Camphor is an organic compound of natural origin containing oxygen.
It looks like a white or transparent powder, whose granules have the shape of a crystal. It is also characterized by a strong specific smell.
Camphor Origin
In nature, camphor is found in the essential oils of various plants. Its largest amount was found in wood and tar of camphor laurel. It is from it that camphor, called natural, is extracted. There is also semi-synthetic camphor obtained from fir oil, and synthetic camphor, for the manufacture of which turpentine is processed.
Many believe that the most useful and safe camphor is natural. However, it is made of medications for internal use only. Synthetic and semi-synthetic camphors are part of the products for external use only, but they are not inferior to natural ones by the strength of the effect.
Camphor: properties
Camphor is an analeptic, that is, a substance that excites the central nervous system, namely its respiratory and vasomotor centers. This is manifested in increased breathing, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and narrowing of peripheral vessels.
In addition, when applied topically, camphor acts on body tissues and has an irritating, distracting, disinfecting, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. This helps improve tissue nutrition, accelerate the removal of decay products and heal affected areas.
In case of inhalation treatment with camphor aroma, improvement of cerebral circulation, removal of fatigue and depression, elimination of general weakness and improvement of sleep are noted.
It is for these properties of camphor that it is so appreciated in medicine.
Camphor: use in medicine
Camphor is used as a solution for injection and is administered subcutaneously with a decrease in vascular tone and respiratory depression.
These symptoms are characteristic of deadly health conditions: collapse, hypotension, shock, fainting, chronic heart failure, myocarditis, endocarditis, carbon monoxide poisoning, sleeping pills and drugs.
Thanks to the introduction of camphor, you can bring to life a person who has been exposed to harmful effects and has begun to suffocate or lose consciousness from weakness.
In addition, when camphor acts on the body, the state of the heart muscle improves and the metabolism in the cells accelerates, blood flow in the vessels leading to the brain and lungs increases, which can significantly improve the patient's condition.
There are camphor preparations for external use, such as camphor alcohol or camphor oil. What are they used for?
Local use of these drugs is indicated for damage to tissues, muscles, nerves and joints. The healing effect is observed in the treatment of burns, purulent wounds, frostbite, bruises, bruises, trophic ulcers. Treatment occurs by applying compresses, ointments or lotions with camphor to the affected areas. The same method is indicated for the prevention of pressure sores in motionless patients.
In complex treatment, camphor preparations help get rid of muscle and joint pain arising from arthralgia, myalgia, sciatica, radiculitis, and neuralgia.
Camphor: methods of application
To relieve pain in muscles or joints, as well as with neuralgia, it is necessary to mix 5 drops of 10% camphor oil and 1 tbsp of any massage oil. With this mixture, rub the affected area and cover it with a clean cloth. Camphor ointment, which can be used in pure form, is well suited for these purposes.
Aromatherapy helps with fatigue, prolonged insomnia, stress: place 2 drops of camphor essential oil in a bowl of aroma lamp and inhale the aroma.
For otitis media (inflammation of the ear), swabs soaked in camphor oil and applied behind a sore ear can help. From above they are covered with polyethylene and insulated with a woolen bandage. Hold such a compress should be about 30 minutes, then remove.
To heal ulcers, wounds and hematomas, camphor alcohol must be diluted in half with water, moisten sterile tissue with this solution and compresses the affected areas of the body. It is advisable to cover the compress with a warm dressing. Instead of alcohol, camphor oil for external use can also be used; it is advisable to mix it with sunflower oil in equal proportions so as not to cause an allergic reaction of the body.
For colds with severe coughing, rub the patient’s chest, back and feet with camphor oil at night and wrap it warmly.
Camphor ointment or diluted camphor alcohol is prescribed for the prevention of pressure sores in immobile patients. The procedure is carried out after hygiene measures. The patient needs to treat those parts of the body that are under pressure (blood flow is disturbed in them). These places are rubbed with camphor oil or ointment, or camphor alcohol in half with water, two to three times a day to prevent the formation of pressure sores. This must be done daily while the patient is in this condition.
Caution - camphor!
There are many recipes using camphor inside, but this is fraught with side effects. For example, with otitis media, it is recommended to instill camphor oil in a sore ear, for which use undiluted 10% oil for external use. However, otitis media may be complicated by perforation of the eardrum, and ingestion of oil may aggravate the patient's condition.
Attention! If you do not know for sure whether camphor is natural in your medicine cabinet, you should not bury it in your ears, nose or drink, as this can cause serious consequences. It is better to limit yourself to external use and aromatherapy.
Camphor has a mild sedative effect, so it is not recommended to use it for patients whose activity requires attention and quick response.
Remember that after contact with camphor, you need to wash your hands, as it is absorbed into the skin quite quickly, and if you are reckless, it can get into your eyes or mouth.
Before self-medicating, test your sensitivity to camphor by placing it in a small amount on the skin and observing the body's reaction.
Do not inject camphor for injection under the skin yourself, as only a competent medical professional can do this. Camphor for injection is diluted with fatty oil, which can freeze when it enters the vessel and clog it.
It is better not to use camphor preparations without consulting a doctor.
Preperty
Since camphor is a powder, for convenience it is diluted in various substances.
Solution for injection 20% - a solution of camphor in olive oil or peach for subcutaneous administration.
Before use, the solution should be heated to body temperature to avoid solidification. Do not allow the solution to enter the vessel, this can lead to its blockage.
Camphor essential oil is a concentrated product that should only be used in a highly diluted form.
Camphor oil 10% for external use - a solution of camphor in sunflower oil.
Camphor ointment - a mixture of camphor, petroleum jelly, paraffin and lanolin for external use.
Camphor alcohol - a solution of camphor in 90% alcohol for external use.
Camphor alcohol 2% - a solution of camphor in low alcohol.
Alcohol solution of camphor and salicylic acid.
"Camphocin" - a mixture of camphor, salicylic acid, turpentine oil, methyl salicylate, castor oil, tincture of capsicum.
"Denta" (tooth drops) - a mixture of camphor with chloral hydrate and alcohol. Prescribed for toothache.
Tooth drops with camphor, peppermint oil and tincture of valerian are a calming, analgesic, and distracting agent.
"Cameton", "Camphomen" - aerosols for the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, containing camphor.
"Camphorfen" is a liquid used in dentistry and containing camphor.
There are many more drugs where camphor is the active substance. The composition of other components in them can be very diverse. For example: ointment “Capsicam”, “Revma-gel” “Finalgon” “Sanitas” and others. All of them are prescribed mainly for external use to relieve inflammation and anesthesia.
All camphor preparations lose their properties when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and therefore require storage in a dry, dark and cool place.
It is released without a prescription.
Camphor: contraindications
There are contraindications to the use of drugs, which include camphor. Instructions for use contain the following warnings.
Contraindications for subcutaneous administration of camphor: sensitivity to the drug, tendency to seizures (epilepsy), insufficient lactation in nursing women, chronic heart failure, aneurysm (bulging wall) of large vessels.
Contraindications for topical use of camphor: open wounds on the skin, hypersensitivity to the drug, a tendency to allergic reactions.
Camphor: use with caution
During pregnancy, camphor is undesirable, since it easily penetrates the placental and blood-brain barrier.
When breastfeeding, camphor can enter the baby’s body through milk, and its use also reduces the amount of breast milk.
Camphor is contraindicated for children under the age of 2 years, but for children in general, caution should be taken with camphor preparations.
Camphor: side effects
For preparations that include camphor, the instructions for use should be strictly observed in order to avoid the following negative reactions from the body.
With subcutaneous administration, blockage of the vessels with an oil solution may occur - oil embolism. In addition, the wrong dosage or individual sensitivity to the drug can cause respiratory arrest and cramps, headache, dizziness, and increased irritability.
When applied topically to the skin, allergic reactions may occur: rashes, irritation, itching.
If any side effects occur, discontinue use of camphor preparations and consult a doctor.