Re: Making SWEDISH BITTERS - potential camphor toxicity?

RECENT STUDIES ON CAMPHOR:

Camphor is one of eleven herbs in the original recipe of Swedish Bitters. In recent years, studies and scientific tests have been carried out to determine the safety of camphor and the potential toxicity has become widely publicized in scientific literature (Martindale - The Extra Pharmacopoeia, The Pharmaceutical Journal)

Camphor toxicity, as detailed most emphatically in Herbal Remedies: Harmful and Beneficial Effects (Prof. S. Talalaj & Dr, A.S. Czechowicz), where the authors stated -

"Camphor and camphor oil, when taken internally in excess, cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, mental disturbance and may cause liver damage. Camphor oil, when applied to infants, even, externally, can cause severe poisoning, even death through respiratory failure".

Camphor oil is NOT the same as Camphor.
In original recipe, 10gm of Camphor is used.

Faced with the evidence of potential camphor toxicity, some herbalists got scared and reduced the camphor concentration in Swedish Bitters.


We also know that Wormwood oil is harmfull, if taken in excess.

There are many herbs that are harmfull if taken in excess!

So far, nobody reported serious problems with SWEDISH BITTERS! Tweet