7 Surprising Uses of Camphor Essential Oil

The essential oil of camphor is derived from the camphor trees which are native to Japan, China and Taiwan. In fact, they come from 2 types of camphor trees - the Common Camphor tree (Cinnamomum Camphora) and the Borneo Camphor (Dryobalanops Camphora).

It is extracted through a steam distillation process of the root stumps, branches, leaves and chipped woods of the tree. The oil derived comes in three types - white camphor oil, brown camphor oil and yellow camphor oil. Yet, only the white camphor oil is safe to be used medicinally, with a range of health benefits, so for the purposes of this article, we are referring to white camphor oil.

Before its coming to Florida in the late 1800s, camphor was widely used and cultivated in China. Soon enough, its health benefits and uses became popular so much so that it spread to other parts of the world, such as Sri Lanka, India, South Africa and Egypt. These places, with their warm and tropical climates, are suitable to grow and cultivate camphor plants.

Camphor oil has a very strong fragrance where some might find it pungent whereas others might like its fresh, clean and menthol-like scent. Ultimately, it can be blended well with other essential oils like rosemary, chamomile, lavender, sweet basil and eucalyptus oils. Read on to find out more about its health benefits and uses!

Health Benefits of Camphor Oil:

1. Offers Pain Relief from Muscle Aches

One of the most popular uses of camphor oil is that it is an extremely good pain reliever agent for muscle aches, stiffness and spasms. Being an antispasmodic, it helps to relieve spasms and cramps, even effective at curing extreme spasmodic cholera. Since it also contains anti-inflammatory and sedative properties, this makes it a good all-natural remedy to soothe and relax your sore and aching muscles.

As such, if you are suffering from aching muscles after a long, exhausting day or from exercise, then you can try this analgesic camphor essential oil for some effective pain relief.

In fact, the famous Tiger Balm analgesic topical ointment for muscle ache relief contains camphor along with menthol, mint, clove and cajeput essential oils as their main, active ingredients!

How to Use it: By diluting camphor oil with a carrier oil (such as jojoba, coconut or olive oil), gently massage it onto the affected muscular areas for pain relief. Alternatively, you can add about 5-6 drops of the oil into your warm, bathing water for an all over the body soak.

2. Offers Pain Relief from Arthritis and Rheumatism

Camphor oil is also an excellent antiarthritic and antirheumatic agent. Due to its anti-inflammatory and sedative nature, it helps to soothe aching and stiff joints brought about by these conditions.

Furthermore, the oil promotes regular and active blood circulation and detoxification of the body, which thus helps to provide relief to these rheumatic, arthritis and gout conditions since these ailments are also caused by the lack of proper blood flow to the joints and muscles and toxic substances being deposited into the bloodstream and joints. As such, camphor oil can help to provide immense relief to these conditions.

Additionally, camphor oil is an antiphlogistic, meaning it helps to reduce swelling of the body parts which is yet another beneficial effect of proper circulation.

How to Use it: Mixed with a carrier oil, you can make a massage blend and apply it to the affected areas for a cooling sensation that provides immense pain relief!

3. Offers Pain Relief from Neuralgia and Headaches

Camphor essential oil, with its soothing and analgesic properties, is also an effective antineuralgic agent. Neuralgia is a condition where the Ninth Cranial Nerve is affected because of swelling of nearby blood vessels. This hence makes it painful and can cause severe headaches. However, the oil helps in that it serves to reduce the pressure on the cranial nerve, thus helping to soothe and relieve pain.

How to Use it: Proceed to rub 1-2 drops of diluted camphor oil at your temples and back of the neck area for some relief from headaches.

4. Offers Relief from Respiratory Problems

The strong fragrance of camphor oil is an exceptionally good decongestant. This means it can clear out excess phlegm and mucus that is lodged in your respiratory and nasal passageways. Thus it helps to relieve congestion and provide freer, unobstructed airflow along these important respiratory tracts for immediate respiratory relief. Hence, camphor oil can alleviate colds, coughs, flu, bronchitis and other respiratory-related problems.

How to Use it: You can inhale camphor oil in small doses from the palms of your hands and cup it over your face. Alternatively, you can distil about 2-3 drops of the oil in a diffuser, vaporizer or burner in the home or next to your bed at night.

5. Helps to Treat Wounds

Camphor essential oil is also great for healing minor wounds, cuts, scrapes and burns due to its antibacterial and antiseptic nature. It effectively kills off bacteria lingering on the skin and prevents infections or complications from occurring as well as accelerates the healing process. Therefore, it is a useful disinfectant addition to have to your first aid kit!

Additionally, its anti-fungal properties help to prevent any unsightly and harmful fungal infections from forming on your skin. For example, a 2014 research found in the US National Library of Medicine website database found that camphor oil showed the highest percentage of growth inhibition of various fungal bacteria and it is seen to be the most effective antifungal agent, out of neem, castor and citronella essential oils.

How to Use it: Simply apply a small drop of diluted camphor essential oil onto the affected area, while being careful to avoid application on open wounds and cuts. If you add about 5-6 drops of camphor oil into warm, bathing water, it also seeks to disinfect your entire body externally as it helps to kill off lice and other small parasites or bugs that may be on your body, leaving your body nice and truly clean!

6. Offers Relief from Insomnia and Anxiety

Because of its sedative and relaxant attributes, camphor essential oil is great for soothing tense nerves and reducing the severity of nervous disorders, epileptic attacks and chronic anxiety. It helps to ward off feelings of anxiety and tension within you and relaxes your mind drastically. As such, you will feel calm and more at ease with yourself, thus helping you to sleep better. Therefore, it also has the effect of inducing a peaceful and restful good night’s rest as it helps you to battle insomnia!

How to Use it: You can diffuse camphor oil into a diffuser or vaporizer and put it in your room for aromatherapy relief. Alternatively, you can put about 5-6 drops of it in warm, bathing water to unwind and relax yourself after a long and exhausting day.

7. As an Insect Repellant

Because of its antibacterial properties, camphor oil is also an effective and potent germicide and insecticide to ward off those pesky and unwanted creepy crawlies that enter into your house. It can effectively kill off flies, mosquitoes, silverfish, carpet beetles and many other intruders that are undesirable and unhealthy. With its fresh aroma, it can also help to keep your house smelling fragrant and nice, while keeping all these insects out of your house.

How to Use it: You can add camphor oil to a spray bottle containing water and proceed to spray it all over the house and your clothes to keep these pesky creatures out. Alternatively, you can soak a piece of cloth with diluted camphor oil and place it outside your doorstep, thus warding off all these creatures from coming in, in the first place.

Safety Precautions:

Camphor oil has a slightly numbing effect on your nerves so be careful to only apply it topically onto your skin and into your bathing water in small doses.

Care should be taken when using camphor oil because it is highly strong to avoid potentially hazardous and negative effects.
Camphor oil is known to possess some narcotic effects as it desensitizes the nerves and relaxes the brain. Furthermore, its smell can be somewhat addictive. Therefore, when distilling or inhaling the oil, be sure to only put small doses and do not inhale for too long.
Children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should avoid using camphor oil.
When applying the oil onto your skin, be sure to dilute it well with a carrier oil first (such as coconut, jojoba or almond oil) before applying and do a skin patch test first to ensure no sensitive, allergic or irritant reactions crop up.
Do not apply camphor oil to open wounds or broken skin.
Do not ingest camphor oil as it is poisonous and toxic and can result in liver damage/seizures.
Only the white variety of camphor oil should be used as the yellow and brown camphor oil are toxic.
Signs of camphor toxicity include nausea, vomiting and a burning sensation in the mouth and throat area so please stop and seek medical help urgently if you experience any of these symptoms after using the oil.