White Camphor
Also called: Camphor
Profile
| Latin Name | Cinnamomum camphora |
| Chinese Name | Zhang Nao |
| Family | Lauraceae |
| Note | Top |
| Aroma | <Soft> Spicy, sharp |
| Color | Clear (if brown, yellow, then contains toxic safrol) |
| Parts Distilled | Leaves & Bark |
| Regions | China, Japan, Taiwan |
| Taste | Spicy, Sweet |
| Nature | Hot |
| Affinity | HT, LU, SP |
| Major Chemical Constituents | Ketone (methyl cinnamate), Linalool, Oxide (cineole) |
| Skin Type | NIA, can irritate mucous membranes |
| Dosage | 4% dilution |
TCM Categories
- Resolve Phlegm (Turbid phlegm)
- Invigorate Blood
- Open Portals (especially the heart)
- Expel Parasites
- Subdue (internal) wind
Functions
- Open the portals and expel turbidity (shock, depression)
- Invigorate the Blood for blood stasis pain
- Stimulate the Heart to promote sweat for wind cold
- Expels Wind and Dampness, such as lymph congestion
- Destroy parasites (for scabies with a cup of sea salt into the bath)
Indications
- Deficient Heart Qi with palpitations, weak limbs, low blood pressure, chest distress, fatigue, shortness of breath, sweat upon exertion (HT-5, BL-14, BL-15, PC-6)
- Turbid Phlegm (CV-12, ST-40, SP-6, SP-9; SI-18, GB-13, ST-8)
Topical Applications
- Apply 4% dilution for scabies, ringworm, and itching sores.
Other Applications
- Diffuse for shock and loss of consciousness.
- Diffuse as an insect repellent.
Specific Protocols
- Apply 4% dilution for fullness/emptiness of Heart Luo.
- Tick bite – dilution in sesame, St. John's Wort oil, or safflower oil, right after a tick bite, put it on the bite within 72 hours to defend against Lyme disease. Do not depend on this action alone, follow up.
Actions
- Analgesic
- Circulatory stimulant
- Insecticide
- Mucolytic
- Anti-epidemic
Contraindications & Cautions
- Toxic
- Not Used During Pregnancy
- Not for Pre-Pubescent Children
Notes
- Pregnancy can be seen as an accumulation of phlegm, which you do not want to resolve
- Toxic and can irritate mucous membranes
- Good adjunct for wind cold when heart is the culprit
- Strongly opens the heart orifice and resonates strongly with the heart
- Helps dissolve obstacles in the heart so someone can be fully present. Promotes eternal presence.
- Strong to moves things quickly into the sinews
- Long term use can reduce restlessness, dizziness, palpitations
- Good for exhaustion that comes from over extension
- Strongly relates to the heart
- Used on LR 3, can connect us with the deceased through our dreams
- Burned to prevent the spread of disease
- Good to decongest the lymph nodes from turbid phlegm
- Helps with inability to sweat due to heart blockage
- Can open the sinuses
- Lymph congestion
- Promotes sweat
- Good assistant oil, wind-cold, with heart break
- Tick bite
- Earth element – over exhausted themselves by over caring for others
- Strongly resonates with the Heart
- Dissolves obstacles to the heart allow full presence
- For shock and depression
Additional Comments
- Long-term use of Camphor will produce restlessness, dizziness, and palpitations.
- Borneo camphor (Dryobalanops aromatica) is less toxic and is used for the plague and nerve exhaustion
From Class
- Camphor: Strong-smelling oils like camphor are more arousing; sweet-smelling oils more soothing. (Lewis)
- Camphor, styrax, borneol (sacred aromatics): Placed beneath the nose with the renewal axis to open the sensory portals and reach any remaining consciousness. (Lewis)