Overview

Camphor is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for cough. Karpura is cold-potency Camphor: aromatic, Tikshna, dosed in tiny pinches as cardiac stimulant. Bhimseni grade clears Kasa, Shvasa, Netra Roga, and burning Pitta heat.

How Camphor Helps with Cough

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Camphor has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing cough:

Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Katu (pungent), Madhura (sweet)
Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Tikshna (sharp)

Other Herbs for Cough

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Ajwain Trachyspermum ammi syn. Trachyapermum copticum, Carum copticum/roxburghianum/ajowan, Ptychotis ajowan

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Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis Mill. (Syn. A. vera Tourn. ex Linn.)

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Ashwagandha Withania somnifera dunal

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Bael Aegle marmelos

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Baheda Terminalia belerica Roxb.

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Bala Sida cordifolia Linn

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Bamboo Manna Bambusa arundinacea Willd.

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Kadali Musa sapientum Linn.

See all herbs for cough on the Cough page.

▶ Classical Text References (5 sources)

Daha (burning sensation)
Trishna (excessive thirst)
Jwara (fever)
Mukha Roga (oral diseases)
Hridroga (heart diseases)
Kasa (cough)
Shwasa (asthma/dyspnea)
Netra Roga (eye diseases)
Krimi (worms/parasites)

Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1

Having thus mitigated the kapha, the person should take bath, anoint the body with the paste of karpura (camphor), candana (sandalwood), aguru (Aquilaria agallocha), and kumkuma (saffron).
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Very cool water kept in mud pot along with flowers of patala and karpura (camphor) should be used for drinking.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Inhaling of fumes from herbs that are coolant, pleasant and cordial Anointing the body with camphor, sandalwood paste, Vetiver paste, very frequently.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Doshopakramaniyam

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal; Doshopakramaniyam

After it is brought down and cooled, and thereafter add one pala each of - lavanga, nakha, kakkola, jatikosha, one kudava of camphor.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

Chandraprabha Vati [for Prameha/urinary disorders]: Chandraprabha (camphor), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Bhunimba (Andrographis paniculata), Amrita (Guduchi — Tinospora cordifolia), Daruka (Cedrus deodara), Haridra (turmeric — Curcuma longa), Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), Darvi (Berberis aristata), Pippalimula (root of long pepper), and Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica) —.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)

Another: by applying a paste of Makanda (mango, Mangifera indica) fruit with Madhuka (licorice) and Karpura (camphor, Cinnamomum camphora), even in women past their youth, the vaginal canal becomes firm.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Mango is astringent, camphor provides a cooling tonic effect on tissues, and licorice is anti-inflammatory.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

By the use of mercury powder (rasa-churna) and camphor preparations (karpura-rasa), following this method, even this dreadful disease subsides.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 4: Venereal Diseases — Sexually Transmitted Infections (Aupasargikopodamsha Adhikara)

Mercury and camphor combination for STI treatment.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 4: Venereal Diseases — Sexually Transmitted Infections (Aupasargikopodamsha Adhikara)

Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application); Parishishtam, Chapter 4: Venereal Diseases — Sexually Transmitted Infections (Aupasargikopodamsha Adhikara)

For Pitta wounds: cooling, with sandalwood, camphor.
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 18: Vrana-alepa-bandha Vidhi Adhyaya - Wound Poultices and Dressings

Palasha (Butea) blood-red sap is useful for anjana (collyrium), or shallaki with sugar and camphor.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)

A rasa-kriya (decoction concentrate) should be made with sugar and camphor, from palinda or madhuka (licorice).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)

A fine powder mixed with sugar and camphor destroys shuktika (oyster-shell eye lesion).
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)

Vaidurya (cat's-eye gem), sphatika (crystal), vidruma (coral), mukta (pearl), silver, and gold — finely powdered with sugar and camphor — this anjana quickly destroys shuktika.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)

Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 18: Vrana-alepa-bandha Vidhi Adhyaya - Wound Poultices and Dressings; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.