Camphor/Kapoor - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

 Camphor/Kapoor

Camphor tree is native to China, India, Mongolia, Japan and Taiwan and a variety of this fragrant evergreen tree is grown in Southern United States; especially in Florida. Camphor is obtained through steam distillation, purification and sublimation of wood, twigs and bark of the tree. 

Camphor has been widely used as a fragrance in cosmetics, as a food flavourant, as a common ingredient in household cleaners, as well as in topically applied analgesics and rubefacients for the treatment of minor muscle aches and pains.

It shows topical analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antipruritc, anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, rubefacient, contraceptive, mild expectorant, nasal decongestant, cough suppressant, etc

Dosage : 125-375 mg, in divided dose per day

Phytochemical constituents

The composition of essential oil from the aerial parts of sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) includes camphor (44%), germacrene D (16%), trans-pinocarveol (11%), β-selinene (9%), β-caryophyllene (9%) and artemisia ketone (3%). Significant activity of the essential oil was noted against the Gram-positive bacteria, Enterococcus hirae, as well as against the fungi Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae using the liquid diffusion method.

This plant has various active chemical constituents like its leaves contain 1% essential oil and wood contain around 3%. The essential oil of the plant contains cineol, pinene, thymol, menthol, 10-15% of 2-bornanon, terpineol and no safrole. But the brown variety has 80% safrole and some terpenoids. Its yellow variety also has safrole, and other components like esquiterpenes and sesquiterpene alcohol.

The leaf of Cinnamomum camphora contains camphor, as the main component along with cineol, linalool, eugenol, limonene, safrole, a-pinene, ß-pinene, ß-myrecene, a-humulene, p-cymene, nerolidol, borneol, camphene and some other components.

Camphor activates some of TRP (transient receptor potential) channels like TRPV1, TRPV3, TRPM8 and inhibits TRPA1, causing warm sensation, excitation and desensitization of sensory nerves, relieving the pain, itch and irritation in applied area.

Menthol, Thymol, Phenol, Salicylic acid and Naphthol are amongst the fragrant chemical constituents obtained from this plant. Campher, Campherol, Cineol, Camphene, dipentene, terpineol, candinene, safrole, camphorace, laurolitsine, reticuline etc.

Its bark contains a major constituent as cinnamaldehyde that imparts it the very peculiar odor and flavor. The oil is extracted from the leaf that contains eugenol and iso eugenol that imparts it a very harsh odor; besides these it contains minerals a active component known as camphor that imparts it the properties.

The plant contains a volatile oil comprising camphor, safrole, linalool, eugenol and terpeneol. It also contains lignans (including secoisosolariciresinol dimethyl ether and kusunokiol). Safrole is thought to be carcinogenic.The leaf oil is a natural source of linalool (94.9%); also contained citronellal (2.4%).

Properties and Benefits

• Rasa (Taste) – Tikta(Bitter), Katu(Pungent), Madhura(Sweet)
• Guna (Qualities) – Laghu(Light to digest), Rooksha(Dryness)
• Taste conversation after digestion – Katu(pungent) 
• Veerya(Potency) – Sheetala(Coolant) 
• Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Pitta Dosha.
•           Click here to Explore more about Tridosha (Vata-Kapha-Pitta)
• Vishahara, Vishapaha – Anti toxic
• Chakshushya – improves vision, good for eyes, useful in eye disorders
• Madakaraka – over-dosage may cause intoxication.
• Yogavahi – acts as a catalyst
• Dahahara – being a coolant, it relieves burning sensation
• Vrushya – acts as aphrodisiac in lower doses. However, higher doses decrease sexual performance.
• Medhya – improves intelligence
• Kruminashana – relieves intestinal worm infestation
• Mukhashoshahara – Relieves mouth dryness
• Medohara – reduces fat & cholesterol levels
• Mukha vairasyahara – Relieves bad breath problem.  
• Kanta Doshahara – clears throat.
• Relieves toothache.
• Karpoora/Camphor is basically hot in initial effect and penetrating in nature, but in due course when consumed it transforms to provide coolant effect.
• Karpoora acts as a digestive and and reduces the pitta dosha.
• Karpoora is also beneficial in eye diseases; it alleviates the thirst and burning sensation.
• It improves blood circulation 
• Usually, the camphor found on the tree pits and branches is called Apakva (natural) Karpura. The camphor prepared by using distillation procedure is the Pakva.

Uses, Remedies, Benefits and Application

1) camphor has been used as an ingredient in betel leaf and Tambul, which helps to relieve bad breath, mouth dryness, clears throat along cooling effect.

2) In India, camphor is commonly burnt in temples during religious rituals because unlike any other aromatic smoke, camphoric fumes are non-irritant to eyes. 

3) Camphor which is obtained from within the stem is considered to be superior and the rest are of intermediate attributes. The superior variety is slightly yellowish in color while the other one is fully white. Camphor which is white in color, rough in touch, firm and expanded.

4) Camphor has been widely used as a fragrance in cosmetics, as a flavouring food additive and as a preservative in confectionary goods.

5) Camphor is a rare herb which, being coolant, balances Kapha Dosha and reduces fat and cholesterol levels.

6) Camphor may also be administered orally in small quantities (50 mg) for minor heart symptoms and fatigue.

7) In homes it is commonly used as an insect repellent, a plasticiser and as an intermediate in the synthesis of aroma chemicals.

8) Camphor is one of the rare herbs which, being coolant, is useful to balance Kapha Dosha.

9) Camphor oil is used externally to treat arthritis pain and rheumatism.

10) Teaspoon/5gms of Camphor oil is mixed along with 100 ml of olive/sesame oil. This is applied externally to improve blood circulation.

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11) Herbal oils are mixed with camphor, menthol, thymol, Eucalyptus oil etc, to prepare pain relieving oil. This liniment gives a coolant / counter-irritant/Anti-inflammatory. 

12) 10gms of camphor is dissolved in 100-150 ml of mustard oil. This oil is rubbed over the fat deposited areas such as chest, abdomen, etc for 15-30 minutes. This helps to reduce obesity.

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13) Teaspoon/5gms of Camphor oil is mixed along with 100 ml of olive/sesame oil with little heating/slightly warmed. This can be directly applied on chest and can be used for inhalation which helps to  relieves cough, breathlessness, nasal blockage and chest congestion caused due to asthma.

14) Camphor taken internally in small doses (toxic in large doses) acts as a carminative, reflex expectorant and reflex stimulant of heart and circulation as well as respiration. Also used as a sedative and nervous depressant in convulsions, hysteria, epilepsy, chorea. Topically used as a rubefacient and mild analgesic. Key application Externally in catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract and muscular rheumatism; internally in hypotonic circulatory regulation disorders, Catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract. 

15) Burning Camphor in the house helps to kill germs and purifies the air as it acts as a natural insecticide.

16) Take a very little mixture of camphor, menthol, thymol, Eucalyptus or only camphor or Menthol on handkerchief and smell it on regular intervals which helps to reduce Cough, cold and nasal congestion.

17) Camphor has a very healing effect on the skin problems. It effectively controls the inflammation and pain and has a cooling and soothing effect. Any itching, pruritis or rashes are also controlled by the use of camphor locally over the affected area. 

18) 500mg/0.5gms of camphor powder is mixed with half spoon of honey. This is consumed by licking. This pacifies cough, cold, throat pain and irritation of the throat.

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19) 10 grams of camphor is dissolived in 100 ml of warm coconut oil with very little heat and allowed to cool down. This is applied on the scalp in case of burning/ headache, head lice(applied to scalp for whole night and wash it on next day).

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20) It is very effective for treating acne and acne scars etc. 

21) Solid camphor releases fumes that form a rust-preventative coating and is therefore stored in tool chests to protect tools against rust.

22) Camphor is a very good cleanser. Dusting of the fine powder of camphor over the wounds, heat prickle and cracks helps to heal the wound faster.

23) Camphor water is used to manage skin infections due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties. 

24) For Flatulence : Camphor, rock salt, cumin seeds and cardamom or clove are taken in equal quantity and fine paste is made. This is mixed well and rolled into the pills of 125-250 mg size. This is dried under shade and collected and stored. This is taken along with warm water or cumin herbal tea.

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25) It is a great stimulant for the heart and the whole circulatory system.

26) It can be used as a mouth cleanser to cleanse the saliva and improve the sense of taste.

27) The best use of camphor essential oil in aromatherapy is to add 1-3 drops in bathtub and soak in water for 5 to 10 minutes. It helps to calm the mind, improves mood, reduces mental stress, and treats anxiety and depression. 

28) It improves the digestive secretions but it is only to be consumed in small amounts as over dosage of camphor causes indigestion, nausea and vomiting.

29)It is a great diuretic and keeps the urinary system free of bacterial infestations.

30) It is used in general to control excessive sweating and burning sensation of skin.

Synthetic production of Camphor

The synthetic production of camphor involves using turpentine oil as a starting material. Turpentine is used as the source of α-pinene through a distillation process; α-pinene is converted into camphene through the catalysis of a strong acid with acetic acid as the solvent; the camphene then undergoes Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement into the isobornyl cation, which is captured by acetate; the isobornyl acetate subsequently formed is hydrolysed to isoborneol, which is finally converted to camphor through dehydrogenation . The synthetic route from α-pinene produces a racemic mixture, i.e., a 1:1 ratio of (−) and (+)-camphor

Note : 

• Natural camphor is obtained by distilling the bark and wood of the camphor tree Cinnamonum camphora.  
• Camphor which is obtained from within the stem is considered to be superior and the rest are of intermediate attributes. The superior variety is slightly yellowish in color while the other one is fully white. 
• camphor is being synthetically prepared by using turpentine. This is however used for offerings to god. It is not meant for medicinal use.
• Don't use artificial camphor for oral intake, demand shopkeeper for edible camphor.
• The first significant manmade plastics were low-nitrogen (or "soluble") nitrocellulose (pyroxylin) plastics. In the early decades of the plastics industry, camphor was used in immense quantities: 130  as the plasticizer that creates celluloid from nitrocellulose, in nitrocellulose lacquers and other plastics and lacquers.

Side effects

For external application, use camphor concentration upto 11% 

Refrence

1. Dhanvantari Nighantu
2. Bhavaprakasha Nighantu 
3. Charaka Samhita
4. Sushruta samhita
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14. NCBI
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16. Kaiyadeva Nighantu
17. Book : Dravyaguna Vijyan