Spices & Medicinal herbs

HERBS	Angelica :: Aloe Vera :: Basil :: Chamomile :: Chives :: Coriander :: Dill :: Lemon Balm :: Musli :: Oregano :: Stevia
SPICES	Ajwain :: Allspice :: Bay Leaf :: Black Cardamon :: Green Cardamon :: Cinnamon :: Cloves :: Cumin :: Cayenne Pepper
VEGETABLES	Amaranth :: Breadfruit :: Brocolli :: Cauliflower :: Cucumber :: Drumstick :: Hijiki :: Garlic

Herbs Classifical of Herbs Herbs by Common Name Herbs by Property List of Herbs Alfalfa Allspice Aloe Vera Abuta Aconite Angelica Anise Annatto Antamul Arugula Agrimony African rue Apple mint Asafoetida Ashwagandha Avens Apple of Sodom Barberry Basil Bakula Bhilwa Bistort Bitter melon Bog Labrador Tea Borage Boldo Bala Bayberry Bearberry Bhringraj Beautyberry Black walnut Blessed thistle Black cohosh Burdock root Candle nut Capsicum Coriander Caraway Calamus Chamomile Chickweed Chives Cleavers Dill Echinacea Flax Fennel Lavender Kali Musli Lemon Balm Musli Oregano Stevia Spices Vegetables

Cinnamomum camphora

(Common name:- Camphor)

Classification

• Kingdom- Plantae
• (Unranked)- Angiosperms
• (Unranked)- Magnoliids
• Order- Laurales
• Family- Lauraceae
• Genus- Cinamomum
• Species- C. camphora

Camphor is usually an aromatic crystalline substance obtained from cinnamomum camphora tree.

History

Camphor is usually an aromatic crystalline substance obtained from cinnamomum camphora tree.

Camphora is naturalized in Taiwan, southern Japan, southeast china and Indochina. The camphor obtained is been used from ancient times for various uses in medicine and food.

Camphor tree is also popular in Australia as ornamental plant where it is called camphor laurel.

Plant Description

Camphor tree is huge evergreen tree that grows with the height of 20-30metres tall. The leaves of this tree are lustrous, and give waxy appearance.

The leaves are 2-4 inch long and evergreen. The flowers are white-yellow and give pleasant fragrance.

The fruit of camphor tree is dark green berry bearing in clusters and the colour changes to black when the fruit gets ripe.

The bark of the tree is rough externally and smooth internally.

Cultivation

Camphor is propagated by seeds and the tree thrives in full sunlight to partial shade with well drained soil.

It tolerates almost all types of soil such as clay, loamy, sandy, alkaline and acidic soils.

Cinnamomum camphora is found in many parts of the world and but throughout the Queensland and central to northern south Wales camphora trees are found as noxious weed.

Parts Used

Extract and wood

Constituents

Camphor tree contains volatile chemical compound in all the parts and the other main constituents are chemotypes: camphor, linalool, 8-cineole, nerolidol, safrole, or borneol.

Uses

• Traditionally the crystalline substance obtained from this tree is majorly used for medicinal uses and apart from this it has various culinary uses too.
• In the medieval times camphor was used in sweets as an aromatic flavour. For instance, in china camphor was used as an ingredient in ice creams.
• However, today camphor is widely used in south India in delightful desserts. Here it is available as edible camphor.
• Other uses of camphor are being found in Hindus ceremonies and performing rituals where camphor is burnt which is considered auspicious as per belief.

Names

• English- camphor
• Hindi- kapoor
• Tamil- pachai karpooram .
• Telugu- karpuram, harathi karpuram
• Kannada- paccha karpoora
• Chinese- zhang shu
• Japanese- kusu no ki.