thuốc tễ
Definition
- Noun:
- Medicinal pill (traditional medicine): A form of prepared medicine in traditional Vietnamese and East Asian medicine, typically made by grinding herbs and other ingredients into a fine powder, then mixing with a binder to form small, round, solid pills for oral consumption.
- Patent medicine / prepared formula: Refers to a standardized, pre-made herbal formula, often in pill form, used to treat specific patterns of illness according to traditional medical theory.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông ấy uống thuốc tễ mỗi ngày để bổ thận. (He takes medicinal pills every day to tonify his kidneys.)
- Loại thuốc tễ này trị ho rất hiệu quả. (This type of herbal pill is very effective for treating cough.)
- Nhà thuốc Đông y bán nhiều loại thuốc tễ gia truyền. (The traditional medicine pharmacy sells many types of hereditary formula pills.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "thuốc tễ" specifically denotes the processed, pill form, distinguishing it from other forms like raw herbs ( - decoction) or powdered herbs ().
- It implies a certain level of preparation and refinement, often based on classical formulas that have been used for generations.
Variants and Related Words
- Hoàn tễ (n): Another term for a pill or bolus in traditional medicine, very similar in meaning and form to .
- Thuốc Đông y (n): Traditional Eastern medicine, the broader category to which belongs.
- Thuốc sắc (n): Herbal decoction, a liquid medicine made by boiling herbs.
- Thuốc bột (n): Medicinal powder.
Synonyms
- Herbal pill
- Traditional medicine pill
- Patent herbal formula
Related Concepts
- Bào chế (v): To process or prepare (medicine). is a result of .
- Công thức cố định (n): Fixed formula. Many are based on such established formulas.
- Unlike modern pharmaceutical tablets, thuốc tễ is typically made entirely from natural ingredients like herbs, minerals, or animal products, without synthetic chemical active ingredients.