An unguent is a soothing preparation spread on wounds, burns, rashes, abrasions or other topical injuries (i.e. damage to the skin). It is similar to an ointment, though typically an unguent is oilier and less viscous. It is usually delivered as a semi-solid paste spread on the skin, and it is often oily in order to suspend the medication or other active ingredients.
During the Victorian era, the use of the unguent macassar oil on the hair became so popular that antimacassars were invented to prevent damage to furniture.
Mercurochrome unguent
Various preparations of mercurochrome unguent are occasionally used as adjunct therapy in the treatment of furunculosis, and palliative relief of Kaposi sarcomas, although mercurials should only be used in extreme cases due to high toxicity and severe hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reactions.
It was also used by the Egyptians to help soothe their skin from the dry heat.
See also
- Aegyptiacum
- Salve
- Cream perfumes
Further reading
- Jones, Donald W. (1993). "Phoenician Unguent Factories in Dark Age Greece: Social Approaches to Evaluating the Archaeological Evidence". Oxford Journal of Archaeology. 12 (3): 293–303. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0092.1993.tb00334.x. ISSN 0262-5253.
References
- Fleming, John & Hugh Honour. (1977) The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts. London: Allen Lane, p. 26. ISBN 0713909412
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An unguent is a soothing preparation spread on wounds burns rashes abrasions or other topical injuries i e damage to the skin It is similar to an ointment though typically an unguent is oilier and less viscous It is usually delivered as a semi solid paste spread on the skin and it is often oily in order to suspend the medication or other active ingredients During the Victorian era the use of the unguent macassar oil on the hair became so popular that antimacassars were invented to prevent damage to furniture Mercurochrome unguentVarious preparations of mercurochrome unguent are occasionally used as adjunct therapy in the treatment of furunculosis and palliative relief of Kaposi sarcomas although mercurials should only be used in extreme cases due to high toxicity and severe hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reactions It was also used by the Egyptians to help soothe their skin from the dry heat See alsoAegyptiacum Salve Cream perfumesFurther readingJones Donald W 1993 Phoenician Unguent Factories in Dark Age Greece Social Approaches to Evaluating the Archaeological Evidence Oxford Journal of Archaeology 12 3 293 303 doi 10 1111 j 1468 0092 1993 tb00334 x ISSN 0262 5253 ReferencesFleming John amp Hugh Honour 1977 The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts London Allen Lane p 26 ISBN 0713909412 This analgesic related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte
