Yesterday I was reading something online, of course, and they were talking about the health benefits of bay leaf tea. I’m not giving medical advice – look it up if you’re interested. It really got my attention when it talked about how it could help get rid of kidney stones. That’s something I can get behind!
I read it all to Vince and we both googled and read more to be sure it was safe to drink with the meds he takes. We made some and drank it. He drinks coffee. I drink Dr. Pepper so drinking hot tea was not something that I loved doing but Vince loved it.
One of the things it’s purported to do is make you calm and help you sleep. I remembered a time when I had been at a friend’s house making gumbo. I put 2 or 3 bay leaves in it and then she came along, tasted it, added a few things and didn’t realize I had already put bay leaves in it and she added more. The gumbo simmered for a while, then we ate it and honestly . . there were six of us there and we all ended up asleep. It was something like 4 p.m. and six adults just passed out on the floor, on the sofa, in the recliners. Later, all of us were just shocked that we had all fallen asleep. Someone said “How many bay leaves were in that gumbo?” I said that I had only put 2 or 3 in it. My friend said “I didn’t realize you put any in it and I added 3 or 4.” Someone knew that bay leaves make you sleepy so we all had a laugh about it. Since that happened to me, I figured it must be somewhat true about it helping you sleep.
I have no problems sleeping but Vince does. So, we drank our tea, we took showers and he said “That tea has me so relaxed! I can’t believe it!”
Just to test the waters, I said “Do we have any paper towels?” We both laughed.
Speaking of paper towels, last night I was reading him some of the blog comments and he said this: “I have never heard of anyone thinking that when you asked if you have something . . you think I mean in the whole house?” So, he’s thinking (or says he’s thinking) . . if he asks me if we have paper towels and we’re in the kitchen, that just means are there any paper towels in the kitchen? Absurd! Just the other day I was in the living room and he came in and asked me if we have any more clear Dawn. Oh . . I can’t wait til he asks me for something weird while I’m in the living room. If he asks me “Do we have any bug spray?” you know he doesn’t mean “Is there any bug spray in THIS room?” Men!!
Sharon says
I saw the same post about bay leaves. I need to try the tea for sleeping. Sometimes it takes me over an hour to fall asleep. Even with melatonin.
Judy Laquidara says
Oh, my! I know I’m very lucky to be able to fall asleep immediately.
Sara Fridley says
Very interesting! I have never heard this about bay leaves before.
Teri says
This is very interesting. How many bay leaves did you put in the tea?
Judy Laquidara says
I put about 4 cups of water, brought it to a boil, then let it steep for about 6 minutes. We each had a cup, then Vince went back later and drank more of it and he said he liked it better after it had sat longer.
Therese says
How many bay leaves?
Judy Laquidara says
I usually put two or three and that’s enough for Vince to have two cups and I have one.
Therese says
How many bay leaves in 4 cups of water? Does it only work with fresh leaves?
JustGail says
I had not heard about bay leaves and kidney stone prevention. Or sleeping. I used to have a bay tree in a pot, sadly I somehow killed it off a couple of years ago. Fresh bay leaves are so much better than dried in food, especially if the leaves were bruised first. Now, to get another this spring, from… somewhere?
I’m looking forward to Vince’s explanation of just how you are to know if he means the whole house or the room he’s in next time he asks you “is there any ….?”
Judy Laquidara says
I just hope I can remember to question him. I’m so bad about blurting out the answer without making him work for it! This morning he asked if we have more honey. I should have said no . . because I wasn’t looking at another jar of honey. I looked in the cabinet where I thought it would be, ran downstairs to check there . . no, no more honey. I’m too nice to him! 🙂
Ruth says
When Vince asks for something, you say, “Do you mean, ‘do we have Any in THIS room?’ Or do you mean Any in THIS house? Or Any in the Texas house?”
A few times of hearing this response and he will soon be freely giving out information, just so he won’t have to think of all the other places you could name. (Any upstairs, Any in the garage, Any in the shed, Any in the bedrooms, Any in the belowstairs closet, etc.)
Very interesting idea about the bay leaf tea putting you to sleep.
Nelle Coursey says
Glad he at least explained his reasoning.
Linda in Ne says
I read somewhere that bay leaf tea could help with blood sugar but didn’t know it could help one sleep too.