Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Indian bay leaf (Cinnamomum tamala), of the Lauraceae family. Small to medium evergreen tree of the laurel family; native range: Himalayan foothills of India, Nepal and Bhutan (moist sub-tropical forest, 900–2500 m). Globally recognized as tejapatra / patra / tamalapatra in Sanskrit, tejpat / tejpatta in Hindi, sazaj hindi / sadhaj hindi in Arabic, and Indian cassia, tejpat, malabathrum in English. The part used is dried mature leaf (root-bark and bark used secondarily). Leathery lance-shaped leaves marked by three prominent longitudinal veins running the length of the blade; crushed, they give a warm clove-and-cinnamon aroma with a faintly pungent, sweetish taste.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
INDIAN BAY LEAF
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Indian bay leaf
- Scientific name
- Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T.Nees & Eberm.
- Family
- Lauraceae
Form
- Part used
- dried mature leaf (root-bark and bark used secondarily)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- pungent · bitter (katu, tikta)
- Unani
- aromatic · pungent
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna virya)
- Unani
- hot (2nd–3rd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- stomach · liver · heart
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- dipana-pachana (kindles and completes digestion), kaphahara and vatahara, hridya (cardiac tonic), chedana (cuts mucus), and mildly krimighna
- Unani
- muharrik (stimulant) and kaasir-e-riyah (carminative), muqawwi-e-meda (stomachic), muqawwi-e-qalb (cardiac strengthener) and mufatteh-e-sudad (deobstruent)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- high-pitta and heat states, hyperacidity and internal bleeding; large medicinal doses in pregnancy
- Toxicity
- generally safe as a spice; concentrated leaf oil is a mucosal irritant in excess
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