The healing properties of camphor have long been known. Camphor oil belongs to the group of medicines, stimulating the respiratory and vasomotor centers of the medulla oblongata. In high doses, these drugs can cause seizures, so camphor is not a totally safe drug.

How and where to grow camphor tree

Camphor tree is an evergreen tree up to 50 meters and five meters in diameter. The trunk is gnarled, branched, covered with long vertical cracks. The leaves are smooth, waxy, alternate, stalked, lanceolate, with three veins. On leaves numerous translucent dots - drops of essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses? . The flowers are inconspicuous, small, greenish-yellow, are collected in paniculate inflorescences on a long stalk. Fruits - drupe, purplish-black in color, with a diameter of up to one centimeter in appearance similar to blackberries ripen in November.

In wild-growing form of camphor tree found in southern China, Japan and Taiwan. As a cultivated plant is bred in Africa, South America, Southern Europe, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.

Collection and storage of raw materials

From camphor tree extract camphor essential oil. The most common raw materials are old wild trees, as the most essential camphor oil is contained in the lower parts of the tree. The trees are cut down, and then divided into small pieces and ground into a powder, which was distilled in a special apparatus with steam to give camphor. In the future of the camphor oil is obtained crystalline camphor - colorless crystals with a strong smell. This is called dextrorotatory natural camphor. There Counterclockwise synthetic camphor, which is derived from pine oil.

Action camphor on the human body

Camphor is an analeptic agent, ie, excites the respiratory and vasomotor centers of the brain. When administered subcutaneously in a solution of camphor oil there is stimulation of the centers. Camphor also has a direct effect on the heart muscle, increasing metabolic processes and increasing its sensitivity to the effects of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS - is part of the autonomic nervous system innervates internal organs and blood vessels, which is activated under conditions of stress). Camphor also has a vasoconstrictor effect. Standing out from the body through the respiratory tract, camphor helps sputum. Under the influence of camphor improved respiratory function of the lungs.

Applied camphor solutions for the treatment of acute and chronic heart failure, collapse, respiratory depression with pneumonia and other infectious diseases, poison pills and drugs.

Today, as the cardiovascular and respiratory means camphor is relatively rare, because there are new more efficient analeptics. But as a local irritant and antiseptic, it continues to be widely used. So, camphor oil is used for cuts, minor wounds, burns, pustular skin diseases.

The essential oil of camphor has a special fresh aroma and has a calming effect on the human body. It is inhaled with nervousness, sleep disorders, irritability Irritability - you try to control my temper Depression.

Medications of camphor

The pharmacy you can buy the following drugs camphor:

• 20% solution of camphor oil in capsules; administered subcutaneously prior to administration to warm oil is desirable; use in cardiac and respiratory failure; the introduction of this drug is contraindicated in epilepsy and tendency to convulsive reactions;
• 10% camphor oil for external use; is used externally for arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, and so on; when topically applied drugs camphor are irritating and somewhat antiseptiseskoe action;
• camphor dissolved in paraffin oil - ear drops, anti-inflammatory and warming effect, used in inflammation of the middle ear;
• Ointment camphor; External applied to the friction with muscular aches and pains in the joints;
• Alcohol camphor - is used topically to the friction and the prevention of pressure sores;
• kamfotsin - Liniment, having in its composition of camphor oil, salicylic acid, castor oil and tincture of cayenne pepper; It is used for rubbing against rheumatism and inflammation of the joints Inflammation of the joints - how to relieve the pain? ;
• dental drops "Dent" - contain camphor and chloral hydrate anesthetic, used to soothe toothaches Toothache - itself does not take place ;
• homeopathic medicine Camphor is used for seizures, and as a sedative Helps to overcome.

Camphor will still be one of the most popular drugs.

Galina Romanenko

Sciatica - very common disease and it is not surprising that in the arsenal of traditional medicine there are many cures for this disease. The effectiveness of many of them has not been proved by scientists, but it is confirmed by the experience of many generations involved in the treatment of sciatica folk remedies.

Among the many advantages of the people's resources - their availability, ease of use, the relative safety and low cost. However, people who have any chronic diseases, as well as pregnant and lactating women before, how to treat sciatica folk remedies, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Many doctors today do not discourage their patients from the use of traditional medicine, but only to help them choose the most effective and safe medicines.

Treatment of sciatica bees

Apitherapy - is the branch of medicine, used to treat various diseases and a variety of live bees bee products. Treatment of live bees is used not only for sciatica, but also for disorders such as asthma, multiple sclerosis, premenstrual syndrome, hearing loss and hypertension. Apitherapy has been known for more than one millennium ago - a record of it found in the manuscripts of ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and elsewhere. Probably, the founders of this direction was the beekeepers or people who went to extract honey from hives of wild bees - they are certainly not once bitten bees, and they might have noticed that, after biting the symptoms of some diseases become less pronounced. Modern studies have shown that bee venom contains about 40 components, among them - the substances that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

It was also found that the treatment of bees with radiculitis gives a positive result in approximately 70% of cases - it is a very good indicator. However, apitherapy should be used with extreme caution. According to experts, every fifth man is allergic to bee venom, so everyone that wants to try the treatment of bees, you should first check how safe it will be for such treatment. Another important factor is the fact that many patients are like bee stings and bee venom injections are extremely painful. Anyone who has ever bitten by a bee, can imagine how unpleasant the treatment of live bees: to achieve a good result, the patient is required to 20 bee stings per day. Bees sting should be the most painful areas - in patients with sciatica are areas back in the cervical, thoracic or lumbosacral spine.

Apitherapy is contraindicated during pregnancy and breast-feeding, in patients who are allergic to bee venom, diabetics, and people with a number of other chronic diseases.

Burdock

Burdock - familiar to many a folk remedy for sciatica. Tear off a few leaves of burdock (preferably seek them away from the main roads), wash them, mash your hands, and attach to the back in the part where there is a source of inflammation. Then, wrap the towel or scarf back and leave the leaves for a few hours or better, overnight. Similarly, you can use the leaves of horseradish. In winter you can use the dried leaves of burdock. For a couple of hours before using them to put in a cup of water, and then also applied to the back for several hours.

Black radish

Black radish is also an effective natural remedy against sciatica. Rub it on a fine grater or grind in a meat grinder, put the mush on the gauze and apply it to the back. Top with a layer of polyethylene or foil, then wrap back with a handkerchief. Radish can be mixed with grated garlic Garlic health: almost a panacea   in 1: 1 ratio. It is best to carry out this procedure after a hot shower or bath. Some people radish and garlic cause irritation and slight burning sensation of the skin, but these side effects pass quickly.

Grated potato is used to treat sciatica well as radish, but it can be applied directly to the skin.

Mustard and pepper patches

Usual pepper and mustard plasters - very effective folk remedies treatment of sciatica. They can be applied to the back for a few hours and a mustard plaster can also be applied layer of honey - it enhances the effect and contributes to the rapid relief of back pain.

Red pepper

Alcohol tincture of red pepper or pepper vodka can be twice a day, for a couple of weeks, rubbing his back with radiculitis.

Compresses

Very effective for patients with sciatica warm compresses of decoctions of pharmacy chamomile, thyme, linden, or St. John's wort. Decoctions of herbs can be mixed or used separately. Moisten a piece of gauze, folded in several layers of clean cloth or a decoction of herbs, attach to the sore area of ​​the back, wrap the back a thick scarf and go under the blanket. Compress is advisable to keep until the morning.

Salt

Plain salt is very effective remedy for sciatica. Preheat a frying pan for two or three handfuls of coarse sea or rock salt, pour it into a bag made of cloth or a clean pillowcase and attach to the back. Cover with a blanket and keep this wrap, until the salt has cooled. Also, radiculitis is useful to take a hot bath with salt. At one bath requires at least one cup of salt, it is better - more. After such a bath is recommended to make a hot compress for the back, or simply tie a woolen scarf back and just go to bed.

Oils

Mint and eucalyptus oil relieves pain with radiculitis and reduces inflammation. One tablespoon of almond or olive oil must be mixed with a few drops of essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses?   eucalyptus or mint Mint and its useful properties: aromatic freshness And rub into the area of ​​the back where the pain is localized.

The green juice prepared, for example, cucumber, parsley, cabbage, broccoli, spinach and other green contain vitamins and other nutrients that block inflammatory processes.

Vitamins

In general, vitamins with radiculitis play a very important role - they can speed up the healing process and to prevent the exacerbation of the disease in the future. Patients with this disorder is recommended to eat more foods rich in vitamins A, C, E and other antioxidants. If necessary, taking supplements containing these nutrients.

Very useful for radiculitis B vitamins - especially B1, B6 and B12. Scientists believe that the use of supplementation with these vitamins in combination with the OTC analgesics allows patients sciatica for a long time to get rid of the pain. Vitamin B1 can be obtained from foods such as spinach, carrots, beetroot, onions, potatoes, cabbage, beans, nuts, and various crops.

Vitamin B6 is rich in potatoes, whole wheat bread, buckwheat, millet groats, pepper, pork, chicken, beef, hazelnut, walnut, citrus fruits, spinach, tomatoes and strawberries.

In addition, for the successful treatment of sciatica Treatment for sciatica - medical approach   it is recommended to take supplements with zinc, vitamin D, lipoic acid, and omega-3.

The main sources of vitamin B12 are the various products of animal origin, such as meat, fish, meat products, dairy products. Unfortunately, many patients begin to watch your diet and take vitamins only during exacerbations of sciatica, and some time after the symptoms disappear, return to the usual diet. Ideally, the body must constantly getting enough nutrients listed above - this will minimize the risk of repeat attacks, and avoid some of the complications of sciatica.