Definition

Noun: A medicinal ointment or salve, solid at room temperature, composed primarily of camphor, wax, spermaceti, and castor oil. It is used topically for its cooling, analgesic, and mild antiseptic properties, often to relieve minor skin irritations, chapping, or itching.

Usage

Camphor ice is a specific type of topical preparation. It is used by applying it directly to the affected area of skin. * She applied camphor ice to her chapped lips. * An old remedy for itching was to use camphor ice.

Advanced Usage

The term is largely historical and refers to a specific formulation from a time when such homemade or compounded remedies were common. In modern contexts, it is rarely used, having been replaced by more specialized commercial products.

Variants and Related Words

• Cerate (n): A general term for a medicinal preparation that is harder than an ointment but softer than a plaster, of which camphor ice is a specific type.
• Camphor (n): The primary active ingredient, a white, crystalline substance with a strong aroma, obtained from the wood of the camphor laurel tree.

Synonyms

• Salve
• Ointment
• Balm
• Unguent

Related Phrases

• Camphorated oil: A different preparation where camphor is dissolved in a liquid oil, not solidified into a cerate.
• To apply a salve: The general action for using camphor ice or similar products.

Noun

1. a cerate made of camphor and wax and spermaceti and castor oil