Camphor Essential Oil

Camphor oil is truly unique. Find out the properties, uses and benefits of camphor essential oil below.

Quick Glance at Camphor Oil

Pros: Camphor oil is calming, antifungal and insecticidal.

Cons: Camphor oil is toxic if ingested.

Precautions: Besides its toxicity (when ingested), camphor oil may contain traces of safrole which is a known mild carcinogen.

Properties of Camphor Oil

Here are some properties of camphor essential oil that you should know.

Name

The botanical name for the camphor tree is Cinnamomum camphora.

You will notice this is similar to cinnamon's botanical name (Cinnamomum verum) so verify the name before buying camphor essential oil.

Color & Scent

The essential oil is typically colorless to very pale yellow. The scent is strong, medicinal, slightly minty, and similar to eucalyptus essential oil.

Compounds

Compounds in camphor oil are dependent on the part of the plant used.

When the leaves are used, you can find (obviously) camphor (which makes up about 80% of the oil), eucalyptol, camphene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, alpha-terpineol, alpha-phellandrene and borneol.

Camphor Oil Benefits

These compounds definitely add to the unique benefits of camphor essential oil. Here are just a few.

1. Camphor oil can ease stress

A 2014 study tested the sedating effects of camphor essential oil on mental stress and the recovery process from stress responses.

The study asked 20 participants to perform speech and arithmetic tasks. Two parameters of the stress response were then measured. And the results showed camphor essential oil helped participants recover faster from stress than the control group.

The study concluded that camphor oil could produce sedative effects on the autonomous nervous system.

2. It may be anti-cancer

A 2013 study briefly mentioned that camphor essential oil was toxic to human breast cancer cells.

3. It is anti-fungal

Camphor essential oil has proven antifungal activity. In fact, a 2008 study verifies this and recommends camphor oil as an effective fungitoxicant.

4. Camphor oil is insecticidal

Camphor is a common compound used to keep moths and other insects out of your cupboards. And camphor essential oil has very high levels of camphor. So you can use camphor oil to get rid of insects!

A 2013 study showed that camphor leaf essential oil had insecticidal effects against fruit flies, fire ants, butterfly larvae, and midge. Effects against mosquitoes and flies have also been proven.

Uses of Camphor Essential Oil

You have already seen the properties and benefits of camphor oil. Now, let's look at some uses.

Inhaling

Camphor oil is not one to be trifled with. It may have traces of safrole, which is a known mild carcinogen. Typically, commercially-available camphor oil is distilled several times to remove this compound. However, this must be verified prior to using the oil.

Once verified, you can add one drop of the oil to your diffuser for a medicinal scent. You can also blend it with other essential oils like basil, black pepper and cajeput.

Massaging

You should make sure there is no safrole in your essential oil before using camphor on your skin. If you aren't sure, just don't use it.

If you have guarantees that there is no safrole (like from chemical data analysis), you should do a patch test to see if you are allergic to the oil. Once you're not allergic, you can add one drop of camphor oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil like coconut oil.

More Precautions

Camphor oil is very toxic if ingested. Even just a little can cause thirst, vomiting, and poisoning. So be very cautious and keep it out of the reach of kids and pets.

And, due to the potency of this oil, check with your doctor before using it, even if you are not part of high-risk groups (like pregnant, breastfeeding women or elderly persons).

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