Bay leaves are used a lot in the kitchen to add flavor to your favorite dishes, but are rarely used outside of the kitchen. Have you ever walked into a yoga or zen studio and been greeted by a special aroma? The scent is derived from the traditional art of spotting, which is the process of burning herbs to purify a room, similar to incense.
Bay leaves contain pinene, cinol, and elemicin, which have a calming effect. It is traditionally used as a sedative and anti-inflammatory, but when burned, it lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
How to burn bay leaves
The next time you’re feeling stressed or in a bad mood, pull out two or three dried leaves and light them like you would light incense. Burn them on a small tin or aluminum baking tray, fill the air with smoke, and make sure the windows and doors are closed, otherwise the smoke will blow the smoke out. Keep trays away from flammable materials and remember not to burn leaves near smoke detectors. Sit back and relax, the grass will relax your mind and muscles even more.
Another effective way to harness the power of bay leaves is to drink a tea brewed with lots of bay leaves. Simply place a few leaves in a tea filter, add boiling water to a cup or teapot, and steep your tea for two to three minutes, depending on how strong you want your tea to be.
Do you want to fill your home with wonderful vanilla, warm Christmas spices or autumnal scents? Try these boiling pots to make your home smell amazing.