Synonyms/Common Names/Related Substances:

• 1,8-cineole, (1R,4R)-1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo [2.2.1]heptan-2-on, 2-bornanone, albero della canfora (Italian), alcanfor (Spanish), alcanfor del Japón (Spanish), alcanforero (Spanish), alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol, árbol del alcanfor (Spanish), arvore da camphora (Portuguese), beta-pinene, Blumea balsamifera (Compositae), Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., Borneo camphor, C₁₀H₁₆O, camphire, camphor laurel, camphor tree, camphora, Camphora camphora (L.) Karst., Camphora officinarum Nees, camphorin, camphortree, camphre (French), camphre du Japon (French), camphrier (French), Campher (German), candra (Sanskrit), canfora (Italian), canforo (Italian), cemphire, chang (Chinese), cinnamomin, Cinnamomum camphora, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Nees & Eberm., Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Siebold [Fam. Lauraceae], Cinnamomum camphora Sieb, cutakkarpuram (Malayalam), cynamonowiec kamforowy (Polish), D-camphor, D (+) camphor, DL-camphor, Dryobalanops aromatica (Dipterocarpaceae), Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertner f., Formosa camphor, Formosan wood, Fujisawa camphor, gum camphor, ho-sho, Japanese camphor, japanischer Kamferbaum (German), kafrovník lékařsky (Czech), kafrovník pravý (Czech), kafur (Urdu), kamfer (Norwegian, Swedish), kamferboom (Dutch), kamferipuu (Finnish), kamferträd (Swedish), kámforfa (Hungarian), kamfornii lavr (Russian), kamfornoe derevo (Russian), Kampfer (German), Kampferbaum (German), kapoor (Hindi), kapur (Hindi), kapur Barus (Malay), kapuur (Nepali), karabun (Thai), karpoora (Hindi), karpur (Hindi), karpura (Sanskrit, Kannada), karpurah (Sanskrit), karpuram (Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil), karpuramu (Telugu), korichnik kamfornii (Russian), kusunoki (Japanese), laurel camphor, laurier du Japon (French), lauro canforo (Italian), Laurus camphora L., limonene, mushkapur (Hindi), nagi camphor, ngai camphor, nok na mu (Korean), op choei yuan (Thai - Central Thailand), pacca karpuram (Telugu), pacchakarpuram (Hindi), patckafur (Urdu), payok (Burmese), payuk (Burmese), phrom send (Thai - Shan, Northern Thailand), Ravintsara aromatica, sabinene, subhramsu (Malayalam), terpinen-4-ol, true camphor, viridiflorol, xiang zhang shu (Chinese), zhang (Chinese), zhang nao (Chinese), zhang shu (Chinese).
• Selected combination products: JointFlex® (camphor, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, peppermint oil), Korodin® Herz-Kreislauf-Tropfen (D-camphor from Chinese Cinnamomum camphora plus liquid extract of fresh hawthorn berries), Triaminic® Cherry Menthol Vapor Patches, Satogesic™, Campho-Phenique®, Vicks® VapoRub®.

Clinical Bottom Line/Effectiveness

Brief Background:

• Camphor can be a natural or synthetic product or a mixture of both. The natural product comes from the wood of the camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl, which is typically found in Asia.
• Germany's Commission E has approved camphor for internal use for hypotonic circulatory regulation disorders and catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract, and externally for muscular rheumatism, catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract, and cardiac symptoms. Commission E has also approved fixed combinations of camphor, eucalyptus oil, and purified turpentine oil for inhalation or external use for catarrhs of the respiratory tract, as well as for external use for pain in the muscles and joints in patients with non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
• A number of promising combination products incorporating camphor, as well as other supplements such as glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, peppermint oil, and hawthorn berries, have reduced pain from osteoarthritis (1) as well as improved mean arterial pressure in patients with orthostatic hypotension (2;​3).
• Camphor and camphor-containing products are generally applied as topical formulations. Ingestion of such preparations is not recommended, as they are potentially poisonous and may induce a number of adverse and potentially fatal side effects. Several case reports have described intoxication following the use of camphor as traditional medicine (e.g., coining), and poisonings following accidental consumption of pharmaceutical products containing camphor (e.g., liquid Campho-Phenique®, Vicks® VapoRub®).

Dosing/Toxicology

• Content available for subscribers only.

Precautions/Contraindications

• Content available for subscribers only.

Interactions

Most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested for interactions with other herbs, supplements, drugs, or foods. The interactions listed below are based on reports in scientific publications, laboratory experiments, or traditional use. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy.

• Content available for subscribers only.

Mechanism of Action

• Content available for subscribers only.

History

• Content available for subscribers only.

Evidence Table

• Content available for subscribers only.

Evidence Discussion

• Content available for subscribers only.

Products Studied

• Content available for subscribers only.

Author Information

• Content available for subscribers only.

References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

• Content available for subscribers only.