Oil of Bays
laurus nobilisDO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY
Pregnant women should avoid using the Bay herb.
Since Bay leaves can induce menstruation.
Constituents
A greenish-yellow volatile oil is yielded by distillation from the leaves
which contains a high percentage of oxygenated compounds.
Berries contain both fixed and volatile oils, the former,
known as Oil of Bays, includes laurostearine, the ether of lauric acid.
Laurin can be extracted by alcohol.
A frequent substitute for the expressed oil is said to be lard-colored
with chlorophyll or indigo and turmeric, scented with the berries.
Boiling alcohol, which dissolves the true oil, will detect this.
Volatile oil contains pinene, geraniol, eugenol, cineol, etc.
