Bay leaf is a must-have attribute of every modern kitchen. In everyday life, this spice with a specific taste is called “laurel”. Without this spice it is impossible to prepare truly delicious dishes. But in addition to culinary uses, this bright representative of the plant world is widely used to treat many diseases.
Familiar Stranger
Its healing properties were known back in the time of Paracelsus. It was used to treat infections and sore joints, stop bleeding and heal wounds. Traditional methods have not lost their relevance even today. For example, today it is very popular to treat hemorrhoids with bay leaves using infusions, lotions, compresses and other dosage forms prepared on its basis. Beneficial substances, which are contained in abundance in the leaves of this relict shrub, prevent the development of blood clots, relieve itching and swelling. All of these symptoms aggravate the course of hemorrhoids and cause endless suffering to the patient himself.
Composition and properties of bay leaf
Laurel leaves contain essential oil (up to 3-5%), tannins, resins, bitterness, and organic acids. Biologically active compounds fight the manifestations of hemorrhoids and prevent the formation of blood clots in the venous bundles of the anus.
Laurel essential oil also contains:
- camphor;
- pinene;
- limonene;
- cineole;
- myrcene;
- linalool;
- fatty acid.
Camphor is widely used in medicine because it has antithrombotic and analgesic effects.
Tannins from laurel have antimicrobial, astringent, anti-inflammatory effects and stop bleeding.
Bay leaf terpenes have phytoncidal activity.
Fatty acids - lauric and palmitic - help relieve inflammation.
The complex of biologically active substances makes bay leaf an excellent assistant in the treatment of hemorrhoids.
Reviews:
- I treated the second stage of hemorrhoids with laurel. Bleeding occurred rarely; the main concerns were swelling and itching. I used lotions and drank a medicinal decoction. I didn’t go to the doctors, but as a result of taking the decoction on my own for a week and lotions (for almost a month), I noticed that the number of inflammations had decreased.
- Lavrushka for hemorrhoids was recommended by a friend who used the remedy six months after giving birth. She used it only externally in the form of baths and said that it helped her. I also wanted to try a folk remedy for hemorrhoids, but I used it in the form of an infusion and microenemas. At first the infusion seemed unpleasant to the taste, but then I got used to it. The effect was noticeable after 3 days, swelling decreased and itching went away. Now I will drink a prophylactic decoction.
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Bay leaf is actively used to treat hemorrhoids in the early stages of pathology. The product has a number of useful effects, as well as low cost. You can use the recipes to prepare homemade natural medicines. Cooking will not take much time.
Benefits of bay leaf for hemorrhoids
So, the effect of preparations from laurel leaves for hemorrhoids is diverse. Let us list some of the medicinal properties of bay leaves:
- removal of edema;
- reduction of bleeding;
- strengthening the vascular wall of veins;
- counteracting the formation of blood clots;
- anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect;
- soothing, antipruritic effect;
- improvement of the digestive process;
- diuretic effect.
The use of bay leaves internally can lead to constipation, so people suffering from this pathology should carefully monitor the functioning of their intestines.
- Read our expert’s article on how to cure hemorrhoids in the shortest possible time with the help of medications and traditional recipes.
- We recommend that you carefully study the most popular and effective folk remedies for hemorrhoids and other proctological diseases.
Methods of internal treatment
As stated earlier, bay leaves have many rich components. Based on this, restrictions on domestic consumption are identified. You should not take decoctions and infusions without a doctor’s recommendation.
Here are some recipes.
Preparing the infusion
Decoctions and infusions allow treatment for those who suffer from internal hemorrhoids. The solution is perfectly absorbed into the intestinal walls, providing a therapeutic effect.
To prepare the infusion, you need to take about thirty leaves and grind them using a coffee grinder or blender. Then add boiled water and let it brew for about five to seven minutes.
After this, the drink is filtered using gauze. You need to take the finished medicine one cup a day before meals.
Preparing the decoction
To do this, you will need about thirty small leaves, which are filled with a liter of cold water. Then it is placed on the stove and brought to a boil. This process will take approximately one hour.
The finished product must be filtered and cooled to a temperature of thirty-six degrees.
The drink should be consumed three to four times a day immediately before eating.
If the decoction has a very bitter taste, it can be diluted with water in a one to one ratio.
Recipes and remedies
Treatment with laurel for hemorrhoids comes down to two forms of use: oral administration (infusions, decoctions) and local administration (lotions, baths, microenemas).
Infusions and decoctions of bay leaves, used internally, have an effect on the entire body. In addition to the main therapeutic effect, laurel will lower cholesterol levels and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
The medicine can cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, so it is not used for stomach ulcers or intestinal damage.
Bay leaf infusion
The medicinal infusion for oral administration is prepared as follows. Take 25-30 laurel leaves, brew with three liters of boiling water, cover the container and wrap it in a warm blanket. Leave for 24 hours. After infusion, strain the medicine through cheesecloth.
It is recommended to take this remedy 0.5 liters per day. The liquid is drunk in small portions throughout the day, a quarter of an hour before meals.
The duration of taking the infusion is 7 days, during which time acute manifestations of hemorrhoids, as a rule, decrease. If no unpleasant side effects occur, the medication can be repeated after a week's break.
Decoction for drinking
To prepare a decoction, add 30 g of raw materials to three liters of boiling water and cover the pan with a lid.
The bay leaf is boiled for one and a half to two hours over low heat, then infused and, when cooled, filtered through cheesecloth.
Take a decoction of 50 ml (a quarter cup) three times a day 15 minutes before meals. You can store the medicine in the refrigerator, but the shelf life should not exceed 3 days. The duration of taking the medicinal decoction is 10-15 days.
A decoction of bay leaves for hemorrhoids can also be used for topical use.
To prevent exacerbations of hemorrhoids, use a weak solution of bay leaf. Take 10 leaves for 4 cups of boiling water, boil for 10-15 minutes and strain. Also drink 50 ml three times a day for 4 days.
Baths
Local use of laurel for hemorrhoids has various forms: baths, compresses, lotions, microenemas, suppositories. Baths are used in cases where hemorrhoids protrude from the outside or the use of infusion inside is contraindicated.
For the procedure, take 100 g of laurel per 5 liters of boiling water. The infusion is cooled to a temperature of 37-40 degrees, filtered and poured into a basin. The patient sits in a container with a solution, spreading his buttocks for better access of the solution to the affected area. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, once a day.
The course of treatment with baths is 10-12 days. Baths with laurel infusion relieve itching and inflammation and “dry” nodules.
Lotions
Lotions are used for external manifestations of hemorrhoids. To make a lotion, you need to take one glass of bay leaf infusion. Brew 10 g of dry leaves with boiling water, close the container and leave the leaves for at least 5 minutes. Then strain the infusion through a clean cloth.
Cool the solution to room temperature, take a piece of clean cloth, such as gauze, soak it in the solution and apply it to the anus. Leave the lotion for 3 to 5 minutes, repeat 3-5 times a day, be sure to do it in the morning and before bed. Judging by the reviews, lotions with honey added to the water infusion are also effective.
Lotions reduce itching and pain in the anus. The course of treatment with lotions is 3 weeks.
Compresses
Bay leaf compresses have a more pronounced effect. To do this, you need to boil the leaves, pour olive oil over the softened leaf mass and leave until it cools completely. The bay leaf is squeezed out and the compress is applied to the perineum for 30 minutes. A cotton swab is soaked in olive oil, in which the laurel has been infused, and placed in the anus overnight.
Bay compress is used in the treatment of both external and internal hemorrhoids.
Microclysters
Microclysters with a decoction of bay leaves are used in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids. To prepare the remedy, take 10 g of dry leaves per 200 ml of boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes. The resulting broth is filtered, cooled to body temperature and slowly introduced into the anus using a 50 ml bulb.
The procedure is carried out once or twice a day. The course of treatment with microenemas is no more than 2 weeks.
Candles
Rectal suppositories can be used in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids. To obtain them, a medicinal infusion is used. Pour three liters of boiling water over 25 crushed leaves. Infuse in a thermos for 24 hours, strain well, then dissolve 2 tablespoons of honey free of impurities into the infusion. Pour the infusion into special candle molds and freeze in the freezer.
Suppositories are placed at night after a cleansing enema. Treatment with candles is combined with taking bay decoction orally. The course of admission is one month.
A contraindication to the use of such suppositories is any inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary organs. In this case, the ice medicine will harm you.
Treatment at home
Having a healing composition, bay leaf for hemorrhoids is widely used in folk medicine. This is due to the presence of alkaloids, tannins, camphor oil, as well as fatty acids, which in combination:
- constrict blood vessels, thereby stopping the bleeding of hemorrhoids;
- fight microbes, which makes it possible to prevent infection of tissues through the wound surface;
- reduce tissue swelling, which reduces the severity of pain;
- provide an astringent effect, activate cellular regeneration and accelerate healing;
- reduce itching sensations;
- prevent thrombosis.
Recommendations for selection
In order for the treatment of hemorrhoids with bay leaves to be effective, it is necessary to follow the recommendations for collecting and storing the plant.
The plant should not have spots or a yellowish tint, as these signs may indicate disease. If the laurel is khaki in color, you should refuse to purchase it because the expiration date has expired. The smell of the plant is rich and spicy. If the aroma is weak, it means the leaf has been stored for a long time.
Note that the healing properties of laurel last for one year.
Internal reception
Below are recipes with bay leaves that are used for hemorrhoids:
- To prepare the infusion, simply chop 25 leaves and pour three liters of boiling water. Leave the product for 5 minutes, filter through gauze layers and let cool. Now we take 50-70 ml before meals;
- 30 whole sheets should be filled with three liters of water, boiled for an hour and allowed to cool. Next, filter the broth and take 60 ml before meals. If the medicine seems too bitter, you can dilute it with water 1:1.
The maximum duration of a therapeutic course with oral (internal) administration of laurel should not exceed 10 days. If there is no effect, treatment tactics should be changed.
Outdoor use
For a longer period (up to a month), you can use bay leaves in the form of baths, lotions and microenemas. They are used for both therapeutic and prophylactic purposes to prevent exacerbation of hemorrhoids.
Here are some effective recipes:
- 3-4 leaves need to be boiled for 5 minutes, cooled and filtered. The broth should be warm, but not hot. Now you need to moisten gauze, folded in four layers, in the resulting product and apply it to the anus overnight. Such lotions can be repeated daily (two weeks). The decoction should be stored in a cool place and slightly warmed to 40 degrees before use;
- 100 g of laurel should be crushed, pour five liters of boiling water and leave for half an hour. During this time, the medicine will infuse and cool slightly. Now we filter and make a sitz bath. The duration of the procedure is 40 minutes;
- 20 g of leaves need to be crushed, pour 430 ml of hot water and leave for half an hour in a warm place. Now you can use the medicinal infusion for an enema for internal hemorrhoids. For one time, 50 ml is enough. The procedure should be repeated three times/week. To obtain the maximum effect, you must first cleanse the intestines, then introduce a healing solution. After this you need to lie down for 20 minutes.
To avoid complications, you should consult a proctologist before starting home therapy. This is necessary to determine the stage of the disease and identify contraindications for the use of bay leaves.
Contraindications for use
Treatment with bay leaves has contraindications:
- inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- stomach ulcer;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- pathologies of the kidneys, liver, urinary tract;
- diabetes;
- heart disease
- allergic reaction to plant materials of this type.
People prone to constipation should use the drug with caution.
Bay leaf must be used strictly in the indicated dosage; if the amount is exceeded, poisoning with the components of the drug may occur.
Precautionary measures
Despite the huge number of positive properties, treating hemorrhoids with bay leaves can also be harmful. This is especially true for people with hypersensitivity. Before using the infusions internally, remember if you have a personal intolerance to the spice, otherwise you will face a severe allergic reaction.
Bay leaf for hemorrhoids should not be used by people with cardiovascular diseases. Spice constricts peripheral blood vessels and enhances metabolic processes in the myocardium.
Pregnant women and women during lactation should refrain from such treatment, since laurel can affect the quality of milk and increases uterine contractions, which for pregnant women can lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
The recipe based on laurel is not recommended for people with gastritis and ulcers. A bitter infusion can irritate the gastric mucosa, which will not result in anything good for a person, but will only worsen chronic diseases. If you do not belong to any of the above categories of patients, then treating hemorrhoids with bay leaves will only have a positive effect on your health. At the first symptoms of the disease, you can begin therapy. It is very important not to get carried away with self-medication; if the above methods do not bring results or you have new unpleasant symptoms, immediately go to see a qualified doctor.
