Camphor
| Evidence Level: L5 | Predicted Indications: 10 |
Table of Contents
Camphor: From an Unspecified Original Indication to Migraine Disorder
One-Sentence Summary
Camphor is a topical counter-irritant that is currently marketed in Singapore as a single-ingredient ointment, but no approved indication text is available in the data compiled for this report. The TxGNN model predicts it may be effective for migraine disorder, but there are no registered clinical trials and only 3 publications (case reports, a case series and a review), none of which test camphor as a migraine treatment. The evidence is mainly a model prediction plus indirect preclinical signals.
Quick Overview
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Original Indication | Not available (the approved indication text of the Singapore licence is empty) |
| Predicted New Indication | Migraine disorder |
| TxGNN Prediction Score | 99.85% |
| Evidence Level | L4 (preclinical and mechanistic evidence only; no clinical trials) |
| Singapore Market Status | ✓ Marketed |
| Number of Registrations | 1 |
| Recommended Decision | Hold |
Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
Currently, detailed mechanism of action data for this drug are not available in the data compiled for this report. Based on known pharmacology, camphor is a topical counter-irritant that modulates TRP channels (it activates and then desensitises TRPV1, TRPV3 and TRPA1). This is a plausible but indirect link to the trigeminovascular pain pathways involved in migraine.
Some indirect support exists. A 2026 preclinical animal study (PMID 42849823) reported that natural (+)-camphor alleviated reserpine-induced migraine with local cerebral vasospasm, via the p38β MAPK/ATF2 pathway. Camphor is also a constituent of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), a traditional migraine herb. However, the papers on feverfew only describe chemistry or anticancer activity and do not show clinical benefit.
The high TxGNN score is a computational prediction, not clinical evidence. Two case reports, in fact, describe cluster headache linked to toothpastes containing camphor and eucalyptus oils, which points in the opposite direction.
Clinical Trial Evidence
Currently no related clinical trials registered.
Literature Evidence
| PMID | Year | Type | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35856604 | 2022 | Case series | Headache | Five cases of cluster headache linked to toothpastes containing pro-convulsant essential oils |
| 34373243 | 2021 | Case report | BMJ Case Reports | Two cases of cluster headache temporally related to toothpastes containing camphor and eucalyptus oils |
| 27058833 | 2016 | Review | Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother | History of paediatric neuropsychopharmacotherapy in the 1940s and 50s; does not test camphor in migraine |
Related evidence found for the closely related prediction "migraine with or without aura, susceptibility to":
| PMID | Year | Type | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42849823 | 2026 | Preclinical animal study | J Ethnopharmacol | Natural (+)-camphor alleviated reserpine-induced migraine with cerebral vasospasm in an animal model, via the p38β MAPK/ATF2 pathway |
Singapore Market Information
| Authorization Number | Product Name | Dosage Form | Approved Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIN03627P | COCOIS CO. OINTMENT | Ointment | Not stated |
Safety Considerations
- Drug Interactions: No interaction records were found.
- Other concerns from the evidence reviewed: Ingested camphor has a known toxicity profile, including seizure risk. Case reports also link camphor-containing essential oil products to cluster headache.
Please refer to the package insert for the full safety information (warnings and contraindications).
Other Predictions Reviewed
Beyond migraine, the other top-ranked predictions have no meaningful support:
| Predicted Indication | Score | Evidence Level | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migraine with brainstem aura | 99.79% | L5 | Prediction only; no trials or literature |
| Erectile dysfunction | 99.79% | L5 | Only a rat oral toxicity study; no therapeutic evidence |
| Pulmonary hypertension | 99.77% | L5 | The 20 literature hits are a false positive: "CAMPHOR" is a quality-of-life questionnaire (Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review), unrelated to the drug |
| Migraine with or without aura, susceptibility to | 99.73% | L4 | Indirect preclinical support only (see above) |
| Raynaud disease | 99.56% | L5 | The only paper is an outcome-measure review matched by name; no evidence for camphor |
| Tourette syndrome | 99.46% | L5 | Prediction only; neurotoxicity is a concern for any CNS use |
| Kyphoscoliotic heart disease, ulerythema ophryogenesis, atrophoderma vermiculata | 99.70% to 99.54% | L5 | Prediction only; no trials, literature or mechanistic link |
Conclusion and Next Steps
Decision: Hold
Rationale: There are no clinical trials for camphor in migraine, and the available literature consists of case reports and one animal study, none showing human efficacy. The only human reports link camphor-containing products with headache. The prediction is best treated as a research question rather than an actionable repurposing candidate.
To proceed, the following is needed:
- The package insert for the Singapore licence (SIN03627P), to confirm the approved indication, warnings and contraindications
- Detailed mechanism of action data (for example from DrugBank), to support the TRP channel hypothesis
- Further preclinical work confirming the 2026 animal findings, and review of the full text of that study
- Assessment of route compatibility, since the marketed product is a topical ointment and migraine would likely need a different delivery approach
- A safety assessment covering neurotoxicity and seizure risk, and the headache-triggering reports
Disclaimer
This content is for research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical validation is required before any clinical application.