Bay Leaf 450 mg 4:1 Extract by TerraVita Premium Collection

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Asthma. Although there has been interest in using oral bay leaf for asthma, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bay leaf for this purpose.
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although there has been interest in using oral bay leaf for CVD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bay leaf for this purpose.
• Common cold. Although there has been interest in using oral bay leaf for the common cold, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bay leaf for this purpose.
• Dandruff. Although there has been interest in using topical bay leaf for dandruff, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bay leaf for this purpose.
• Diabetes. It is unclear if oral bay leaf is beneficial in patients with diabetes. Details: Preliminary clinical research in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that adding bay leaf powder, 0.5-1.5 grams twice daily after meals, to oral hypoglycemic medications for 30 days reduces fasting blood glucose levels by 21% to 26% when compared with baseline. In addition, bay leaf reduced total cholesterol levels by 21% to 24% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 32% to 40% when compared with baseline. Bay leaf also inconsistently improved high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride levels (33849). The validity of these results is limited by the lack of a control group.
• Diarrhea. Although there has been interest in using oral bay leaf for diarrhea, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bay leaf for this purpose.
• Dyslipidemia. It is unclear if oral bay leaf is beneficial in patients with dyslipidemia. Details: Preliminary clinical research in healthy adults shows that drinking tea made with 5 grams of bay leaves once a day for 10 days increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels by 6%, but does not affect triglyceride or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, when compared with baseline (104766). The validity of the study is limited by its small size, short duration, and the lack of a comparator group.
• Dysmenorrhea. Although there has been interest in using oral bay leaf for dysmenorrhea, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bay leaf for this purpose.
• Epilepsy. Although there has been interest in using oral bay leaf for epilepsy, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bay leaf for this purpose.
• Furuncles (boils). Although there has been interest in using topical bay leaf for furuncles, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of bay leaf for this purpose. More evidence is needed to rate bay leaf for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in amounts found in foods (12). The highest levels of bay leaf used in food are 0.1% as an herb and 0.02% as an oil (11).

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when the ground leaf is taken orally in doses up to 3 grams daily for 30 days (33849) or prepared as a tea in doses of 5 grams daily for 10 days (104766). ...when bay leaf extract is used topically in cosmetics (11).

LIKELY UNSAFE ...when the whole, intact leaf is swallowed. The whole leaf is indigestible and can become lodged in the esophagus or hypopharynx (132,133,134,137). It may also perforate the intestinal lining (135,136).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using in amounts exceeding those commonly found in foods.

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ANTIDIABETES DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = Moderate •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Concomitant use of bay leaf with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.  Details Preliminary clinical research shows that bay leaf can lower blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes who are already taking antidiabetes medication (33849). Advise patients to monitor glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments may be necessary.

CNS DEPRESSANTS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, taking bay leaf in large amounts may enhance the therapeutic and adverse effects of sedatives.  Details Bay leaf contains methyl eugenol. Animal research shows that methyl eugenol has sedative properties (11). Avoid concomitant use.

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General ...Orally, bay leaf is well tolerated when used in amounts found in foods and seems to be well tolerated when the leaf powder is used as medicine. However, the whole, intact leaf can cause severe adverse effects. Topically, bay leaf seems to be generally well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Topically: Allergic reactions, contact dermatitis.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: Choking or perforated intestinal lining when the whole, intact leaf is consumed.

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, the whole, intact leaf is indigestible and can become lodged in the esophagus and hypopharynx (132,133,134,137,33784,33866), and perforate the intestinal lining or other areas of the digestive tract (135,136,33812,33868,33872).

Immunologic ...Bay leaf can cause allergic reactions, including contact dermatitis (15571,33791,33864). In one case, allergic contact dermatitis occurred with a positive skin test after use of a massage oil containing bay leaf (15571). Another patient developed erythematous plaques on the elbow after applying bay leaves with a topical occlusion for 2 days. The dermatitis resolved after a two-week course of topical corticosteroids (104767).

Pulmonary/Respiratory ...Inhalation of bay leaf may cause occupational asthma, as confirmed by several challenges (783).

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