[Sca-cooks] medicinal recipies

[Terry Decker]

Camphor can cause liver damage, but that is normally from prolonged 
exposure.  Adults can take up to 2 mg/kg of body mass without noticeable 
effect.  It can be extremely toxic to small children and infants.  It's also 
not recommended for pregenant women.  You should be able to get it from a 
druggist.

Reading over some of the survey info for poison control, I'd be willing to 
expirement with camphor as a spice, but I wouldn't want to use it in a 
feast.

Bear

> Camphor would be Cinnamomum camphora. When i mentioned this to a
> chemist friend, he was rather disturbed and said that it should not
> be eaten and that it causes liver damage. He suggested substituting
> menthol (NOT mint). Menthol is used in many products, like candy,
> mouthwash, toothpaste, etc. so it is safe to consume in small
> quantities. I don't know if druggists sell it (i know they used to
> sell wintergreen oil - i don't know if they still do), or if you'd
> have to get it from a chemical supply house or commercial flavor
> manufacturer...
>
> Urtatim (that's err-tah-TEEM)
> the persona formerly known as Anahita