Camphor and Other Essential Oils
Camphor is one of several essential oils (volatile oils) derived from natural plant products that have been used for centuries as topical rubefacients for analgesic and antipruritic purposes (Table II–18). Camphor and other essential oils are found in over-the-counter remedies such as BenGay, Vicks VapoRub, and Campho-Phenique. In addition, camphor is used for religious, spiritual, aromatic, folk medicinal, and insecticidal purposes, often in powder or cube form. Toxic effects have occurred primarily when essential oils have been intentionally administered orally for purported therapeutic effects and in accidental pediatric ingestions.
Name | Comments |
|---|---|
Birch oil | Contains 98% methyl salicylate (equivalent to 1.4 g of aspirin per milliliter; see “Salicylates”). |
Camphor | Pediatric toxic dose 1 g (see text). |
Cinnamon oil | A potent sensitizing agent causing erythema, dermatitis, and stomatitis. A 7.5-year-old boy ingested 2 oz, which resulted in oral irritation, vomiting, diplopia, dizziness, vomiting, and CNS depression that resolved within 5 hours. |
Clove oil | Contains 80–90% eugenol. Metabolic acidosis, CNS depression, seizures, coagulopathy, and hepatotoxicity after acute ingestion. Fulminant hepatic failure in a 15-month-old boy after a 10-mL ingestion. N-Acetylcysteine may be beneficial in preventing or treating the hepatotoxicity. Smoking clove cigarettes may cause irritant tracheobronchitis, hemoptysis. |
Eucalyptus oil | Contains 70% eucalyptol. Toxic dose is 5–10 mL. Ingestion causes epigastric burning, vomiting, hypoventilation, ataxia, seizures, or rapid CNS depression. |
Guaiacol | Nontoxic. |
