Camphor is an organic substance, a terpene ketone. Camphor or camphor are traditional names. The correct chemical name is 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo-[2.2.1]-heptan-2-one. Formula C10H16O.
Camphor is a natural compound found in the essential oils of many plants. Most of it is in the oil of camphor laurel, rosemary, all types of wormwood, and basil.
Currently, camphor is produced in three types: • completely natural, which is isolated from the wood and resin of the camphor laurel (grows in Southeast Asia); • semi-synthetic, extracted from fir oil; • synthetic, it is extracted from turpentine. Already in the 19th century, it was established that synthetic and semi-synthetic camphor is in no way inferior to natural camphor in its chemical and medicinal properties.
| Propanol 2 (isopropyl alcohol) | Camphor imp., packaging 0.5 kg |
Beneficial properties of camphor
Camphor oil is used mainly for medical purposes and in cosmetology .
In medicine, camphor is used for the treatment and therapy of epilepsy, bronchitis, asthma, gout, for various joint diseases, muscle inflammation, for colds and coughs, for arrhythmia and neurosis, as well as for the prevention of bedsores in patients.
Neurasthenia and neurasthenic syndrome
It is worth paying attention to the fact that in pharmacy chains camphor oil costs a penny. The reason for this price is that pharmaceutical camphor does not use natural camphor, but mostly semi-synthetic or synthetic camphor, but do not be upset at the end of the 19th century, chemists and pharmacists came to the conclusion that, according to the chemical properties, natural and semi-synthetic
Camphor is not much different; it is also as effective as natural camphor when used externally, for rubbing and compresses.
Camphor is a recognized medicine and aromatherapy agent.
This is my article.
Source: Collection No. 1 of the Institute of Aromatherapy // Institute of Aromatherapy. // Ed. Sakova I.V. - St. Petersburg: LLC Publishing House "LEMA", 2015.
Plants containing camphor have been used since ancient times. There is a lot of camphor in basil, rosemary, wormwood, camphor laurel, and fir. It is also found in many other fragrant plants.
Moreover, the scope of use of camphor is not limited to medicine and aromatherapy. For example, both camphor-containing plants and pure camphor are an effective means of combating moths. Camphor is used in cooking. And starting from the 20th century. it is actively used in the production of certain plastics, types of gunpowder and even chemical barometers.
Camphor is a bicyclic terpene.
One of the physical properties of camphor is optical rotation. Accordingly, dextrorotatory, levorotatory camphor and racemate (a mixture of dextrorotatory and levorotatory) camphor are distinguished.
Dextrorotatory natural camphor is extracted from the camphor tree Cinnamonium camphora.
Chemical composition of whole camphor essential oil: 1,8 cineole, camphor, monoterpene hydrocarbons, safrole, alpha-terpineol, camphor, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.
Synthetic levorotatory camphor is obtained from Siberian fir or Scots pine. The semi-synthesis of camphor racemate is based on pinene, which is found in large quantities in turpentine, extracted from Pinus sylvestris.
The main amount of camphor is found in wood.
In China and Japan, camphor is obtained by steam distilling wood shavings. The yield of camphor after separating it from the liquid part of the oil can reach 2-3%.
On the Black Sea coast, camphor laurel is used as a source of camphor. The raw material for distillation is young shoots, cut from the tree twice a year: in June-August and October-February. Yellowed leaves are richest in camphor.
Camphor is isolated from the resulting essential oil by freezing, after which it is purified by sublimation.
Other plants (camphor basil, camphor wormwood, etc.) have been studied as possible sources of camphor. But until now, obtaining camphor from fir oil remains the most cost-effective method. In particular, a chemical analysis of the Siberian fir foot from Evenkia was analyzed and a high content of camphor in the essential oil was found - 4.4%.
Synthetic racemic camphor, obtained from turpentine, is allowed only for external use. Dextrorotatory natural camphor is used both internally and externally.
In production, a medicinal form of camphor is obtained - a 20% solution of camphor in oil for injection. The composition of this injection oil solution: 200 g of camphor and peach oil up to 1 liter. It is an oily, transparent liquid of light yellow color with the smell of camphor.
For medicinal purposes, crystalline camphor is used in the form of white crystalline pieces or colorless crystalline powder, or pressed tiles with a crystalline structure. Hard camphor is easily cut with a knife and sticks together into lumps.
Camphor has a strong characteristic odor and a spicy, bitter, cooling taste.
It easily turns into powder in the presence of a small amount of alcohol and chloroform. When triturated with phenol, menthol, thymol or chloral hydrate, it forms thick transparent liquids (eutectic mixtures).
The melting point of camphor is 174-180 °C. The melting point of the racemate (a mixture of dextrorotatory and levorotatory camphor) is 171-178 °C. But it easily sublimates at room temperature, forming crystalline sublimation in the upper parts of the vessel in which it is stored. Therefore, camphor is stored in a separate cabinet, in tightly closed jars, in a cool place. 20% oil solution of camphor for injection is stored in a place protected from light.
When heated gently, the camphor evaporates without charring.
Camphor is slightly soluble in water, easily soluble in 95% alcohol, petroleum ether, fatty and essential oils. Very easily soluble in ether and chloroform.
In official medicine, camphor is used as a stimulant of the central nervous system, a cardiotonic agent for infectious and other diseases accompanied by acute cardiovascular failure, as well as for shock conditions in case of respiratory depression due to pneumonia, in case of poisoning with sleeping pills and narcotic substances. Used as a sterile 20% oil solution.
When injected under the skin, solutions of camphor in oil reflexively stimulate the respiratory and vasomotor centers. It also has a direct effect on the heart muscle, enhancing metabolic processes in it and increasing its sensitivity to the influence of “sympathetic nerves”. Under the influence of camphor, peripheral blood vessels narrow.
Excreted from the body through the respiratory tract, it promotes the separation of sputum.
There are indications that camphor inhibits platelet aggregation, and therefore it can be recommended to improve blood microcirculation.
Camphor is combined with bromides (bromocamphor), tincture of valerian (camphor-valerian drops) to enhance the sedative effect.
Use a 10% solution of camphor in sunflower oil and 10% ointment for rubbing and compresses for muscle pain, rheumatism, arthritis, 1 and 2% camphor alcohol to prevent bedsores.
Camphor is included in some dental drops.
Preparations for external use, which include camphor:
- Camphor ointment (Unguentum Camphoratum). Ingredients: camphor 10 g, turpentine oil 20 g, purified pork fat 40 g, paraffin 10 g, petroleum jelly up to 100 g. Yellow ointment with the smell of camphor.
- Camphor alcohol (Spiritus camphoratus). Ingredients: camphor 10 g, alcohol 90% 70 ml, water up to 100 ml. Transparent colorless liquid with the smell of camphor.
- A solution of camphor and alcoholic salicylic acid (Solutio Camphorae et Acidi salicylici spirituosa). Ingredients: camphor 50 g, salicylic acid 10 g, alcohol 70% up to 1 l. Transparent colorless liquid with the smell of camphor.
- Camphocinum. Liniment. Ingredients: camphor 15 g, salicylic acid 3 g, castor oil 5 g, purified turpentine oil and methyl salicylate 10 g each, capsicum tincture up to 100 g. Transparent liquid of reddish-yellow color with a specific odor.
- Drops "Denta" (Guttae "Denta"). Ingredients: chloral hydrate and camphor 33.3 g each, alcohol 95% up to 100 ml.
- Dental drops. Ingredients: camphor 6.4 g, mint oil 3.1 g, valerian tincture up to 100 g.
When applied topically, camphor preparations have an irritating (distracting) and partly antiseptic effect.
Camphor oil is most effective for pathologies of the respiratory system, musculoskeletal system and neuropsychic sphere.
Indications for the use of camphor in aromatherapy:
- Depression, anxiety, overwork, chronic fatigue syndrome, apathy, stress and post-stress states, irritability, hysteroid reactions, insomnia, shock reactions.
- Bradycardia, myocardial dystrophy, arterial hypotension, impaired peripheral and general microcirculation.
- Acute and chronic bronchitis, cough, pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza, ARVI, high body temperature.
- Stomach and intestinal colic, constipation, flatulence, vomiting, helminthic infestation, cholelithiasis, nausea.
- Urinary retention, urolithiasis.
- Arthritis, fibrositis, gout, osteochondrosis, muscle pain, sprained ligaments and tendons, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism.
- Burns, frostbite, bruises, bedsores, ulcers, poorly healing wounds, lice.
- Flaky and inflamed skin, oily skin, sweating.
- Toothache, unpleasant body odor, high body temperature.
Camphor preparations are contraindicated for epilepsy and a tendency to convulsive reactions, bronchial asthma, childhood and pregnancy.
Camphor in aromatherapy is used in low and medium dosages (maximum 10%). High dosages can have a toxic effect on the nervous system.
Camphor is a medium volatile essential oil. In mixtures it goes well with some low-volatile (patchouli, frankincense, myrrh) and medium-volatile (geranium, lavender, rosemary) essential oils.
Recipes for camphor oil mixtures for aromatherapy:
- Oil lotion: 30 drops of camphor essential oil per 100 ml of base fatty oil (olive, peach, apricot kernels, sweet almond, sunflower, etc.). Use for local massage or rubbing (chest, neck, back for respiratory pathologies, infections; joint area - for arthritis and arthrosis; back - for rheumatism; stomach and lower back - for cholelithiasis; back, chest, upper limbs - for arrhythmias ). Course of treatment: 1 procedure per day for 10-14 days (bronchitis, influenza, acute respiratory infections, ARVI, pneumonia, arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism, arrhythmias).
- 2. Water lotion for rubbing: 4-5 drops of camphor essential oil per 500 ml of water. Use 1-5 times a day for 2-5 days as an antipyretic at elevated temperatures.
- Cold compress: 500 ml of cold water, 3-5 drops of camphor essential oil. Use at elevated temperatures, as well as for sprained and damaged ligaments.
Recipes for cosmetics with camphor:
- Sugar scrub (120 g). Ingredients: peach oil – 5 tsp; emulsifier Polawax – 2 g; camphor – 1 g; sugar – 100 g. Melt butter and emulsifier in a water bath. Add crystalline camphor to the cooling oil. Carefully move until the camphor is completely dissolved. Pour sugar into the oil solution. To stir thoroughly. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. Use once a week for the entire body as a gentle exfoliating, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory agent.
- Oil slabs for feet (100 g). Ingredients: cocoa butter – 80 g; shea butter – 10 g; sweet almond oil – 1 tsp; wheat germ oil – 1 tsp; camphor – 2 g. Melt the oils in a water bath. Add crystalline camphor to the cooling mixture of oils. Carefully move until the camphor is completely dissolved. Pour the oil solution into the molds. Place in the refrigerator. Wait until the oil mixture has completely hardened. Remove the finished tiles from the molds. Store in the refrigerator in a glass jar. Use daily before bed as a softening, moisturizing, deodorizing agent.
- Hydrophilic body tiles (100 g). Ingredients: shea butter – 20 g; apricot kernel oil – 15 g; cocoa butter – 40 g; emulsifier Polawax – 25 g; camphor – 2 g. Melt the oils and emulsifier in a water bath. Add crystalline camphor to the cooling mixture of oils. Carefully move until the camphor is completely dissolved. Pour the oil solution into the molds. Place in the refrigerator. Wait until the oil mixture has completely hardened. Remove the finished tiles from the molds. Store in the refrigerator in a glass jar. Use as a cleanser in the shower or bath (instead of soap) or as a moisturizer, emollient, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic after a shower or bath (instead of cream).
- Deodorant (130 g). Ingredients: baking soda – 60 g; potato starch – 30 g; cocoa butter – 15 g; shea butter – 15 g; beeswax – 7 g; camphor – 2.5 g; lavender essential oil – 15 drops; rosemary essential oil – 15 drops. Melt the oils and wax in a water bath. Add crystalline camphor to the cooling mixture of oils. Carefully move until the camphor is completely dissolved. Pour baking soda and starch into the oil solution. To stir thoroughly. Place the resulting mixture into molds. Place in the refrigerator. Wait until the mixture hardens completely. Remove the finished deodorant bars from the molds. Store in the refrigerator in a glass jar.
Camphor is widely used in both academic and traditional medicine. Moreover, its dosage forms are varied: from solid crystalline camphor to whole camphor essential oil, as well as alcohol and oil solutions, including injection ones.
The use of camphor in academic medicine is prescribed in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation: a stimulant of the central nervous system, a cardiotonic agent for infectious and other diseases, an antishock agent in case of respiratory depression in pneumonia, in case of poisoning with hypnotics and narcotic substances. In industrial and pharmaceutical production, a large number of camphor preparations are produced: ointments, solutions, drops, powders.
Aromatherapy expands the use of camphor to a larger number of pathologies. Includes indications for gastrointestinal diseases, genitourinary diseases and skin disorders (cosmetology and dermatology).
At the same time, camphor is very convenient for home use. It easily dissolves in oil and alcohol, does not require very strict safety requirements (restrictions in use are associated with contraindications - childhood, pregnancy and some pathologies).
Therefore, taking into account the variety of indications and methods of use, as well as the ease of preparing simple camphor preparations at home, we believe that camphor can take its rightful place in the arsenal of an aromatherapist and cosmetologist.
Literature:
- Glushchenko N.N., Pletneva T.V., Popkov V.A. Pharmaceutical chemistry. – M.: Publishing House, 2004;
- State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation. Twelfth edition. M.: Publishing house "Scientific Center for Expertise of Medicinal Products", 2008;
- State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR. Tenth edition. M.: Medicine, 1968;
- State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR. Eleventh edition. Issue 1. M.: Medicine, 1987;
- Kuleshova M.I., Guseva L.N., Sivitskaya O.K. Analysis of dosage forms manufactured in pharmacies. M.: Medicine, 1989;
- Mashkovsky M.D. Medicines. M.: New Wave: Publisher Umerenkov, 2010;
- Melentyeva G.A., Antonova L.A. Pharmaceutical chemistry. M.: Medicine, 1993;
- Muravyova D.A., Samylina I.A., Yakovlev G.P. Pharmacognosy: textbook. M.: Medicine, 2007;
- Peli F.F. Aromatology. M.: Medicine, 2001;
- Sakov I.V. Aromapsychology. Rostov-on-Don: Phoenix, 2006;
- Pharmaceutical chemistry: textbook. manual / ed. A.P. Arzamastseva. M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2008.
Chemical properties of camphor oil
Camphor - has a number of beneficial properties, including sedative and anti-inflammatory .
- Pinene – softens the skin and has an analgesic effect, helps relieve pain shock for a long time.
- Limonene – has a strong antibacterial and antifungal effect.
- Cineole – promotes the removal of phlegm and has antiseptic properties.
- Bisabolol – increases skin firmness and elasticity.
- Camphene – has an anti-inflammatory and antiviral effect, useful for the treatment of diseases of the respiratory systems.
- Safrole – normalizes metabolism and the functioning of the human sebaceous glands.
The effect of crystalline camphor on the human body
Crystalline camphor has a versatile effect on the human body. It has found application in the treatment of joints, muscle diseases, upper respiratory tract, ears, teeth and a number of other problems. In cosmetology, camphor helps fight pigment spots and treat hair loss.
Effect of camphor when applied externally
In the form of rubbing and compresses, camphor has the following effects:
- relieves inflammation;
- softens;
- relieves pain;
- fights harmful and pathogenic microorganisms.
Effect of camphor when taken orally
When using camphor internally:
- has a vasoconstrictor effect;
- has a cardiotonic effect;
- helps with expectoration of phlegm;
- has a metabolic effect.
Use of camphor oil in medicine
In medicine, camphor oil is used to improve conditions and treat in a variety of ways.
Otitis
The most common are compresses used to treat various skin inflammations, wounds and burns. Camphor oil is also effective for ear diseases such as otitis; the oil must be dripped into the sore ear.
For acute respiratory diseases, massage and rubbing with camphor oil is necessary; it will significantly alleviate the condition of rheumatism, pain in muscles and joints. For respiratory diseases, colds, runny nose and cough, use camphor oil in the form of inhalation.
Camphor oil is also used in aromatherapy to treat insomnia and nervous disorders. It is also important to take into account that camphor oil for bedsores should be used only for preventive purposes; applying camphor oil to already formed wounds is strictly prohibited.
Rheumatism
Contraindications to the use of camphor oil
Camphor oil is not recommended for internal use, only for external use. So you should pay more attention to the use of camphor oil for the following diseases:
- Patients with epileptic seizures.
- People with increased hypersensitivity.
- Children under 2 years old.
- The use of camphor oil during pregnancy is strictly prohibited.
- If you are allergic to the components of camphor oil.
- So you should take into account the moments of individual intolerance to camphor oil; for some, the smell causes nausea, vomiting, and headaches.
In this section we will look at unique traditional medicine recipes using camphor and camphor oil.
Reviews about the use of Camphor
Camphor has gained great popularity in cosmetology. Today, the drug is more often used in cosmetology , as more modern and powerful drugs have appeared for the treatment of heart and respiratory dysfunction. Camphor is also often prescribed to treat low blood pressure and apathy.
With this use, patients note a real stimulating effect, more often it is short-term in nature and requires the complex use of other medications.
When administered subcutaneously for the treatment of heart failure, breathing problems and intoxications, positive dynamics were achieved only with a combined course of therapy.
As a separate means to stabilize the patient's condition, Camphor helped only in emergency cases, after which the prescription of stronger medications was required.
Of the side effects, patients most often complained of itching and swelling at the injection site. Sometimes headaches and dizziness were noted.
Disorders such as convulsions, delirium, and live embolism are exceptional and do not have a high risk of occurrence.
Attention! If you have experience using any form of Camphor externally or internally, please share your opinion on the treatment in the comments. Report side effects. How vividly the symptoms manifested themselves, how quickly they stopped. This information is required to correctly design a course of treatment.
Compress based on camphor oil
Scars
To prepare this compress, you need to fold, preferably in five layers, a sterile, wide bandage and moisten it generously in camphor oil.
Apply a bandage soaked in camphor oil to the area of the scar or scar, cover it with a thick cloth or preferably a bag, and then wrap it with a thick cloth. Keep this procedure for an hour, repeat this procedure every week for a month, if the body has good tolerance to camphor oil, the compress can be applied at night.
This compress also helps well with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, joint diseases, arthritis, arthrosis, etc. For colds, cough and runny nose, it is necessary to use camphor oil in combination with milk.
It is necessary to add up to 5 drops of camphor oil to a glass of milk (preferably fat). Take the bottom mixture 2 times a day, repeat the procedure until complete recovery. It is also recommended to improve and speed up the results by rubbing camphor oil in the chest area of the back and heels.
This is interesting
Camphor is used to make an original metrological instrument called stormglass (baroscope). A mixture of camphor, ammonia, potassium nitrate, alcohol and water is placed in a hermetically sealed flask. In good weather the mixture is completely transparent. If the weather deteriorates, crystals begin to form in the flask and the solution becomes cloudy. This chemical barometer was used by the English meteorologist, vice admiral and hydrographer Robert Fitzroy. He described in detail the behavior of the device during his sea voyages, so now this barometer is often called after him. Because of its simplicity and compactness, the chemical baroscope was then used for a long time to predict the weather on English ships. It has now been proven that precipitation in stormglass depends not on the weather, but on the room temperature.
