Cinnamomum tamala (Talisha Pattri or Tejpatta) is a medium sized evergreen tree 2-10 m tall, found wild in the tropical and subtropical Himalayas at altitudes of 900-2500m, the Khasi hills, the nilgiri hills and at the foot of the Sikkim Himalayas. Its mature leaves are dried and commonly known as bay leaves. These are aromatic and used as spice in cooking. In Ayurveda bay leaves are used as medicine to treat various health ailments.
General Information
Cinnamomum tamala leaves and bark have aromatic, astringent, stimulant and carminative qualities and used in rheumatism, colic, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.
Bay leaves has Carminative, antidiarrheal, spasmolytic, antirheumatic, hypoglycaemic activities.
The dose of bay leaves in powder form is 1-3 grams.
Latin name: Cinnamomum tamala Synonym Laurus tamala
Family: Lauraceae
Sanskrit: Tejapatra, Patra, Patraka, Utkat, Tamaalpatra, Naalukaa, Naalikaa
Hindi: Tejpat
English: Indian Cassia, Lignea, Indian Cinnamon
trade name: Tamalpatra
Assamese: Tejpat, Mahpat
Bengali: Tejpatra, Tejpata
Gujrati: Tamala patra, Develee
Kannada: Tamalapatra, Dalchini Ele
Kashmiri: Dalchini pan, Tajpatra
Malayalam: Karuvapatta patram
Marathi: Tamalpatra
Oriya: Tejapatra
Punjabi: Tajpater
Tamil: Lavangapatri
Telugu: Akupatri
Urdu: Tezpat
Unani: Saleekhaa, Saazaj Hindi Also equated with Zarnab/Telispattar
Here are few remedies that can be done at home using bay leaves to cure various ailments
Cold, cough, Coryza, Allergy, Sinusitis
Prepare tea of Tejpatta (3-4), Tulsi leaves, Black pepper. Drink thrice a day. You may add honey as per taste.Headache due to cold
Prepare decoction of Tejpatta and drink few times a day.Scalp infection, lice in hairs
Prepare decoction by boiling Tejpatta (5 gm) in water (400 ml) till volume reduces to 100 ml. Filter and use this decoction, apply in roots of hair. Leave for 3 hours then wash with plain water. You may add Bringraj in it to make hair black and strong.Khasi, Coughing
Take powder of Tejpatta leaves (2 gm) with honey.Asthma, Respiratory problems
Take Tejpatta (5 gm), liquorice (2 gm), pippali (1 gm) or sonth (1 gm). Prepare decoction in 200 ml water till volume reduces to 50 ml. Filter and drink.Abdominal pain, Abdominal gas, Indigestion, Nausea, vomiting
Prepare decoction by boiling Tejpatta (5 gm), ginger in water (400 ml) till volume reduces to 100 ml. Filter and drink twice or thrice a day.Kidney stone, Kidney problem
Regular intake of Bay leaves decoction prevents recurrent stone formation in body.Heart diseases, Angina, Uneasiness, Palpitation
Prepare decoction by boiling Tejpatta (3 gm), Rose petals (3 gm), clove (3) in water (300 ml) till volume reduces to one forth. Filter and drink twice or thrice a day.
Uterus infection after delivery
Boil Tejpatta (3 gm), Ajwain, Sonth in water and drink twice a day.Sneezing in morning
Regularly drink Tejpat decoction.Arthritis, Joint pain, Gout, Inflammation
Warm bay leaves and Castor leaves and apply at affected area.