Camphor Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Cinnamomum camphora To make camphor oil, all useable wood, including the stumps and small branches, are gathered then distilled. This produces a crude oil and a crystalline substance called crude camphor. The crude camphor is then pressed and filtered to extract what is called crude camphor oil. The crude camphor oil is then further rectified then pressed and filtered until 3 separate "grades" of camphor oil are achieved. The lightest of these is called white camphor and is the one most often used in "natural" medicine. Second are medium-to-heavy fractions known as brown or yellow camphor. Last in line is blue camphor--a heavy fraction rich in sesquiterpenes.
Characteristics of Camphor OilCamphor oil should be colorless or very pale yellow. It has a biting, overwhelming scent that is strongly medicinal and somewhat "minty". It will feel very cold and wet to the nose.Traditional Uses for CamphorOver the years, various camphor preparations--crude and refined--have been considered highly anti-microbial and were often used to aid breathing during a cold or other respiratory illness.Camphor essential oil has also seen extensive use as a topical pain reliever. It is a popular ingredient in over-the-counter muscle liniments, topical arthritis remedies and "vapor rubs".
Serious Medical Studies on CamphorInsect RepellenceA number of aromatherapy oils have been studied over the years for their potential to ward of pests like ticks and mosquitoes. In addition to repelling many of the insects that damage food crops, camphor oil has shown great promise in the fight against the mosquito that carries yellow fever. Anti-Candida Actions Camphor has long been considered anti-microbial and recent studies supports this. A 2007 study from India found camphor among the essential oils demonstrating anti-microbial action against one of the most common human infections, Candida.
Safety IssuesIf ingested, camphor can cause vomiting, apnea, seizures and even death. A 2007 paper published in Cardiovascular Toxicology discussed the case of a patient who nearly died from inflammation of the heart muscle after consuming camphor oil.How common is camphor poisoning? In the years between 1990 and 2003, the poison centers in the U.S. logged more than 10,000 cases of camphor essential oil poisoning every year. Camphor does not have to be ingested to be dangerous. A 2007 article in Emergency Medicine Journal discussed the case of a young boy who experienced epileptic seizures after his nanny rubbed a "natural" flatulence remedy onto his abdomen.
References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Yang, Y., et al. (2004). Repellency of aromatic medicinal plant extracts and a steam distillate to Aedes aegypti. Dutta, B., et al. (2007). Anticandidial activity of some essential oils of a mega biodiversity hotspot in India. Bhaya, M., et al. (2007). Camphor induced myocarditis: a case report. AAPCC. (2006). Camphor Poisoning: an evidence-based practice guideline for out-of-hospital management. Guilbert, J., et al. (2007). Anti-flatulence treatment and status epilepticus: a case of camphor intoxication. Leave Camphor Essential Oil & return to Hazardous Oils page.
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