Fake camphor is being sold by mixing it in Ayurvedic products.

Products made from fake camphor are causing loss of eyesight.

Fake camphor or artificial camphor is being sold indiscriminately in many products of the market, especially Ayurvedic products. From small scale industries making incense sticks to big Ayurvedic corporate companies have also been found using fake camphor. Recently, a hair replacer of Dabur is facing 5400 lawsuits in America and Canada. The reason for which could be fake camphor.

Recently, a research conducted by Dr. Vijay Nath Mishra, Professor of Neurology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has revealed that applying cold oil or oil containing Ayurvedic camphor has reduced the eyesight of people. In a conversation with Foodman, Dr. Vijay Nath made many more shocking revelations. He said that cold oil has a very bad effect on health. The main reason for which is camphor.

There are no guidelines in any executive committee of the Government of India regarding the quantity of camphor in Ayurvedic products. Due to which camphor is being used extensively for cooling and sensation. Dr. Vijay Nath Mishra told that since 2012-13, the amount of camphor in such products started exceeding the requirement due to which many people had to face problems.

In the last ten years, more than 18 thousand people were examined, in which 23 People aged between 180 and 78 years were included. These were the people who were using camphor in some form or the other. Top among which is cold for headache and freshness. Products like toothpaste, toothpaste and ointment containing camphor were being used by these people. Many famous brands claim to contain camphor.

It is fake camphor made from chemicals. But there is no guideline regarding the purity and quantity of camphor by any of the executive institutions like Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, CDSCO (The central Drug Standard Control Organization, India), Ministry of AYUSH. In such a situation, keeping in mind the research and advice of Dr. Vijay Nath Mishra, do not use camphor mixed products.

To understand artificial camphor one must understand real camphor. There are many types of camphor. Camphor oil is extracted from the wood and leaves of a special kind of tree through distillation process, and later camphor is made from this oil in solid form. Many medicinal properties are found in natural camphor. And in India, camphor is used in worship and many Ayurvedic products.

Camphor is not poisonous. But excessive use can cause many diseases. It has an effect on the brain and nervous system. Whereas fake or artificial camphor is deadly and carcinogenic. Fake camphor is made using alpha pinene. From which DL Isoborneol is made. Whose nature and fragrance is similar to camphor. And it is also cheaper than real camphor. Due to which it is used in Ayurvedic products and worship materials.
At present there are no guidelines of any kind regarding Kapoor. Neither for real camphor nor for fake camphor. In such a situation, please check before using camphor mixed products.