Botanical atlas

Camphor Bush

Tarchonanthus camphoratus

Long before it had a Latin name, camphor bush was already a fixture of the African bush pharmacy, its crushed leaves releasing a sharp, resinous scent that Maasai, Zulu, Xhosa, and Kikuyu communities came to rely on for chest colds, headaches, and stuffy noses. Leaves were burned as a fumigant, brewed into a mild infusion, or simply crumbled and inhaled, a quick remedy carried in a herder's pocket or hung inside a hut. The wood, dense and slow to rot, was carved into clubs and tool handles, while dried leaves tucked among stored grain or bedding were trusted to keep fleas and moths at bay. Even today it remains a familiar, everyday plant in the households and grazing lands where it grows wild.

Safety.

Camphor bush's aromatic oils are meant to be used lightly in dilute traditional preparations, never as a concentrated extract or essential oil taken by mouth, which can be toxic even in small doses. It should be avoided by infants, young children, anyone with a seizure disorder, and during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and used with caution alongside sedative or respiratory medications.