Textual research on the terms of "Ointment" in traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract

Ointment in traditional Chinese medicine appeared very early, as early as in the Shan Hai Jing(, The Classic of Mountains and Seas) has been recorded, Wushier Bing Fang(, Prescriptions for Fifty-two Diseases), unearthed in the Mawangdui Han Tomb, there were many cases of ointment in it.The earliest paste named after "plaster" with complete formulation and application method can be found in Wuwei Han Dynasty Medical Slips.In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Tao Hongjing's Shennong Bencao Jing Jizhu(, Collected Commentaries to the Materia Medica) presented a detailed description of the production process of ointment.The production and use of ointment in Sui and Tang Dynasties were more standardized. And ointment was widely used in Tang Dynasty. The term "yougao" (, grease) appeared in the book Beiji Qianjin Yaofang(, Essential Recipes for Emergent Use Worth A Thousand Gold), and "yaogao" (, unguent) was used earlier in the book Ishimpo(), which was used to refer to ointment.The word "ruangao" (, unguentum) was used earlier in the Yuji Weiyi(), a book from Ming Dynasty, and its connotation is basically the same as that of modern ointment.The term "rugao" (, cream) appeared again in Puji Fang(, Prescriptions for Universal Relief), referring to the ointment having a milk base.The term "ointment" was first recorded in Liangyao Yu Duyao (, Good medicine and Poisons), which published in 1932. Since then, the name "ointment" has been used in all traditional Chinese medical works.