It turns out that the popular spice can be used not only in dishes.
Some people set fire to several bay leaves right in their house or apartment. They explain this by the specific smell that is released during the process.
They say it helps in various situations. This unusual ritual is a mixture of folk superstitions and practical advice.
If an unpleasant smell has settled in your home, then lightly smoking bay leaves will kill the stench and fill the space with an unobtrusive aroma.
The smoldering spice has a calming effect on a person. In just a quarter of an hour, stress is reduced, relaxation sets in and the mood is lifted.
If, for example, a person has a slight headache, they don't rush to the medicine cabinet, but use bay leaves. The smoldering spice won't cope with severe pain, but in simple cases it will help no worse than a pharmacy remedy.
They say that such a trick somehow influences the relationships between the residents of a house or apartment. It is believed that over time, people stop arguing and come to an agreement faster in controversial situations.
The aroma of bay leaf is not liked by ants, cockroaches, midges and other insects.
In China, there is a belief that a smoldering bay leaf can bring good news into the house. The superstition does not explain how this works, but the tradition is alive and has found fans not only in the Celestial Empire.