Bay leaf, without which it is difficult to soup or borsch Borsch: versatile dish for every taste , First used at all in cooking. Wreath of laurel branches head crowned Olympic winners and heroic commanders. Several centuries later, the world discovered the healing properties of bay leaves. In cosmetology, it was used even later than in cooking. Decoction of leaves laurel used for lotions, masks, to strengthen and rejuvenate the face and body to give hair Hair: structure, characteristics of growth and development   shine.

Apollo and Daphne: beautiful legend of the origin of the laurel

Laurel - subtropical laurel tree of the family, has been known since ancient times. About its origin there is a beautiful ancient Greek legend. Proud Apollo had just killed the dragon Python, met with Eros, god of love, who flew to the winner with a tiny bow. Apollo with a smile offered to the deity play in another place, for which he also received a gold boom Kindle love, right in the heart. Others, bronze, kills love, crafty Eros released in the heart of the beautiful nymph Daphne. Apollo chased in vain beauty, Eros arrow hit right on target, and she saw in the golden-haired god of the sun and light the essence of a wolf. Daphne prayed to his father, so he turned her into a laurel (Greek "Daphne"). Since then, the sun-god Apollo began to wear on her head a laurel wreath.

It was this moment captured in the famous marble sculpture of Bernini's "Apollo and Daphne" (1622-1625): the god-physician overtaken nymph, but her hands are transformed into branches of fragrant wood, and legs - in the roots. Today this masterpiece adorns the Galleria Borghese in Rome.

A curious fact: in Russia before the end of the XVIII century, the bay leaf called "daphnia".

Laurel keeps you young: the use in cosmetics

In cosmetology bay leaf prized as a tonic and anti-oxidant agent that helps fight free radicals, thereby prolonging youth. The fragrant wood sheet contains a large amount of essential oil, cineole, acetic, valeric and caproic acid, tannins and bitterness. From the fruit, leaves and flowers produce an essential oil for aromatherapy, food and perfume industries, soap stock.

Women from sunny Georgia saved hair thick, lush and healthy into old age because they are rinsed after each washing, broth bay leaf. To face and neck for a long time kept the elasticity of the skin that does not appear premature wrinkles, you can wipe them with a laurel extract prepared by simple and inexpensive recipe. Two hundred grams of fresh bay leaf sprigs boil hundred milliliters of water, immediately after boiling off and infuse for ten minutes under the lid. This infusion wipe the face and neck morning and night, before applying the cream. If this broth to add a glass of boiled water and the juice of half a lemon, you get a tool to rinse hair after shampooing.

Essential oil laurel limfootok increases, blood flow to the skin, restores a healthy radiant complexion by stimulating cell renewal. Pimples, redness, skin inflammatory diseases can be treated easily with a laurel essential oil is a highly effective tool in the fight for the purity and beauty of the skin Beauty skin care and healthy . Baths with essential oil fragrant laurel (no more than five drops to a bath), a decoction of fresh or dried herbs sheets are used for relaxation and stress relief day of work before bed. You can gather in a tight bun or a few sprigs of leaves and tie them into a clean gauze bag and put it in the bath.

It is interesting

With laurel decoction can treat or prevent diseases of the joints, and salt deposits. To do this twenty or thirty dry laurel leaves pour two cups of water, boil for five minutes, pour into a thermos and insist three hours. Insist filter and drink two tablespoons every hour from eight in the morning until eight in the evening for three days. Each day of the treatment procedure is necessary to prepare a new broth. Then, this cycle is repeated after one month. This shoe very quickly to cope with the severe joint disease, but it is contraindicated in inflammation and ulcers of the stomach, liver, gall bladder, during pregnancy (may cause miscarriage), and disorders of the menstrual cycle.

Aromatic ancient plants, bay laurel, not just a culinary spice, it gives health, retains beauty, youth hair and skin, restores mobility of the joints.

Jeanne Pyatirikova

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