What are the uses and main applications of the camphor tree?
The camphor tree is also known by other names such as camphor, camphorwood, stinking camphor, and black camphor. It is an evergreen large tree of the genus Cinnamomum in the family Lauraceae, reaching a height of up to 30 m and a diameter of up to 3 m. It is often cultivated as an excellent landscaping tree, street tree, and shade tree. It is produced in the southern and southwestern provinces and regions of China, and is also distributed in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. It is often introduced and cultivated in other countries and has extremely high cultivation value. Let us take a look below at what the uses of the camphor tree are!
Economic value of the camphor tree
The roots, wood, branches, and leaves of the camphor tree can all be used to extract camphor and camphor oil. Camphor is used in medicine, plastics, explosives, preservation, and insecticide, while camphor oil can be used as a raw material for pesticides, ore dressing, soap making, varnish, and essences. The wood is of high quality, resistant to insect pests and tolerant of water and moisture, and is used for construction, shipbuilding, furniture, boxes and cabinets, boards, and carving. The camphor tree has a special fragrance that can repel insects, so it almost does not need gardeners to spray pesticides. The seeds of the camphor tree can be made into pillows.
Landscape value of the camphor tree
The camphor tree has dense branches and leaves, a large crown with dense shade, and a majestic tree form. It can absorb smoke and retard dust, conserve water sources, fix soil and prevent sand, and beautify the environment. It is an excellent tree species for urban greening and is widely used as a shade tree, street tree, shelterbelt, and scenic forest, and is commonly used for garden viewing. When planted in clumps, groups, or singly in lawns, or used as a background tree, it is majestic and spectacular. Because it has strong resistance to a variety of toxic gases, a strong ability to absorb and retard dust, and can absorb harmful gases, it is often used in cities and industrial and mining areas.
Medicinal value of the camphor tree
Camphor tree bark has the effect of promoting qi flow and is used to treat lower limb ulcers. Camphor fruit has the effect of relieving the exterior and reducing fever, and is used to treat high fever and colds, measles, whooping cough, dysentery, and other conditions. The root of the camphor tree has the effect of regulating qi and activating blood circulation and removing wind-dampness, and is used to treat vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal distension and pain, wind-dampness arthralgia, and traumatic injuries. Camphorwood has the effect of dispelling wind-dampness, promoting qi and blood flow, and benefiting the joints, and is used to treat abdominal distension and pain, beriberi, gout, scabies, and traumatic injuries. Camphor tree leaves have the effect of dispelling wind, removing dampness, relieving pain, and killing insects, and are used to treat wind-dampness bone pain, traumatic injuries, scabies, and other conditions.