Let's talk about Camphor

[Guest guest]

This weeks " Let's talk About " is Camphor!!!

 

Helen Ranger, a respected teacher of aromatherapy, was recently approached

to conduct a training course for people wishing to sell various oils,

including camphor. She advised them that camphor was not a suitable oil for

sale to the public. I think that this would make an interesting oil to

discuss, and I would really like to see the quotes from the various books

regarding safety and use.

 

The information below is taken from " The Directory of Essential Oils " by

Wanda Sellar. Neither Patricia Davis nor Valerie Ann Worwood discuss it (a

warning sign of toxicity), although Worwood does have it listed in her

description of essential oils.

 

In South Africa we have a soothing balm called " Ingram's Camphor Cream "

which appears to be a slightly more solid form of aqueous cream with a

lovely camphorous smell. It has a light green colour.

 

Camphor is also used in some cough sweets.

 

 

 

Camphor oil is destilled from the wood of the camphor tree (Cinnamomum

camphora), a member of the Lauraceae family.

 

It has a fresh, clean and piercing base note, and it lingers for a

considerable length of time.

 

It is grown in the East, principally Borneo, China, Sri Lanka, Madagascar

and Sumatra. A very hardy, evergreen tree reaching to around a hundred

feet. White flowers and red berries adorn the small and slightly serrated

leaves. This long lived tree - often up to a thousand years - is not

touched until it is fifty years old. Camphor is found in every part of the

tree, though the colourless, crystalline mass takes many years to form. Oil

from the Borneo camphor tree 'Dryobalanops camphora' native to Sumatra and

from the Dipterocarpaceae family is often preferred in Aromatherapy as it is

not so harsh.

 

Some Far Eastern civilisations saw it as a plant sacred to the gods and it

was often used for ceremonial purposes. Battling heroes were crowned with

the leaves though its use in embalming was widespread too. The strong aroma

appealed to the Chinese who imported it from Vietnam to build their ships

and temples. Persia - now Iran - once considered it a powerful remedy

against the Plague. Their King Chrosroes II, esteemed it highly enough to

preserve it among the treasures of his palace in Babylon. Archaeologists,

during a dig in Italy, found organic matter perfectly preserved in a jar of

Borneo. It has long been an important essential oil used world wide for

aromatics and insecticides.

 

Constituents: Camphor: Camphor (Ketone), Safrole (Phenol), Borneol

(Alcohol), Camphene (Terpene).

Consituents: Borneo: Borneol (Alcohol), Pinene, Camphene, Dipentene

(Terpenes).

 

Properties: Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Cardiac,

Carminative, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Hypertensive, Insecticide, Laxative,

Rubefacient, Stimulant, Sudorific, Vermifuge, Vulnerary

 

Precautions: A powerful oil, very stimulating and overdosing could cause

convulsions and vomiting. Should be avoided in pregnancy and people

suffering from epilepsy and asthma. White Camphor oil is said to be less

toxic than the yellow and brown variety which contain large amounts of

Safrole. Camphor contains Ketones.

 

Mind: A balancing oil despite its primary stimulating nature. Sedates

nervy types particularly when associated with depression yet rouses apathy -

could be helpful in convalescence. Apparently has a beneficial effect on

psychosomatic or nervous diseases.

 

Body: Stimulates the heart, respiration and circulation. It raises low

blood pressure. Clears congested lungs, eases breathing and often used as

an inhalant.

Seems to be helpful to any condition where there is a feeling of cold from

the common bug to pneumonia though its balancing action can help with

inflammation. It puts the body in balance, warms and cools where necessary.

Effect on digestion is calming: good for constipation and diarrhoea. Also

helpful with gastro enteritis. Works on the urinary system (allows

urination) and relieves irritation of the sexual organs.

May be helpful with stiff muscles therefore of particular use in sport

though often seen as a palliative for rheumatic aches and pains as well.

In the past it was found to be useful for such serious diseases as cholera,

pneumonia and tuberculosis. Good for keeping infection down generally.

 

Effect on skin: Action on the skin is cooling and therefore reduces

inflammatory conditions. Oily skins seem to benefit most and could help in

cases of acne, burns and ulcers. Cold compresses for bruises and sprains

are usually effective.

 

Blends well with basil, cajeput, camomile, lavender and melissa.

 

Moira, the Faerie Godmother

[Guest guest]

I have looked in a few books and got the following info on cautions for

camphor.

From The complete Aromatherapy handbook by susanne fischer-Rizzi (1990):

" may cause cramps if taken in higher quantities . It should not be used by

people with epilepsy or children under 5 years "

 

From Aromatherapyy Workbook by Shirley Price:

" Dryobalanops camphora contains mainly alcohol's and hardly any ketones,

making it an EO without hazard. it is referred to as the wood-extracted

camphor...NOT the same as Cinnamomum camphora "

About Cinnamomum camphora she says.. " It is also highly unlikely that anyone

buying this oil even receives essential oil, as most white camphor today is

synthesized from the terpene alpha-pinene....Camphor as available at the

moment can be over-stimulant to the heart in high doses, is neurotoxic and

abortive "

 

Nerys

Australia