SWEET BAY Overview Information
Sweet bay is an herb. The Greeks made it famous by crowning their heroes with wreathes made out of sweet bay leaves. In addition to decorative use, the leaves and oil are used to make medicine.
Sweet bay is used to treat cancer and gas; stimulate bile flow; and cause sweating.
Some people apply sweet bay to the scalp for dandruff. It is also put on the skin for pain, especially muscle and joint pain (rheumatism).
The fruit and fatty oils of sweet bay are used on the skin to treat boils (furuncles) caused by infected hair follicles.
Veterinarians use sweet bay as an udder ointment.
In food, sweet bay is used as a seasoning in cooking and in processed foods.
In manufacturing, the oil is used in cosmetics, soaps, and detergents.
How does it work?
Sweet bay contains ingredients that might cause sleepiness and might act against some bacteria and fungi.
SWEET BAY Uses & Effectiveness 
Insufficient Evidence for:
- Cancer.
- Gas.
- Stimulating bile flow.
- Causing sweating.
- Dandruff, when applied to the skin.
- Joint and muscle pain (rheumatism), when applied to the skin.
- Boils, when applied to the skin.
- Other conditions.
SWEET BAY Side Effects & Safety
Sweet bay is safe for most people in food amounts. But, if you cook with whole bay leaf, be sure to remove it before eating the food. The leaf can’t be digested, so it remains intact while passing through the digestive system. This means it can become lodged in the throat or pierce the lining of the intestines.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of sweet bay during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Surgery: Sweet bay can slow down the central nervous system (CNS). There is a concern that it might slow down the CNS too much when combined with anesthesia and other medications used during and after surgery. Stop using sweet bay at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Sweet bay allergy: Some people develop an allergic rash when they touch sweet bay. If you have this problem, avoid sweet bay.
SWEET BAY Interactions
Major Interaction Do not take this combination
- Medications for pain (Narcotic drugs) interacts with SWEET BAY
The body breaks down some medications for pain to get rid of them. Sweet bay might decrease how fast the body gets rid of some medications for pain. By decreasing how fast the body gets rid of some medications for pain, sweet bay might increase the effects and side effects of some medications for pain.
Some medications for pain include meperidine (Demerol), hydrocodone, morphine, OxyContin, and many others. - Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with SWEET BAY
Sweet bay might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking sweet bay along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness.
Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.
SWEET BAY Dosing
The appropriate dose of sweet bay depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for sweet bay. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
