What is Camphor?

Camphor, also called white camphor, is a pale-yellow crystalline chemical compound. It's a waxy, flammable solid with a strong odour. The fragrance of the camphorwood is due to camphor. Camphor is also used externally for rheumatic pains, muscle aches and arthritis. It is additionally used in massage therapy to improve circulation and relieve pain and tenseness.

Camphor has been traditionally used for alleviating toothache and gingivitis and to get relief from skin irritation and itching. Some people use it topically for insect bites and stings, however, we do not recommend it since it can be irritating and cause skin burns.

The camphor tree is known as the tree of life for its medicinal value among the Chinese people. From ancient times, the camphor tree has been one of the most important sources of income in Taiwan.

Camphor has been used for centuries, dating back to the Greeks and the Romans who burned Camphor wood for its healing properties. Popularized in Asian culture, Camphor is an aromatic substance extracted from the heartwood of Cinnamomum camphora trees. It is more of a dark brown-yellow colour, waxy substance. If you are looking to use it for hair, be sure to check out these 7 benefits of camphor for hair.

7 Benefits of Camphor for Hair

Beautiful hair is a sign of good health. It is a sign that you are taking care of yourself. The best way for getting beautiful, healthy hair is to keep it clean, moisturized and protected from pollution and irritants. Camphor promotes the healthy growth of hair as it is a strong antioxidant, as well as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. It is because of these properties camphor has been used for years as an effective treatment for inflammation, tumours and sores.

Here are 7 benefits of camphor for hair:

Prevents Dandruff & Fungal Infections

The anti-fungal and antibacterial properties of camphor help in treating dandruff and other scalp infections. It also clears out blood circulation and makes hair healthy and shiny.

Reduces Inflammation

Camphor is very effective in toning your hair and this is one of the reasons why it is part of almost every home remedy for treating dandruff. It also helps to keep the scalp clean and reduces inflammation. Camphor also helps in regulating dandruff which is caused by excessive desquamation of the cells on your scalp resulting in flaking off of dead cells.

Controls Hair Fall

Camphor has been found to have antioxidant properties that help to increase blood flow to the scalp and nourish your hair from within. Camphor has been used for centuries for treating hair loss. It is known to have properties that can thicken the hair and reduce hair fall. This is mainly because of the antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight infections on the scalp that might be causing hair loss.

Improves Hair Texture

Camphor has highly effective moisturizing properties. Hence, when applied to hair, it can help control dryness, split ends and breakage. You can use a few drops of camphor oil a couple of times a week on your scalp to reduce dryness and split ends.

Kills Head Lice

Camphor is a great antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. It has been found to be useful in fighting bacteria and fungi on the scalp. As a result, it helps to get rid of head lice.

Promotes Hair Growth

Another benefit of camphor for hair is that it regulates the sebaceous glands which in turn produce less sebum. Sebum is the oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands that make your hair look dull and lifeless. A small amount of camphor oil added to your DHT-blocker shampoo will help regulate the sebaceous glands thus cooling down your scalp. Camphor application aids blood circulation and thus promotes hair growth.

Prevents Itchiness & Scalp Irritations

Camphor is a natural pain reliever, which reduces itchiness and scalp irritation caused due to scalp infections. Camphor is often used with menthol to reduce excess scalp inflammation and balance the pitta dosha.

How to Use Camphor for Hair?

If you are wondering, where can I find camphor hair oil? You would find it easily at an ayurvedic store. This is an effective way to apply camphor on the scalp and it helps kill any kind of fungus or bacteria that might be causing the scalp infection and hence results in hair fall. Use this remedy once a week and you will soon notice a difference in your hair fall pattern.

One can also use camphor in the form of transparent, crystalline tablets that can be added to hair growth oil or used in a hair pack.

Another way to use camphor for hair is to add camphor essential oil to your hair products. But make sure to dilute it with a carrier oil and perform a patch test before using it for the first time.

Camphor has been used in various cultures for centuries for curing various ailments of the skin. It is reputed to be an excellent antiseptic, insect repellent, and disinfectant.

Since camphor is the main ingredient in most hair growth oils and hair loss shampoos, it is required to know how to use camphor for hair and the possible side effects that it may cause like redness and irritation.

Camphor is believed to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp area (an important factor for healthy hair). However, using camphor for hair growth should be done under proper guidance and after conducting proper research on its effectiveness and side effects.

Take Away

Camphor has been used in traditional Indian medicines for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments and is currently used in Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine. Camphor is also called kapur meaning ‘bitter’ in Hindi and Sanskrit and is widely used in many parts of India, Sri Lanka and Nepal in the form of powder or extract.

Camphor has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments including ringworm, athlete’s foot, acne, hair loss and muscle aches. Camphor can ease various pains including headaches, backaches and joint aches.