Camphor essential oil has a recognizable aroma and plenty of benefits when used topically or diffused as part of aromatherapy practice. It is important to understand the benefits of camphor essential oil before you start to use this item in your daily routine, and you should know how to properly use camphor essential oil to get the most out of it.
Our article gives you further details on camphor essential oil and what this powerful essential oil can do for you.
What Is Camphor Essential Oil?
Camphor essential oil is created from the Camphor tree, a tree native to areas like China and Japan. Parts of this plant are gathered and then placed into a steam distillation process to create a concentrated and potential essential oil that carries all of the benefits that the camphor tree is traditionally known for.
Camphor essential oil appears almost white, and it has a strong herbal scent. Many individuals describe camphor essential oil as smelling similar to eucalyptus, and it is easily recognizable by its cooling and woodsy undertones.
The Best Benefits of Camphor Essential Oil
There are many different benefits of camphor essential oil. We list the most notable benefits below, as these are the most common items that camphor essential oil is used to treat or relieve.
Skincare
Camphor is noted for its ability to relieve skin irritation, redness, itchiness, and inflammation. When used topically as part of a skincare oil or lotion, it can help to heal blemishes, fight acne, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Over time, this encourages skin to look younger, smoother, and healthier overall.
Pain Reliever
Camphor is also well-known as a treatment for pain, including swelling or other muscle stiffness. Camphor brings a cooling sensation due to the active compounds in the essential oil, and you can utilize camphor essential oil as part of an oil blend or lotion to reduce swelling and pain on blemishes, hurt muscles, or wounds that are healing.
Burn Healing
Recent studies have shown that camphor essential oil, when used as part of a balm or cream, can be helpful in healing burns. Your camphor balm or cream will need to be used at least once a day in order to speed up the healing time of a burn wound and to encourage skin to heal without too much redness, swelling, or scarring.
Keep in mind that you cannot apply camphor essential oil directly onto an open wound, and you shouldn’t utilize camphor essential oil or camphor balms and creams to treat a burn in lieu of medical attention.
Arthritis Relief
Arthritis and any related pain and swelling can cause pain and stiffness in joints, and a massage oil or balm featuring camphor essential oil can be helpful in reducing this kind of pain. Camphor essential oil provides a cooling effect and brings anti-inflammatory benefits that help to reduce swelling overall and treat arthritis pain.
Fungal Treatment
Camphor essential oil has antifungal properties that make it very beneficial when it comes to treating fungal infections, such as toenail fungus and scalp irritation. You can utilize camphor essential oil as part of a balm, cream, or treatment oil and apply it on the affected area a few times per day to treat the infection and return your skin to normal.
When using on the scalp, you can add a few drops of camphor essential oil into your favorite hair mask to treat scalp irritation, infection, or dandruff.
Cough and Congestion Relief
Camphor essential oil has a very strong, refreshing, and noticeable scent, and you can use camphor essential oil as part of a remedy for coughing and congestion. This essential oil is especially beneficial if you have a respiratory infection, cold, or the flu and need some relief.
You can diffuse your camphor essential oil to fill your room with its clearing scent, or you can add a few drops of this essential oil into your shower allowing it to mix with the steam. Another way to benefit from camphor cough and congestion relief is to add it into a bowl of hot steaming water and then breathe in the fragranced steam.
Relaxant and Antispasmodic
Camphor has been shown to have antispasmodic properties, meaning it can be used to stop muscle spasms. It is also a good choice for dealing with muscle cramps and the pain from muscle stiffness. You can create your own balm or ointment with camphor essential oil and a carrier oil or lotion; apply it to your sore or spasming muscles a few times a day for relief.
Aromatherapy
Camphor essential oil is very beneficial when used as part of an aromatherapy routine, and diffusing camphor essential oil can help to increase mental clarity and focus. The intense, somewhat woody, aroma can also be used to clear congestion, freshen rooms, and create a revitalizing atmosphere.
How Do I Use Camphor Essential Oil?
Camphor essential oil should always be diluted before use, as this essential oil is very strong. You can dilute your camphor essential oil in a carrier oil or as part of a lotion or balm to benefit from it while still ensuring it is gentle on the skin.
You should always patch-test your camphor essential oil ahead of using it on your entire body; do this by taking some of your diluted camphor essential oil and dabbing it on your wrist. Wait at least twenty-four hours to ensure you don’t have a reaction.
Make sure you purchase high-quality, very light-colored or almost white camphor essential oil (like this option), as the colors of brown, yellow, and blue camphor essential oil can be toxic. You should never ingest camphor essential oil, as this can result in serious health issues.
Adding Camphor Essential Oil to Your Daily Routine
Camphor essential oil has a strong herbal, woodsy scent, and it is known for the many benefits it can bring to your skin and hair care routine.
Whether you are utilizing camphor essential oil for its benefits in treating pain, improving skin condition, encouraging a healthy scalp, or for clearing congestion and coughs, there are plenty of ways that you can incorporate camphor essential oil into your daily routine.
