Borneol, “Pimsen” in Thai (พิมเสน), is a natural extract that is particularly appreciated in traditional Thai medicine. It comes from the leaves, roots and bark of the Borneo camphor tree, also called eagle wood. It relieves body pain, respiratory genes, stress, and sleep disorders.
Borneol of singular quality is found in the provinces of Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Phang Nha where it is particularly rich in active elements.
Borneol is a powerful organic compound, found in several plants in the Thai pharmacopoeia, which provides numerous health benefits
Borneol is a natural compound found in several plants, including some species of conifers, eucalyptus, and sage. It has been used throughout civilizations and centuries for its medicinal and aromatic properties:
Thai Traditional Medicine :
Borneol is included in many herbal preparations. It is difficult to accurately determine the beginnings of its use but it is very likely that it dates back more than 2000 years.
It appears in the first writings dating from the kingdom of Ayutthaya (14E-18E centuries), but it is particularly highlighted for its sleep aid in the famous “Tamra Phra Ratchathan” (ตำราพระราชธาตุ), also known as the “Royal Treatise on Medicine” or “Royal Treaty of Medicine” or “Royal Treaty of Pharmacopoeia”. This book was written by King Rama II (Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai) of the Chakri dynasty, who ruled Thailand from 1809 to 1824. It is a central work in traditional Thai medicine. It compiles the medical knowledge, diagnoses, treatments, and herbal remedies used at the time.
In traditional Chinese medicine, borneol is widely used as a key ingredient in herbal formulas.
In Ayurveda, a traditional Indian system of medicine, borneol is known as “Bhimseni Kapoor.”
In traditional Japanese medicine, borneol, called “Borneoru” in Japanese, is often used for relief when applied externally.
Borneol has also been used in other civilizations. For example, in ancient Egypt, it was used in mummy preparations because of its antiseptic properties and its ability to repel insects. In ancient Greece, it was used as perfume and incense.
Today, it is also popular in the perfume and aroma products industry.
Borneol, also called “Borneo camphor,” is extracted from a variety of plants, but the main source is Dryobalanops aromatica. It is a tree typical of the tropical forests of Southeast Asia known as the Borneo camphor tree.
In Thai it is called “Ka-phak-nam” or “eagle wood”. The essential oil extracted from the leaves, roots, and bark is rich in borneol, as well as other beneficial compounds such as camphor and limonene.
Sayam particularly appreciates 2 regions recognized for their production of superior quality borneol:
There are suppliers with traditional production methods guaranteeing qualitative sources of borneol.
Borneol is extracted in particular from “eagle wood” via an extraction process that is most often traditional:
Borneol is an organic compound that exists in two forms, alpha borneol and beta borneol, which have slightly different properties:
Borneol belongs to the terpene class. In addition to the borneol isomer itself, it is common for borneol extracted from natural sources to also contain other organic compounds:
