Health Benefits of Camphor Oil, Uses And Its Side Effects
Last Updated: Sep 07, 2020
Camphor oil is one of the most commonly used oils in medicine. Additionally, it is also considered an effective household remedy for many ailments. It has strong and effective antiseptic, anesthetic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and decongestant properties. This maintains and boosts the overall health of the body.
Camphor oil is also a most efficient stimulant. This ensures that the organ systems in the body are functioning at their optimum. In addition, camphor oil also be used to treat specific symptoms or specific diseases such as neuralgia, arthritis, gout, rheumatism, and malaria.
Camphor Oil
Camphor oil, as the name suggests, is extracted from camphor, which in turn is extracted from camphor trees. Unlike other oil extractions, camphor oil is extracted using steam. There are two types of viable camphor trees that are used to extract camphor. The first is the Common Camphor tree from which the common variety of camphor and camphor oil are extracted. The second variety of camphor tree grows exclusively in Borneo and is known as the Borneo Camphor tree.
One of the most peculiar aspects of camphor oil extraction is that it can be achieved only when the tree is 50 years old. This is because there is a particular component in the camphor tree that needs to be activated before the oil can be extracted. Without this active ingredient, camphor oil will lose most of its benefits and medicinal properties.
However, once this ingredient is active, it is present in each part of the tree, thus maximizing the oil that can be extracted from it. The oil extracted from both these trees has very similar properties. The main difference lies in the fragrance as well as the composition of different compounds found in them.
Camphor oil has a lasting aroma that also has a cool and concentrated feel to it. It is commonly used in aromatherapy. However, it has medicinal properties as well. There are several different types of camphor essential oil, including Safrol, Camphor, Pinene, Alcohol, Terpene, Camphene, and Borneol.
Nutritional Value of Camphor Oil
Camphor oil contains several beneficial ingredients, a cocktail of which extracts the most amount of medicinal benefits from it. Camphor oil contains camphor, linalool, bornyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, caryophyllene, borneol, piperitone, geraniol, safrole, cinnamaldehyde, methyl cinnamate, eugenol, pinene, camphene, B-pinene, sabinene, phellandrene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, Y-terpinene, P-cymene, terpinolene, and furfural.
Health Benefits of Camphor Oil
Mentioned below are the best health benefits of using camphor oil. For healthy thick hair and prevent dandruff using this oil with coconut oil. Antifungal and antibacterial of camphor oil are used to treat skin irritation and itchiness. Another medicinal benefit of camphor oil is that is also improves sexual performance and libido. You can buy this oil is from your local markets.
Camphor oil for skin whitening & acne
Camphor oil has been known as an effective germicide, insecticide, and disinfectant across many cultures for thousands of years. Edible camphor was used to disinfect water in earlier times, especially during summer and monsoon where the chances of contracting water-borne diseases are higher than normal.
Additionally, opening a bottle of camphor oil, or even burning it can drive away insects and kill germs. That’s a testament to the potency of the oil. Adding not more than a drop or two to food grains and thoroughly mixing them up can prevent an attack from insects.
Additionally, camphor oil is one of the most commonly used ingredients in antibacterial and antifungal lotions. When mixed with bath water, camphor oil can disinfect the scalp, and also kill lice.
Camphor Oil Improves Blood Circulation
Camphor oil acts as a stimulant for many organ systems in the body. It stimulates the secretion of enzymes, which in turn stimulate the digestive system. Once the process of digestion is complete, it ticks the circulatory system of the body. This ensures that the nutrients are carried to all parts of the body.
In addition, camphor oil improves metabolism, which ensures that nutrient uptake is optimized. Finally, it also stimulates the bowel movement, which ensures that the waste matter is efficiently removed from the body.
Those people suffering from symptoms of lethargy, improper digestion, improper circulation, and obstructed secretions should definitely consider using camphor oil.
Relieves Gas
The compounds in camphor are extremely effective in preventing gas buildup in the body. Additionally, it can also treat gas by expelling it from the body in a healthy manner.
Camphor Oil Reduces Sensitivity to Pain and Treats Nervous Disorders
Camphor Oil Reduces Inflammation
As discussed earlier, camphor oil is highly concentrated. Therefore, it is able to penetrate deep tissue when applied externally. Along with its cooling properties, this oil is one of the best organic ways to treat inflammation. Additionally, camphor oil can also cure inflammation of the internal organs even if they are applied to the skin, over the affected area.
Use Camphor Oil Reduces Joint & Knee Pain
Along with being a stimulant for the circulatory system, camphor oil also has detoxifying properties. By detoxifying the area that it is applied to and stimulating blood flow, camphor oil can also treat common joint paid.
In addition, camphor oil also treat symptomatic joint pain in gout, arthritis and rheumatism. As it also reduces the swelling of tissues, a property that is known as being antiphlogistic, it can effectively treat bone and joint diseases.
Camphor oil for nasal and throat congestion
To use it as a decongestant, one needn’t consume any camphor. One needs to only burn it and inhale the scents. That in itself can dilute the mucus and phlegm accumulated in the nasal tracts, larynx, pharynx, bronchi, and lungs.
Camphor oil and camphor are extremely common in vaporizing rubs, due to their decongestant properties. In addition, camphor oil can also treat similar ailments such as measles, flu, and the whooping cough.
Camphor oil used as natural remedy to prevent malaria
There are two ways in which camphor oil can prevent humans from contracting malaria. Firstly, when burned, it can kill insects like mosquitoes in their vicinity. Additionally, when applied in small quantities on the body, it can prevent mosquitoes from biting you.
Furthermore, camphor oil has disinfecting properties, it can kill any bacterial, fungal, and viral infection in the blood.
Camphor oil give relieves in neuralgia and neuropathy
Neuralgia is a nervous disorder which is caused when ninth cranial nerve is impacted severely by the swelling of nearby blood vessels. It is extremely painful and those who are affected by it can be bedridden till the condition is treated.
Camphor oil is one of the most common ways to treat this condition. It can be applied to the affected area externally. This oil reduces the inflammation of the nearby blood vessels, therefore relieving the pressure on the ninth cranial nerve. This is yet another benefit of its analgesic and anesthetic properties.
Camphor oil Acts as a Relaxant and Sedative for Whole Body
Camphor oil is high on relaxant and sedative properties. This is one of the major reasons for it being used to treat patients of hypertension. Researchers have reported that subjects who applied camphor oil to their forehead and other areas where tension builds up, felt more peaceful after some time. They also felt cool and refreshed.
Further, camphor oil can also be combined in bath water to give a cooling sensation during peak summer months.
Camphor oil acts as Muscle Relaxant
As camphor oil is a very effective antispasmodic, it can treat a vast variety of ailments such as stomach cramps, to more severe conditions such as spasmodic cholera. In effect, it can also be used on a daily basis as a relaxant after a long day of work.
Camphor essential oil increases libido & sexual performance
As we already know, camphor oil is a great stimulant. When camphor is eaten or the oil is consumed in a minute amount, it can also stimulate the part of the brain which evokes sexual desires.
External applications for camphor oil have been known to cure sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction by increasing the circulation of blood to the affected part.
Uses of Camphor Oil
Camphor oil is commonly used as an effective aromatherapy device. It blends really well with lavender oil, chamomile, cajuput, and Basil. In many cultures across the eastern world, it is also used in religious ceremonies as incense.
Additionally, camphor oil is also added to the water that is given during holy, Brahminic ceremonies. The Brahmans believe that as camphor and its oil are so rich in medicinal properties, they are holy, and blessed by the gods.
Side-Effects & Allergies of Camphor Oil
There is no denying that camphor oil is used more often than not for its desensitizing and analgesic properties. When concentrated camphor oil is used, it does have some narcotic effects on the body. It can affect the nerves in a way that you could lose control over your limbs. This suggests that camphor oil has a definite impact on brain function.
Furthermore, the smell of burning camphor oil is also addictive. There have been studies that show that people become addicted to the smell of camphor oil, and also addicted to consuming it.
Camphor oil is a toxic and poisonous substance when ingested in large amounts. Even a 2 gram dosage can be lethal and in some cases, fatal. A minor overdose can also produce symptoms of poisoning in the body.
Patients can exhibit a range of symptoms while using camphor oil, right from extreme thirst and nausea to vomiting and a decline in body temperature.
Cultivation of Camphor Oil
Camphor and camphor oil have been used for centuries in their native countries as medicine. In India, in the Mādhavacikitsā, a 7th century Ayurvedic work, it has been described as the drug used to treat fevers. According to the Vaidyaka-śabda-sindhu, its flavor has been described as one of the five flavors used in betel-chewing. The same text also refers to it as “moon powder”.
Camphor oil was also used in China as a medicinal drug, for a variety of purposes. In the 18th century, it became a component used in paregoric, which is a type of tincture.
References
- Emery DP, Corban JG. Camphor toxicity. Journal of paediatrics and child health. 1999 Feb;35(1):105-6. [Cited 24 June 2019]. Available from:
- Hamidpour R, Hamidpour S, Hamidpour M, Shahlari M. Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), a traditional remedy with the history of treating several diseases. Int. J. Case Rep. Images. 2013 Feb 1;4(2):86-9. [Cited 24 June 2019]. Available from:
- Singh R, Jawaid T. Cinnamomum camphora (Kapur). Pharmacognosy Journal. 2012 Mar 1;4(28):1-5. [Cited 24 June 2019]. Available from:
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