Laurel leaves were considered a sacred herb by the Greeks and the Romans, and for centuries many people have used laurel leaves in alternative medicine.
The winners at the Classic Olympics were awarded a laurel wreath, a sign of honor and glory.
All of this shows that laurel was important in the past and must be a good reason for that.

We usually use this herb as a spice despite the healing properties of bay leaf have been known for a long time.
The most effective active compounds in this herb are pinene and cineole.
Laurel contains essential oils that have a soothing effect. 

Experts also claim that laurel contains psychoactive substances, which are released when chewing laurel leaves.
The amazing effects of laurel have also been described in numerous myths and legends, such as in this one about Delphi's oracle, in which laurel leaves were chewed to see the future.

The laurel is sometimes confused with the evergreen and poisonous hedge plant Prunus laurocerasus (bay cherry, paplaurel) which is larger in leaves but has no relation to laurel.

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