Camphor

Posted on March 10, 2026 by AyurvedicOils

Camphor has a chemical formula of C10H16O. It has a strong aromatic odor and is highly flammable. It is seen in trees related to the laurel family, such as Ocotea usambarensis. The dried leaves of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), which belong to the mint family contain a composition of up to 20% camphor.

It is a terpenoid with a white or transparent solid like appearance that has a waxy texture.

It’s also found in large evergreen trees of Sumatra, Indonesia and Borneo in Asia, kapur tree which is a tall timber tree from the same region, and the wood of the camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora).

Besides this, camphor can also be synthetically produced from the oil of turpentine. Another major resource of camphor spotted in Asia is the parent of African blue basil, which is also known as camphor basil.

Uses of Camphor:

Camphor is usually used for its scent; commonly used in India for the purpose of cooking and medicine, as an embalming fluid in religious ceremonies. Camphor can also be used as a plasticizer for nitrocellulose in explosives, fireworks and in certain explosive ammunition.

While looking through Arabic language cook books, and through the history of ancient and medieval Europe, we see that camphor is used for cooking both sweet and savory dishes as well.

As of today, most sweets of Asia use camphor as a flavoring agent. In India it’s known as kachha karpooram or “pachha karpoora” in the common tongue and is available in Indian grocery stores under the label of “edible camphor”. It’s also used as a pest deterrent and preservative.

Since its properties make it toxic to insects, it’s also used as a repellent. In India it’s commonly used as mothballs and kept to protect clothes in the cupboard. Ironically, camphor crystals are used to avoid damage to insect collections by other small insects.

Therapeutic Uses of Camphor:

Camphor as an essential oil has the properties of an antispasmodic, stimulant, anti-neuralgic, decongestant, sedative, anti-inflammatory, anesthetic, antiseptic, and nervous pacifier, disinfectant, and insecticide substance.

The property of camphor makes it easily absorbed through the skin; using this ability camphor is used as a local anesthetic and antimicrobial substance. It is also commonly used as a decongestant, and a cough suppressant; it’s used along with menthol in vapor-steam products, such as Vicks VapoRub.

Camphor was also used in ancient Sumatra to treat sprains, swellings, and inflammation. It also dates back to the 18th century, where camphor was used by Auenbrugger to treat mania. Camphor dissolved in alcohol was used in 1854-1855 to treat the cholera epidemics in Naples.

Camphor as an Anesthetic & Nervous Pacifier:

Camphor when applied to an area causes lack of sensation of the sensory nerves and reduces the severity of nervous disorders and convulsions, nervousness, epileptic attacks, and chronic anxiety; hence it acts as a good anesthetic and is very effective for local anesthesia.

A study on ‘The anaesthetic effect of camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)’ was conducted, where the aim of this study was to assess the use of camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), mint (Mentha arvensis), and clove (Syzygium aromaticum), essential oils as anesthetics on clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris).

The result proved that “all of the essential oils exhibited the biological activity of an anesthetic on the specimen A. ocellaris. The 27, 70 and 500 μL L−1 concentrations of clove, mint, and camphor oils promoted surgical anaesthesia after 310.5, 312.0, and 535.0 s (medians) respectively.”

Camphor in Treatment of Cancer, Diabetes & Alzheimer’s:

Camphor has been used traditionally for many years, on its own and in combination with other chemicals in the treatment for inflammation and irritation in body and skin, and for the relief of pain. It has been used for centuries, all around the globe in the treatment of a variety of symptoms such as inflammation, infection, congestion, pain, irritation, etc.

Several studies have proved that some of the components of Cinnamomum camphora achieve suppressive and anti-mutagenic results on a variety of human cancer cells without harming the healthy cells.

A study on ‘Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), a traditional remedy with the history of treating several diseases’ focused on making use of camphor as a quick household medication to solve day to day minor problems; as well as looking into information about the new applications of this traditionally used, naturally occurring medication to treat or prevent some critical acute diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Since Cinnamomum camphora has been very effective in treating and preventing some serious, life threatening diseases; Camphor and its components should be investigated further as a viable option in the treatment of different types of cancer.

Additionally, more studies on the application of camphor for patients with memory disorders and brain dysfunctions such as in autism and Alzheimer’s are needed.

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Menthol

Posted on March 10, 2026 by AyurvedicOils

Menthol solid at room temperature, and is white, crystalline and waxy in nature. It retains its solid state at room temperature and melts slightly above. It is originally found in the form of corn mint, peppermint, or other mint oils, and the organic compound made synthetically from it.

It imparts a minty flavor, fragrance and cooling effect to essential oils it’s seen in.

It is widely used to relieve minor throat irritation, as menthol has local anesthetic and counter-irritant qualities. This makes it very common in non-prescription products for short-term relief of minor sore throat and minor mouth or throat irritation.

It is also used to relieve minor aches and pains, such as sprains, muscle cramps, headaches and similar conditions. It is mixed with chemicals such as camphor, eucalyptus oil or capsaicin to form topical analgesics.

It is also used as an antipruritic to reduce itching. In perfumery, menthol is used to prepare menthyl esters to emphasize floral notes. It is used as a decongestant for chest and sinuses, used to treat sunburns and in aftershave products to relieve razor burns.

Menthol is used in certain cigarette brands as a smoking tobacco additive, which also increases the density of nicotine receptors, making it an addictive potential of tobacco products. It is used in soda to alleviate nausea, in particular motion sickness, by pouring a few drops on a lump of sugar.

A study on ‘Menthol: a simple monoterpene with remarkable biological properties’ stated that menthol can only be found as a constituent of a limited number of aromatic plants, and hence not a prime compound of most essential oils.

This compound is known to show signs of high biological activity in vitro and in vivo, displaying antibacterial, antifungal, antipruritic, anticancer and analgesic effects, and are also an effective fumigant.

Menthol is used in food and in oral hygiene products such as mouth and tongue-spray, mouthwash, toothpaste and more generally as a flavoring agent in chewing gums and candies. It acts as an antispasmodic or a muscle relaxant in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. It is also used in the cosmetic industry in products such as hair conditioners.

A 2013 study on ‘Chemical composition and biological properties of essential oils of Two mint species by Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science and Providence University, published in the Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research’ established the effects of menthol against inflammation and microbes.

This study showed that the two mint essential oils contain more alcohol and terpene and the major compound was menthol. The antimicrobial activity of peppermint against E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was stronger than that of chocolate mint.

For the anti-oxidation test using DPPH radical and β-Carovtene-linoleic acid assay, peppermint showed better properties than chocolate mint. However, for the scavenging NO radical activity, chocolate mint was superior to peppermint. Chocolate mint also showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity than peppermint.

Based upon the Gas chromatography report and Material Safety Data Sheet, both the oils of Peppermint and Chocolate mint contains menthol as the primary chemical constituent, responsible for its promising remedial attributes.

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Ayurvedic Essential Oils For Eczema

Posted on March 10, 2026 by AyurvedicOils

Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as Eczema is the most predominant skin problems in the world. The term ‘Eczema’ is extracted from the Greek word ‘ekzein’, which means ‘to boil out’. Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that makes the skin dry, itchy, cracked, scaly and reddened.

It is an auto-immune disease that affects people of both the gender and many of the General Practitioners say that the number of persons diagnosed for eczema is gradually increasing every year especially in North America, Western Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. Ayurveda, the ancient healing system considers eczema as a symbol of imbalance in the human body for which it suggests the use of enriching Ayurvedic essential oils along with herbs, yoga, meditation and following an Ayurvedic routine.

Causes of Eczema: Thousands of reasons can be attributed to this auto-immune disease but eczema is said to worsen due to mental stress. Research studies also say that Eczema is common in children and numerous children who are affected by Atopic eczema also have the chances of developing asthma.

The exact reason for eczema is still not known yet the major causes of eczema are hereditary reasons, environmental factors, food and other dietary concerns, agents that cause dermatitis or eczema also known as allergens, the effect of chemical substances present in skin care products, detergents and toiletries, pet fur and much more. A reliable research done by a group of allergy experts reveal that eczema is on the rise especially in children between 6 and 7 years old in developing countries.

Symptoms of eczema: Eczema is a long-term disease that requires intense treatment. When left unnoticed, eczema gets aggravated and may lead to other serious conditions. The most prevalent symptoms of Atopic dermatitis are:

Dry, broken and cracked skin on the body mainly legs, arms, neck, back of the ears, hands, kneels, face, wrist, upper chest and eyelids.
Itchy, reddened, swollen and inflamed skin on the affected areas. This gets worsened in the night time and prolonged itching might end up in thickened and raw-looking skin.
Reddish or pale brown color patches appear on the skin and may develop small bumps and blisters.
In the extreme cases skin becomes hot, scaly, extremely dry, and sensitive. It starts oozing liquid and will attract other infections due to bacteria and other harmful foreign bodies.

Ayurveda and eczema: Eczema is termed as Vicharchika in Ayurveda. It is said that the imbalance of all the three doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha cause eczema. This skin disorder due to vata imbalance causes extreme dryness and induces severe pain and itching on the affected part. Eczema due to pitta vitiation causes burning sensation and induces oozing from the bumps whereas Kapha predominant eczema makes the skin thick along with oozing and swelling. Ayurveda is a holistic healing science that considers every individual unique with a unique constitution. Though eczema is a universal disease, Ayurvedic treatments for this disorder is specific to an individual’s physical, mental, social, environmental and spiritual set up.

Ayurvedic remedies for Eczema: Ayurvedic experts state that ‘Vicharchika’ occurs mainly due to the human body’s incapability to generate enough moisture in the skin and the abridged functioning of the immune system and the imbalance of the doshas. Ayurvedic treatments recommend keeping yourself away from those food items that are sour or salty as these can intensify your eczema. Adding turmeric, coconut, avocado, yogurt, ghee, butter to your diet has the potential to improve your skin by reducing inflammation and increasing the moisture in the skin. Ayurvedic herbs like licorice and valerian root soothes the nerves and promotes the physical balance of your body.

Turmeric is an excellent antiseptic and a renowned Nutritionist and Chinese Herbalist Daniel C. Luthi in his extensive research on Atopic Dermatitis says that the yellow pigment known as Curcumin present in Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and is an excellent remedy to inhibit the release and production of leukotrienes and other mediators that are inflammatory and helps in removing the toxins from the body that cause eczema and other skin disorders.

Ayurvedic oils for Eczema: Essential oils are the purest form of oils and are perfect in healing numerous skin disorders including eczema. The best recommended Ayurvedic essential oils for eczema are Lavender essential oil, Patchouli essential oil, Rosemary oil, Tea tree oil, Cypress oil, Thyme oil, Cedarwood oil, Chamomile oil and Palmarosa oil.

Physicians from the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy in California suggest the use of a natural blend of essential oils for eczema. This blend contains 1 ml of Lavender oil and Palmarosa oil along with 10 ml of calophyllum diluted in Rose Hip Seed oil (6 teaspoons). Topical application of this blend on the affected areas will stimulate repair of cells and gradually reduce itching.

Adding few drops of Evening primrose oil to your bath tub or when used as medicated oil increases the level of omega fatty acids lacking in people affected by eczema. This oil contains gamma-linolenic acid known as GLA, which is frequently used to treat people with such skin conditions as it checks skin inflammation and allergy while evading the conversion process.

In the popular book named ‘Aromatherapy Workbook’, Shirley Price suggests the use of Frankincense essential oil, Myrrh essential oil, Hyssop essential oil for weeping eczema and Juniper essential oil and Geranium essential oil for normal eczema. Carrier oils like Borage oil, Almond oil, Calendula oil are also recommended for treating eczema.

Along with these Ayurvedic treatments, practicing simple Yoga and meditation can calm your senses, soothes your nerves and brings in tranquility to your mind thus lessening the severity of eczema.

Thought for the day:

Glamour is about feeling good in your own skin. -Zoe Saldana

Suggested reading:

Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda By Pratima Raichur, Mariam Cohn
Aromatherapy for Eczema By Miriam Kinai
New Choices in Natural Healing: Over 1,800 of the Best Self-Help Remedies from the World of Alternative Medicine By Doug Dollemore

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