Products without Camphor

29-12-2015
STARBALM products do not contain camphor.

Camphor has beed used for hundreds of years as an antiseptic, contraceptive, rubefacient (redness of the skin), abortifacient, aphrodisiac and lactation suppressant. It is a common household item used in many vaporized or topical cold medications and topical musculoskeletal anesthetic preparations.

Today, many people continue to use topical preparations containing camphor because it creates a local sensation of heat and mild anesthesia and carry a penetrating, characteristic odor that is associated with 'strong medicine'. It is used in ointments, oils and inhalants for the home treatment of colds.

It's easy availability in various forms putting children at risk of camphor poisoning. It is potentially fatal, even when taken a small doses in children. It can cause severe poisoning and seizures when taken in small amounts in children.

It causes other central nervous system (CNS) symptoms including headache, dizziness, confusion, agitation, anxiety, hallucinations and etc.

Under the Martindale - The Complete Drug Reference 35th Edition, it states that camphor should not be applied to the nostrils of infants even in small quantities, as this may cause immediate collapse.

It is readily absorbed from all administration sites. It crosses the placenta and may affect the foetus.

List of References:
- American Academy of Pediatrics, USA.
- Government Medical College & Hospital, India.
- Medical Journal Armed Forces, India.
- Emergency Medical Journal, France.

Back