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Botanical Name: Cinnamonum camphora (T. NEES and EBERM.) Siebold [Fam. Lauraceae]
Family: N.O. Lauraceae
Synonyms: Laurel Camphor. Gum Camphor.
Part Used: Gum.
Habitat: Camphor tree comes from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and adjacent parts of East Asia,Formosa official in the U.S.P. Dryobalanops aromatica is indigenous to Borneo and Sumatra.  It grows in mesic forests and on well-drained sites along streambanks. Camphor has become widely naturalized in Australia. In the United States, it is grown along the Gulf Coast and in California, and has escaped cultivation and become naturalized in many areas.

Description:The camphor tree is a dense broadleaved evergreen that is capable of growing 50-150′ tall and spreading twice that wide with a trunk up to 15′ in diameter, though the largest U.S. specimens are only half that size and those in the Caribbean are even smaller. The shiny foliage is made up of alternate 1-4″ oval leaves dangling from long petioles. Each leaf has three distinct yellowish veins.
The outer margins of the leaves tend to be somewhat wavy and turn upward. The new foliage starts out a rusty burgundy color, but the leaves soon turn dark green on the upper sides and paler green underneath. New branches emerging from the shallowly fissured grayish brown trunk are smooth and green. Twigs are usually green, but may be tinged with red when young. The inconspicuous tiny cream colored flowers are borne in the spring on branching 3″ flower stalks. They are followed by large crops of fruit, comprised of round pea sized berries attached to the branchlets by cuplike little green cones. The berries first turn reddish, then ripen to black. Camphor tree can be readily identified by the distinctive odor of a crushed leaf.

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Cultivation:Camphor prefers fertile sandy soil. It will tolerate a pH anywhere in the range of 4.3 to 8. The roots are very sensitive to disturbance. They may extend far from the trunk of the tree, and can readily be identified by their characteristic odor.
Light: Camphor will grow in full sun or partial shade.
Moisture: Camphor tree does not do well in wet soils. Established trees are tolerant of drought.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 – 10. Hardened off camphor trees can survive freezes down to 10-15 F, but new growth will suffer freeze burn when the temperature drops below 32 and branches will die back from temperatures in the low twenties. Propagation: Camphor seed does not remain viable for long and should be planted in the greenhouse as soon as it ripens. Remove the fruit pulp first. At 68 F, germination will take 1-6 months. Cuttings of semiripe side shoots can be rooted in a warm humid place in midsummer. Pieces 2-3″ long with a heel work best.

Uses:Camphor is widely planted as a shade tree, screen, or windbreak. In China and Japan, it is grown commercially for its medicinal oil. Camphor oil has a strong penetrating fragrance, a pungent bitter flavor, and feels cool on the skin like menthol, though it also has irritating qualities as well as a numbing effect. Camphor has been used to treat ailments ranging from parasitic infections to toothaches. Scientific evidence has confirmed that chemicals in the plant have value in antiseptics and medications for treating diarrhea, inflammation, itching, and nervous conditions. Camphor wood is prized for its attractive red and yellow striping, amenability to woodworking, and insect repelling properties. It is light to medium in weight and soft to medium in hardness. Wood from the camphor tree is not especially strong, but it takes polishing well. It is commonly used for chests, closets, coffins, instruments, and sculptures. Camphor veneer is used in fine cabinetry. Camphor is also used in perfumes.

This is a sturdy storm resistant tree which makes a good windbreak. Since it is hard to burn, it should also be valuable as a shade tree in areas that are prone to wildfires. Unfortunately, these desirable traits are offset by the tree’s invasiveness and damaging effects on wildlife and natural communities. This fine tree should be grown and appreciated in its native range, but not planted in other regions where species and ecosystems have not adapted to its aggressiveness and toxicity. Camphor tree should not be grown in the United States

Modern uses include as a plasticizer for nitrocellulose, as a moth repellent, as an antimicrobial substance, in embalming, and in fireworks. Solid camphor releases fumes that form a rust-preventative coating and is therefore stored in tool chests to protect tools against rust. Camphor crystals are also used to prevent damage to insect collections by other small insects.

In the 18th century, it was used by Auenbrugger in the treatment of mania.

It is also believed that camphor will deter snakes and other reptiles due to its strong odor. Similarly, camphor is believed to be toxic to insects and is thus sometimes used as a repellent.

Camphor is widely used in Hindu religious ceremonies. Hindus worship by lighting a holy flame by burning camphor which forms the most important part of many religious ceremonies. Camphor is used in the Mahashivratri celebrations of Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction of (re)creation. As a natural pitch substance, it burns cool without leaving an ash residue, which symbolizes consciousness. Of late, most temples in Dravidian lands have stopped lighting camphor in the main Sanctum Sanctorium due to heavy deposits of carbon, however, open areas do use camphor.

It is also found in clarifying masks used for skin.

Recently, carbon nanotubes were successfully synthesized using camphor in chemical vapor deposition process.

Culinary Uses:
Currently, camphor is mostly used as a flavoring for sweets in Asia. In ancient and medieval Europe it was widely used as ingredient for sweets but it is now mainly used for medicinal purposes. Camphor was used as a flavoring in confections resembling ice cream in China during the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907). Camphor is widely used in cooking (mainly for dessert dishes) in India where it is known as Pachha Karpooram (literally meaning “green camphor” though “Pachha” in Tamil can also be translated to mean “raw” which is “Pachha Karpooram’s” intended meaning). It is widely available at Indian grocery stores and is labeled as “Edible Camphor.” In Hindu pujas and ceremonies, camphor is burned in a ceremonial spoon for performing aarti. This type of camphor is also sold at Indian grocery stores but it is not suitable for cooking. The only type that should be used for food are those which are labeled as “Edible Camphor.”

Active Ingredients:
Purified Camphor contains only the compound, camphor. Cinnamomum camphora volatile oil contains: Camphor as the most abundant component; azulene; bisabolone; alpha-bisabolene; beta-bisabolene; borneol; cadinadiene; cadinene; cinnamonol;  cineole; p-cymene; cymol; citronellic acid; citronellol; cuminalcohol; cresol; cubenol; cuminaldehyde; eugenol; geraniol; kaempferol; linalool; alpha-pinene, and other monoterpenes.

Medicinal Uses:

Traditional Usage:
- Analgesic
- Anesthetic
- Antinflammatory
- Antiseptic
- Antinflammatory
- Back Pain
- Bile Stimulant
- Bone and Joint Conditions
- Breathing Disorders
- Bronchial Congestion
- Bronchitis
- Cellular Regeneration
- Central Nervous System Stimulant
- Chest Rub
- Circulation Stimulant
- Coughs
- Digestive Disorders
- Expectorant
- Fatigue
- Flatulence
- Indigestion
- Insecticide
- Insect Repellent
- Moth Repellent
- Muscle Pain
- Nasal Congestion
- Stimulant
- Stomachache
- Vascular Disorders

Camphor is readily absorbed through the skin and produces a feeling of cooling similar to that of menthol and acts as slight local anesthetic and antimicrobial substance. There are anti-itch gel and cooling gels with camphor as the active ingredient. Camphor is an active ingredient (along with menthol) in vapor-steam products, such as Vicks VapoRub, and it is effective as a cough suppressant. It may also be administered orally in small quantities (50 mg) for minor heart symptoms and fatigue.

Camphor is used in several cough preparations such as Vicks and Buckley’s as a cough suppressant and topical analgesic.

Camphor has a strong, penetrating, fragrant odour, a bitter, pungent taste, and is slightly cold to the touch like menthol leaves; locally it is an irritant, numbs the peripheral sensory nerves, and is slightly antiseptic; it is not readily absorbed by the mucous membrane, but is easily absorbed by the subcutaneous tissue- it combines in the body with glucuronic acid, and in this condition is voided by the urine. Experiments on frogs show a depressant action to the spinal column, no motor disturbance, but a slow increasing paralysis; in mankind it causes convulsions, from the effect it has on the motor tract of the brain; it stimulates the intellectual centres and prevents narcotic drugs taking effect, but in cases of nervous excitement it has a soothing and quieting result. Authorities vary as to its effect on blood pressure; some think it raises it, others take an opposite view; but it has been proved valuable as an excitant in cases of heart failure, whether due to diseases or as a result of infectious fevers, such as typhoid and pneumonia, not only in the latter case as a stimulant to circulation, but as preventing the growth of pneumococci. Camphor is used in medicine internally for its calming influence in hysteria, nervousness and neuralgia, and for serious diarrhoea, and externally as a counter-irritant in rheumatisms, sprains bronchitis, and in inflammatory conditions, and sometimes in conjunction with menthol and phenol for heart failure; it is often given hypodermically, 3 to 5 grains dissolved in 20 to 30 minims of sterile Olive oil – the effect will last about two hours. In nervous diseases it may be given in substance or in capsules or in spirit; dose 2 to 5 grains. Its great value is in colds, chills, and in all inflammatory complaints; it relieves irritation of the sexual organs.

Toxicology
In larger quantities, it is poisonous when ingested and can cause seizures, confusion, irritability, and neuromuscular hyperactivity. Despite the rather low skin absorption it may still lead to hepatotoxicity in extreme cases. Lethal doses in adults are in the range 50–500 mg/kg (orally). Generally, 2 g causes serious toxicity and 4 g is potentially lethal.

In 1980, the United States Food and Drug Administration set a limit of 11% allowable camphor in consumer products and totally banned products labeled as camphorated oil, camphor oil, camphor liniment, and camphorated liniment (except “white camphor essential oil” contains no significant amount of camphor). Since alternative treatments exist, medicinal use of camphor is discouraged by the FDA, except for skin-related uses, such as medicated powders, which contain only small amounts of camphor.

Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:

http://www.seedman.com/tree1.htm

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/campho13.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camphor

http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/Canada/HealthInformation/Encyclopedias/Camphor.htm

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