Camphor has a long history of herbal use in the Orient with a wide range of uses. It has occasionally been used internally in the treatment of hysteria, but in modern day herbalism it is mainly used as the essential oil. Cinnamomum Camphora, two varieties of camphor is mentioned by Sanskrit writers, namely, pakva and apakva that is prepared with the aid of heat and without it. The latter is considered superior to the former. It would seem from the above description that by the term apakva karpura, was probably meant the camphor obtained in Borneo from the trunk of Dryobalanops aromatica (Shorea Camphorifera) and by the term pakava karpura, the China camphor obtained by sublimation from the wood of Cinnamomum Camphora.
Health Benefits of Camphor
The Rajanirghantu describes an oil of camphor under the name of Karpura Taila. It is said to be useful in rheumatism and in giving firmness to loose teeth. This oil is not recognized or used by the native practitioners of the present day, but it most probably meant the camphor oil or liquid camphor obtained my making incisions on the Borneo camphor tree.
Camphor is regarded as carminative, stimulant and aphrodisiac; it is used in fever, diarrhoea, impotence, cough, eye-diseases, etc. It is also much used in the preparation of medicinal oils for imparting fragrance to them, singly as well as in combination with other aromatic substances.
Dose of Camphor in Medicine
Camphor enters into the composition of numerous medicines for the diseases mentioned above. The following is an illustration.
Karpura Rasa: Take cinnabar, opium, camphor, tubers of Cyperus rotundus (mustaka), indrajava seeds and nutmegs, equal parts; powder the ingredients and make into 4 grain pills with water. These pills are used in diarrhoea.
Camphor, rubbed with the milky juice of Ficus Bengalensis, is recommended to be applied to opacities on the cornea. It also enters into composition of several collyria. A small tent made with camphor is introduced into the urethra for the relief of irritability of the bladder and frequent micturition.
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