The rubbing alcohol is dissolved a solution of camphor in alcohol, usually isopropanol or ethanol usually. It is a chemical compound whose formula is C10H16O. Its structure is illustrated in figure 1.
It has a white or colorless appearance, is flammable and has a waxy appearance with a strong characteristic aroma (National Center for Biotechnology Information, SF). The appearance of camphor is shown in figure 2.
Figure 1: structure of camphor.
Figure 2: appearance of camphor. Image recovered from mejorconsalud.com
Camphor is a substance that is extracted from the wood of certain species of plants found in Asia. Camphor basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum) is a medicinal herb found in some areas of Asia and is the main source of camphor.
Camphor is also extracted from the wood of the camphor plant (Cinnamomum camphora). This plant, seen in figure 3, is found in many parts of Asia, mainly Sumatra, Indonesia, and Borneo.
Figure 3: Cinnamomum camphora or camphor plant.
Although camphor is an organic compound, it can be synthesized in the laboratory from alpha-pinene, which is an oil extracted from conifers (Mukherjee, 2011).
Uses of camphor alcohol
Camphor alcohol is also known as camphor spirit. This compound is used as an antibacterial and for the treatment of pain, itching, fungal infections in the toenails, warts, cold sores, hemorrhoids and other conditions (Camphor / Isopropyl Alcohol - Uses, Side-effects, Reviews, and Precautions, SF).
Botanical.com advises that camphor and camphor alcohol, when ingested, can be used as a calming agent for the nervous system, especially in cases of hysteria or excessive nervousness.
Camphor may also be beneficial as a treatment for diarrhea, excessive digestive gas, nausea, or bronchitis. Used externally, it can help relieve pain from rheumatism, bruises, squeaks, and sprains (KERNS, 2015).
One of the main uses of camphor alcohol is its ability to heal inflammation of the skin and muscle tissue, caused by minor injuries, insect bites, sprains, and strains.
However, it should be noted that you should never apply camphor spirit to cuts, wounds or broken skin. Also, the maximum recommended alcohol concentration is a 10% solution.
Camphor spirit can also act as an effective treatment for coughs and the common cold. All one needs to do is take a small amount of the alcohol and rub it on the patient's chest or add a few drops of camphor alcohol to the water in a steam and inhale the steam.
It is not well known that the strong aroma of camphor alcohol has calming properties and can help calm the mind and heal restlessness. It is used to treat symptoms of hypertension and other similar symptoms.
Based on the writings of the German physician Samuel Hahnemann, camphor dissolved in alcohol was also used successfully to treat the cholera epidemics of 1854-1855 in Naples.
An interesting fact about camphor alcohol (or "camphor spirit") is that, although it supposedly has a number of health benefits, none of them have been medically proven.
Therefore, the administration of camphor alcohol in any form remains a method of treatment practiced only in certain forms of alternative therapy. For example, it is used as an essential oil in aromatherapy.
Mechanism of action and pharmacology
Camphor / Isopropyl Alcohol improves the patient's condition by performing the following functions:
• Stimulation of nerve endings that relieve pain and itching symptoms.
• Kill microorganisms by denaturing proteins in their fluid state.
Through the years, the preparation of camphor alcohol has had an interesting evolution. In 1820, when it was known as tincture of camphor (a name that is still used in France), it was prepared by adding an ounce of camphor to a “pint” of alcohol, which is equivalent to 6.14 g to prepare a 100 ml solution..
The United States Pharmacopeia site reports that an exact solution of camphor alcohol contains between 9 g and 11 g of camphor per 100 ml of alcohol.
The Henriette's Herbal home page recommends that, to prepare the solution, 100 g of camphor be dissolved in 800 ml of alcohol, then passed through filter paper and diluted with alcohol to 1,000 ml.
When used medicinally, the recommended dose ranges from 5 drops to 60 drops of alcohol and camphor solution (LD Havenhill, 1912).
Risks and side effects
Despite the fact that this solution is widely used to treat diseases, it has been shown to have many side effects. Therefore, it is recommended that you consult your doctor before ingesting camphor alcohol, even in very small doses.
Medical personnel should be informed about over-the-counter medications or products (eg vitamins, herbal supplements, etc.) in use, allergies, pre-existing illnesses, and current health conditions (eg, pregnancy, upcoming surgery, etc.).
The following is a list of possible side effects that can occur from drugs that contain camphor alcohol.
This is not an exhaustive list. These side effects don't always happen. Some of the side effects can be rare but serious. Medical personnel should be consulted if you notice any of the following effects, especially if they do not go away:
• Restlessness.
• Induce coma.
• Epileptiform seizures.
• Depression of the central nervous system.
Some health conditions can make you more susceptible to the side effects of the drug. Tell your doctor if this condition persists or worsens.
Some Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine practices use camphor for internal treatments, according to AltMD.com. However, camphor can be extremely dangerous when ingested and can lead to seizures, hallucinations, and can even be fatal (Mueller, SF).
Camphor oil was banned by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1980 after reports of poisoning from accidental ingestion and, less commonly, through skin absorption (Camphor, 2014).
References
- Camphor / Isopropyl Alcohol - Uses, Side-effects, Reviews, and Precautions. (SF). Retrieved from Tablet Wise: tabletwise.com.
- Camphor. (2014). Retrieved from organicfoodee: organicfoodee.com.
- KERNS, M. (2015, January 28). What Is Camphor Spirit? Retrieved from Livestrong: livestrong.com.
- LD Havenhill. (1912). Proposed standards for Camphor and Spirit of Camphor. journal of pharmaceuticals science Volume 1, Issue 6, 590–593.
- Mueller, A. (SF). What Is Camphor Spirit Used For? Retrieved from leaf.tv: leaf.tv.
- Mukherjee, M. (2011, September 28). What is Camphor Spirit. Retrieved from buzzle.com: buzzle.com/.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (SF). PubChem Compound Database; CID = 2537. Retrieved from PubChem: pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.