What Is Gum Camphor?

Gum camphor, or laurus camphora, is a substance that was once only obtained from distilled bark and wood but now is often produced from turpentine. Gum camphor is used in some over-the-counter rubs or salves as well as in herbal preparations used for alternative medicine.

Function

• Camphor stimulates nerve endings and can decrease some of the unpleasant sensations carried by the nerves.

Benefits

• When applied to the chest, gum camphor is often an effective treatment to alleviate coughing. It can also alleviate itching or pain when applied to an area with a rash or injury.

Other Uses

• In alternative medicine, gum camphor is also a treatment for osteoarthritis, toenail fungus, warts and hemorrhoids, but the effectiveness of the substance for such purposes has not been scientifically verified, according to RxList.

Types

• As a topical medication, gum camphor is safe in preparations where 11 percent of the volume of the ointment or less is made up of the gum. Some people use gum camphor in water for aromatherapy, which is safe as long as 1 tbsp. or less is added per quart of water.

Warning

• Taking gum camphor orally is dangerous and can be fatal in some cases, RxList says. Do not apply gum camphor to broken skin or heat over-the-counter salves containing camphor in the microwave--this can cause an explosion.