Remember the legendary John Brown’s baby, the one with cold upon his chest, the one whose mother rubbed him with camphorated oil?

Well, the moral of that nursery rhyme still holds good.

Camphor, a white crystalline substance from the tree, Cinnamomum Camphora, is readily recognisable by most people as the small balls and square blocks which are placed in clothes to keep them fresh and protect them from moths, cockroaches and other insects. The name is also given to a number of other substances from other trees. However, the one which we will discuss today is the one which is officially recognised in Japan, Borneo, Sumatra, and many other locations in East Asia. Though very valuable in the East, camphor was virtually unknown to Europe and America until the late 17th century. The tree is huge and has many flowery branches with small clusters of berries that resemble the cinnamon fruit.

Although the drug from this tree – which grows profusely in China – comes chiefly from the root, all parts of it are useful, especially the gum which its bark exudes. It is cultivated with great success in India and Sri Lanka among other eastern countries and now thrives well in Southern Florida and Argentina.

There is no reason why the minister of agriculture shouldn’t get some into Jamaica for cultivation here, as it would serve the health of this nation extremely well. The quicker the better, because the plant would not be ready for reaping before fifty years time!

The two main derivatives from the camphor tree are the crystalline and the oil which is used for several medicinal purposes including the elimination of mucous from the system, easing urinary problems and acting as an antiseptic. Being easily penetrable through the skin, camphor oil can also stimulate the intellectual centres and has an anti-narcotic effect. It is good for calming bouts of nervous excitement and works as a stimulant in cases of heart failure, exciting the adrenalin of the body. It works to ease infectious fevers such as typhoid and pnemonia and also improves the circulation. A tiny drop of the oil taken internally provides relief from diarrhoea.

Five to twenty drops taken thrice weekly in a glass of water is good for cleaning the sexual organs of the body and preventing irritation. It is also good for all inflammatory conditions. Three to five grains of camphor mixed with three tablespoons of oilve oil will eliminate pain, clean up the prostate and do a world of good internally.

Large doses of camphor can prove poisonous so don’t over do it!

Buckston Harrison is well known for his work as a herbalist, especially in western Jamaica. He resides in Sheffield, Westmoreland.