This week the herb is a little more intense than the previous herbs. Camphor is derived from the bark of the Camphor tree. This is most popularly made into an oil that can be spread topically on the body to suppress bodily pain and other physical ailments.
Some topical uses of Camphor include:
The treatment of fungal infections
Warts
Cold sores
Hemorrhoids
Osteoarthritis
How does it work?
Well, when you apply the Camphor oil it increases blood flow, which causes a anti-irritant affect. This means it stimulates nerve endings and makes the irritation subside while the body heals itself naturally.
The oil can also be applied to points of pain on the body. You can use it for back pain, shoulder pain, actually any muscle related pain that you may encounter. It is great for a massage oil if you are natural massage therapist.
This should NOT be taken orally. There are some accounts of people taking it this way, but it is very dangerous if not administered by a health care professional.
To make the oil: Take the leaves and bark of the Camphor tree and add them to cottonseed oil. Place mixture over low heat for 3-6 hours. Then strain the oil and bottle it. This mixture is now ready to be applied to the irritated area.
There are no recipes this week because this is not an ingestible herb.
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