Definition

1. Noun:
   • Medicated plaster / poultice: A semi-solid medicinal preparation, often spread on a cloth or backing, that is applied to the skin to treat pain, inflammation, or to draw out impurities from a specific area of the body.
   • Ointment / salve: A thick, sticky medicinal substance with a high viscosity, typically used for topical application to soothe aches or heal skin conditions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy dán một miếng thuốc cao vào lưng để giảm đau cơ. (He applied a medicated plaster to his back to relieve muscle pain.)
  • Thuốc cao này giúp hút mủ từ vết thương. (This poultice helps draw pus from the wound.)
  • Cô ấy thường xoa thuốc cao vào khớp khi trời lạnh. (She often rubs ointment on her joints when the weather is cold.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "thuốc cao" specifically implies a formulation that is denser and more adhesive than a lotion or cream, often designed for sustained, localized release of medicinal ingredients.
• In traditional medicine, "thuốc cao" can refer to a concentrated, gelatinous extract of herbs, boiled down to a thick paste.

Variants and Related Words

• Cao dán (n): A patch or plaster. This is a more specific term for an adhesive medicated patch.
  • Cao dán giảm đau rất tiện lợi. (Pain-relief patches are very convenient.)
• Thuốc mỡ (n): Ointment, salve. This often refers to a softer, less solid preparation than "thuốc cao".
  • Thuốc mỡ thường dùng để dưỡng da hoặc chữa khô nẻ. (Ointment is often used for skin care or to treat chapping.)

Synonyms

• Plaster: A medicated or protective dressing applied to the body.
• Poultice: A soft, moist mass of material applied to the body to relieve soreness or inflammation.
• Ointment: A smooth, oily preparation used on the skin for medicinal or cosmetic purposes.

Related Idioms

• While there is no direct idiom with "thuốc cao", a related concept is expressed in phrases about treatment:
  • Dán thuốc cao chỗ đau. (To apply a plaster where it hurts.) This can be used figuratively to mean addressing a problem directly at its source.

noun

1. cataplasm