Camphor, “Karaboon” in Thai (การบูร), is an essential component of traditional Thai medicine.
It comes from the leaves, branches and wood of the Camphor tree. Energizing and tonic, it is known to relieve pain, respiratory conditions, improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation.
We prefer camphor produced in a traditional way in the regions of Surat Thani, Petchabun and Ranong, renowned for the excellence of their production.
Camphor is known for its multiple benefits essential to traditional medicine and cosmetics.
Camphor is an integral part of traditional medicine in different cultures around the world. Its use dates back to ancient times and it has been widely used in Asia, especially in India, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In Thailand, camphor has been used since the origins of traditional medicine, in various therapeutic practices. It is known under the name “Karaboon” and is mentioned in all the traditional medical literature. It can thus be found in the oldest works such as “Tamra Maekhong” (ธรรมราชแม่โขง), also known as the “Royal Treaty of the Mae Khong River”, an ancient manuscript written during the Sukhothai dynasty period, which lasted from the 13th to 14th centuries. But also more modern ones such as the “Tamra Ya Mongkol”, also known as “Queen Sirikit's Medical Treatise”, compiled during the reign of King Rama IV (19th century)
In China, camphor is mentioned in the “Shennong Ben Cao Jing” (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medical Matters), a medical text dating from around 200 BC.
In India, it is mentioned in ancient texts such as the “Charaka Samhita” and the “Sushruta Samhita” which date back to several centuries before our era.
In Japan, he appears in major books such as the “Ishinpō” (医心方) by Tametsugu Shōnen, written in the 14th century and the “Yōjōkun” (養生訓) by Kaibara Ekiken written in the 17th century
The use of camphor has also spread to other regions of the world, especially in Europe and America, where it has been incorporated into a number of medicinal preparations.
Today, camphor continues to be used extensively in a variety of medicinal, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications.
In Thailand, camphor is mainly extracted from two tree species that are commonly grown commercially:
In addition to these two tree species, other plants rich in camphor are present in Thailand, such as Artemisia vulgaris, a herbaceous perennial that grows in mountainous regions of Thailand. However, commercial camphor production in Thailand is mainly based on the two tree species mentioned above.
Thailand is one of the world's main producers of camphor, with several regions of the country renowned for high-quality production:
We favor our camphor supplies from these regions, which benefit from a favorable climate and provide top quality camphor, mainly produced on traditional farms.
In Thailand, the production of camphor crystals generally follows the following steps:
Camphor is an organic compound from the terpene family and comes in the form of a white solid that is translucent and smooth to the touch. A strong and fresh smell as well as a bitter and very strong flavor make it special.
Camphor compounds include:
