Cinnamomum camphora evergreen tree

Natural Camphor is a Powerful Natural Ingredient

Camphor is obtained from an evergreen tree known as Cinnamomum camphora. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for medicinal and ritualistic purposes. Nowadays, camphor is an FDA-approved ingredient used to enhance the medical properties of many ointments, including pain relievers. It has been proven beneficial in relieving pain, cough, and several skin conditions.

Breakdown of Camphor

Active Ingredients Obtained from camphor (Cinnamomum camphora) include:

  • D-camphor (40.54%) - D-camphor is known to have benefits as a fumigant, an analgesic, and an antitussive. It also possesses various antimicrobial effects.
  • Linalool (22.92%) - Linalool has been seen to have anti-anxiety and depression-relieving effects. It also has protective effects on the liver, kidneys, and lungs.
  • Cineole (11.26%) - Cineole has been proven to help bronchodilators. In a recent study, cineole has been proven to have noticeable positive effects on patients suffering from acute bronchitis in a mere time period of 4 days.

Benefits of Natural Camphor 

Camphor is available in the form of oil, creams, and ointments. It can be easily absorbed from the skin and mucous membranes. Below are the some of the great benefits camphor offers:

  • Pain Relief - It interacts with the sensory nerve receptors and acts as an analgesic. It is used to relieve muscle and joint pain. In a recent study, Camphor has been proven to have desensitizing solid properties. Its inhibitory effect on TRPA1 produced the desired analgesic effects.
  • Arthritis Relief - Camphor improves blood circulation and reduces swelling and inflammation. So, it is used to help relieve the pain from arthritis and other rheumatic disorders.
  • Treatment of Skin Conditions - Camphor helps cure itchiness, sunburns, eczema, rashes, and heel cracks. It is also used to treat acne, pimples, scars, and reduce wrinkles caused by UV light.
  • Suppression of Cough - One of the most commonly sought aftereffects of camphor is cough-suppression. Camphor relieves congestion in bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections.
Natural camphor for use in pain relieving ointments

Camphor is a naturally obtained compound with numerous health benefits. The active ingredients in camphor have promising analgesics and anti-inflammatory properties, making it one of the most powerful active ingredients in topical Doctor Hoy’s® Pain Relief Gel. Camphor combined with encapsulated menthol, provide inflammation relief, improving backpain, muscle soreness, and symptoms of arthritis.

Although camphor is generally safe when used in small amounts, it can be toxic if swallowed or inhaled in large quantities. Therefore, it should be used with caution and only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

Sources:

1. Chen W, Vermaak I, Viljoen A. Camphor--a fumigant during the Black Death and a coveted fragrant wood in ancient Egypt and Babylon--a review. Molecules. 2013;18(5):5434-5454. Published 2013 May 10. doi:10.3390/molecules18055434 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6270224/

2. Harada H, Kashiwadani H, Kanmura Y, Kuwaki T. Linalool Odor-Induced Anxiolytic Effects in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:241. Published 2018 Oct 23. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00241

3. Laude EA, Morice AH, Grattan TJ. The antitussive effects of menthol, camphor and cineole in conscious guinea-pigs. Pulm Pharmacol. 1994;7(3):179-184. doi:10.1006/pulp.1994.1021

4. Worth H, Schacher C, Dethlefsen U. Concomitant therapy with Cineole (Eucalyptole) reduces exacerbations in COPD: a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Respir Res. 2009;10(1):69. Published 2009 Jul 22. doi:10.1186/1465-9921-10-69

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