay Oil is used. These effects are as follows:
- The high concentration of an organic compound called eugenol in this oil could lead to skin and mucus membrane irritation, and hence must be avoided.
- The use of this oil could also affect pregnancy so pregnant women must avoid using it.
