Skip to main content

Home Remedy for Coughs, Colds and Muscle Pain

Home Remedy for Coughs, Colds and Muscle Pain

Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) is sold as an essential oil, often labelled camphor oil, and is used as a home remedy for inflammation, muscle pain, coughs and congestion. Noted for its strong odour, camphor has long had a wide range of uses in traditional medicine. Now modern science is beginning to unravel the secrets of this intriguing substance.




What is camphor oil?

A white, waxy solid material when extracted and purified, camphor is present throughout the wood, roots and leaves of the camphor laurel tree. For hundreds of years, it has been traded and used widely as a culinary spice, perfume and medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, camphor is used as an analgesic and to treat a wide range of inflammatory conditions, including rheumatism (joint pain) and bronchitis.

How to use camphor oil

To treat the symptoms of a cold, including coughing, try using a few drops of camphor essential oil in a hot water vaporizer. Camphor is also a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies, as well as balms and liniments for treating skin irritation and muscle pain.

Side effects and risks associated with taking camphor oil

It is important to note that ingesting even small amounts of camphor can cause stomach pain, seizures, liver failure and even death—so it is for external use only. Likewise, camphor oil should never be applied to broken skin. Young children and pregnant women are most at risk if camphor oil is ingested or applied to broken skin—contact your doctor immediately in this event.

Medical research and studies on camphor oil

In 2005, a research team at the Cheju National University, South Korea, discovered that camphor interrupts the production of prostaglandins and other chemical messengers involved in the inflammatory response and the creation of pain sensations.

Also in 2005, a team at the Harvard Medical School discovered that camphor desensitizes a protein called TRPV1, which plays a central role in the body’s sensation of heat. Interrupting that process brings a feeling of cooling and helps to reduce the perception of pain. Breathing in camphor vapour produces that sensation of cooling in the nasal passages; laboratory tests in the 1980s showed that it is this cooling effect that is responsible for the perceived decongest- ant effect of camphor vapour.
A 2011 study showed that, additionally, TRPV1 plays a major role in the mechanism behind coughing, and this reinforces camphor’s use as a cold remedy. The camphor laurel tree, moreover, produces a compound called cineole, a major constituent of eucalyptus oil; cineole has been shown in clinical trials to have decongestant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Home Remedies odor

Excessive sweating and underarm odor are a common, but still very unpleasant phenomenon. However, if you don’t want to use chemical based products, for they are far from the best choice, or if you have tried almost everything that promises that will eliminate underarm odor, but you still haven’t solved your problem, you should definitely read this article. It will offer you several powerful natural ways to get rid of the annoying underarm smell. Baking Soda Is the use of baking soda to get rid of odors in your laundry or fridge, then, it is a good idea to use it to eliminate underarm odor too. Baking soda is natural and gentle. Prepare your remedy by mixing a little cornstarch and a little baking soda, and use it before you get dressed. It will keep your skin dry and fresh all day long. Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar will keep bacteria that causes odor away. You can prepare a homemade spray out of a splash of lemon juice, a little water and ACV in spray bo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Natural Breast Increase Tips

Natural Breast Increase Tips Many women are not satisfied with their breast size and there are many women who do not develop fuller breast easily. The size and shape of the breast varies from woman to woman and from age to age. You need to improve your underlying breast muscles development first to enhance breast fat and tissues of mammary glands. Most of the breast consists of fat and connective tissue because big breasts have more fat, nothing else Causes of Smaller Breast Size Small breast size can be caused by imbalanced hormone level of estrogen and testosterone during puberty period. Lower blood circulation in chest area, lack of vitamins and minerals, genetic problem, thyroid glands problem, dieting, low calories diet and under weight body are the other main causes of smaller bust size. The estrogen level decreases due to stress and tension which causes smaller bust size. Certain foods like phytoestrogen, breast massage and exercises can help to overcome...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hibiscus and Curry Leaves

Hibiscus and Curry Leaves DIY Hair Pack to Healthy Hair! I will show you one of my tried and tested DIY hair packs to prevent hair fall in this changing weather. In monsoon, every year I suffer little bit more than usual hair fall. But this monsoon, I am prepared to face it. So, here is my recipe! Ingredients: Hibiscus Leaves: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis   has a number of medical uses in   Chinese herbology . Sidram A. et al. their research indicates some potential in cosmetic skin care; for example, an extract from the flowers of   Hibiscus rosa- sinensis   has been shown to function as an anti-solar agent by absorbing   ultraviolet radiation . The roots are used to make various concoctions believed to cure ailments such as cough, hair loss or hair greying. Curry Leaves: The leaves are highly valued as seasoning in   southern   and west-coast   Indian cooking , and   Sri Lankan cooking , especially in curries, usually fried al...
Post a Comment
Read more