Bay leaf is a tree which is usually grown in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and China. It is an aromatic leaf which is used for medical and culinary purposes.
It has stimulant, aromatic and narcotic properties. It is used in food flavoring since it has strong flavor. It is useful to treat high blood sugar, migraine headaches and gastric ulcers. It has a property which makes it anti-microbial and anti-fungal. The oil extracted from it is good to heal bruising and sprains.
Bay leaves were used for flavoring by the ancient Greeks.