10 benefits of camphor Pleasant scent Good body maintenance

Herbs like camphor smell fresh and fragrant. Camphor also has many medicinal and beneficial properties.

It is believed that many people are deeply attracted to the smell of camphor and often inhale it to improve their freshness. But did you know that camphor has more health benefits? And also has enough interesting medicinal properties Let's conclude, let's get to know camphor better.

This camphor is Thai and what is the English name? Camphor is scientifically known as Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl. It is a plant of the family Lauraceae, while the English name of camphor can be called Camphor or Menthol. In Thailand, it is called camphor. There are also other names such as cinnamon, Yuan, Promseng or Jialo (Thai people of Chinese descent).

Camphor is a large perennial. Height from 9-30 meters, trunk and branches smooth. Every part of the camphor tree is fragrant. Especially at the roots and the base of the tree is more fragrant than the other. Camphor is a single leaf. They are alternately oval or elliptical, 2-7 cm wide, 5-11 cm long, approx. Are arranged opposite each other The leaves have a light aroma and the young shoots are covered with brownish yellow leaves.

Flowers into a bouquet of separate branches The flowers will be clusters along the fork of the leaf. Small white, yellow or green flowers Flowering from June to July. Camphor is oval, rather round. The fruit is slightly pulp. There is 1 seed, the size of the fruit is 6-10 mm long, dark green when ripe, it changes from green to black. The white scales of camphor that we have seen and know Will be crystals inserted in the wood of the camphor tree Which will be throughout the tree In the cracks of the wood

But it is most abundant in the core of the roots and the core of the tree. The part near the base of the tree is more camphor than the higher part. Camphor powder is small, round, white, dry flakes that may clump together and crumble easily and if left in the air, it will sublimate completely. The bark, roots and branches can be extracted into essential oils.

Camphor benefits Helps to maintain health.
1. Solve sprains.
Camphor has a very hot, drunken taste. Help relieve pain and strain, sprains, relieve foot sprain, relieve joint pain by using scrubbing on the body. But most of the camphor is mixed into a sprain remedy, along with properties such as the "paralysis" remedy, which contains other herbs that help relieve pain in the tendons, muscles, hands, feet, stiffness or numbness.

2. Solve the poison of insect bites.
In most insect bites or balsams, camphor contains camphor. Because camphor has the effect of detoxifying insect bites.

3. Expel expectorant, expectorant
Of the Thai Traditional Medicines 2015 (No. 1) states that if it is a component of the drug used internally. Camphor has properties periodic maintenance expel phlegm disability element relieve colic, abdominal pain and help distribute air.

4 Stroke symptoms
Thailand's National Drug Plan 2558 (No. 1), stated that the properties of camphor, dizziness, headache, nausea, stimulates the heart and the car using menthol as an ingredient in a drug used externally.

5. Cordial
Camphor often. Will be made into various aromatic drugs such as Hom Thep Chit has properties to nourish the heart, nourishing elements, expel, sweaty, diuretic and cold, congestion.

6. Relieve stomach pain
On the National List of Major Medicines It was found that camphor was used in conjunction with other herbs as a converting drug. Has properties to relieve stomach pain Solve non-infectious diarrhea Relieve indigestion, etc.

7. Relieve menstrual pain.
Beautiful blood recipes And drug prasapai Which contains camphor in combination with other herbs and has properties to relieve menstrual pain Help normal menstruation Amniotic fluid excretion in women after childbirth And treat abnormal menstruation symptoms Or less menstrual periods.

8. Relieve toothache
People in the old days used camphor to fill the aching teeth. To relieve toothache And now, camphor is used as a mixture of toothpaste, herbs and mouthwash. To help keep the mouth fresh.

9. Antibacterial
Faculty of Pharmacy Ubon Ratchathani University The results showed that the antibacterial activity of camphor was found that pinoresinol in camphor was the most effective inhibiting and killing of B. subtilis, followed by P. aeruginosa, a bacteria that spoiled food. Especially meat, which contains pinoresinol in camphor has the potential to develop into natural preservatives.

10. Anti-inflammatory
There is research on the properties of camphor in the area of ​​anti-inflammatory. Which the research results showed Camphor has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting cells that induce inflammation. Inhibits the formation of molecular bundles And immune system cells that come together in the area of ​​inflammation However, such experiments are in animal studies. Therefore, it is necessary to continue studying the anti-inflammatory effects of camphor in people.

In addition, if the camphor is placed in the room Or wardrobe Camphor will help repel insects and repel mosquitoes as well.

Camphor disadvantages
Most of us see camphor as an external drug. Which indicates that camphor is an herb that should not be eaten It is reported that Eating 3.5 grams of camphor can cause death. And if you eat more than 2 grams of camphor at a time, it will cause unconsciousness. And toxic to the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and brain may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness. Muscle tremors, convulsions, impaired brain function, confusion,

However, usually the body has a mechanism to excrete camphor through urine. It is similar to the removal of alcohol from the body. Therefore, if not over-sized camphor It will not residue until it is harmful to the liver and kidneys.

Often addicted to camphor salts, is it dangerous?
Inhalation of inhaled camphor may not be harmful. Because it has been diluted in the appropriate amount of camphor Not toxic to the body However, in the case of inhalation of camphor at air concentrations greater than 2 ppm (2 parts per million or 2 mg / m3), it may cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat.

However, the toxicity of camphor is dangerous. Life is camphor with a concentration of 200 mg/m3, and most of the camphor toxicity occurs only when we ingest it. Therefore, camphor is recommended as an external drug. And using the appropriate size camphor will be safer.