Cinnamomum camphora (Linn.)
Family : Lauraceae
English : Camphor
Hindi : Karpoor
Gujarati : Kapur
Sanskrit : Karpura
Part used : Satva (Crystal)
Botanical Description: A handsome, profusely branched, evergreen, 30m in height; leaves simple, alternate, leathery, shiny, aromatic, long petiolate, ovate or oblong, 3-nerved, 5-10cm long, flowers yellowish white in axillary panicles; fruits dark green, ovoid or globose, turning black on ripening. Flowering – fruiting during July to December. The camphor is formed in the oil cells distributed in all parts of the tree but obtained mainly from the leaves and also from the stems by distillation. The camphor oil is separated during the process. The camphor is in the form of an amorphous powder which is moulded into different shapes.
It is found throughout India.
Ayurvedic Properties and Uses :
Rasa : Tikta, Katu, Madhura
Guna : Laghu, Tiksna, Snigdha
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Caksusya, Durgandhanasaka, Hrdya, Lekhana, Madakaraka, Medya, Pacana, Tridosahara, Vedanasthapana, Vrsya
Modern Pharmacological Action: The oil was found to possess mycostatic effect against Aspergillus flavus. Camphor, the main constituent increased the twitch response in isolated rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation and was reported to inhibit Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholera and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, causative organism of diarrhoea and dysentery. Camphor is also used as a nervous depressant in hysteria, epilepsy, convulsions and as an aphrodisiac. It enhances sexual desire, motivation and sexual performance. The enhancement of sexual desire by camphor might be mediated through the increase of the synthesis of testosterone in male.
