Indian Bay Leaf or Tejpat is an aromatic herb that belongs to the mint family. Its botanical name is Cinnamomum zeylanicum. It is found in tropical and sub-tropical places all over the world. The scientific name Cinnamomum zer�ensis is given because it is commonly grown in India.
Cinnamomum cassia, Indian bay leaf, known as tapas, tejapatta or malabathum, is an aromatic herb also known as cinnamon, sweet orange, Indian cinnamon, or cassia. It can grow as high as 20 m tall. It has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes by tribesmen of India for many years. It is said to be valuable for improving appetite, decreasing appetite, curing indigestion and treating flatulence. There are believed to be medicinal properties for hair and nail growth, preventing tooth decay, purifying skin and purifying the blood.
Indian Bay Leaf also has antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, cardioprotective, diuretic, stomach soothing, etc. active ingredients. It is commonly used as an unsweetened powdered tea or in combination with other herbal products. It is quite different from the commonly used white kidney beans (picked) and red kidney beans (dried).
The leaves and stems are available in different colors. Some of the popular ones are dark purple, gold, violet, orange, black and blue. In addition to these color variations, there are other subtle variations like pale green, reddish brown, cream and yellow. This is the reason why the cinnamomum seeds and the related products are sold under different names in India and abroad.
One of the best known medicinal properties of the Indian Bay leaf is that of good digestion. It is commonly used for treating constipation. It is also helpful in treating occasional heartburn and sore throats. For those suffering from peptic ulcers, Indian Bay laurel and cinnamomum panniculatus should be taken alternately. It acts as an antiseptic and helps relieve the pain and swelling associated with peptic ulcers.
The leaves and stems of the Indian Bay leaf can be chewed as an alternative to sugar. The Indians call it ‘bhaat’ or ‘bay mudra’ which basically means ‘hot stone’. In fact, the hot stone is the main constituent of the medicine called Indian Bay leaf. It is quite different from the heated sweets which are made from the laurel family in South India. Hot stone therapy is considered very beneficial and is a major part of the treatment regime followed by almost all the Ayurveda hospitals in India.