anodyne

In medicine before the 20th century, an anodyne was a drug that was believed to relieve or soothe pain by lessening the sensitivity of the brain or nervous system (Greek ἀνώδυνος anōdynos < ἀν- an- 'without' + ὀδύνη odynē 'pain'). It was essentially an analgesic.

Some definitions restrict the term to topical medications, including herbal simples such as onion, lily, root of mallows, leaves of violet, and elderberry.

Other definitions include ingested narcotics, hypnotics, and opiates.^[1]

Certain compound medicines were also called by this name, such as anodyne balsam, made of castile soap, camphor, saffron, and spirit of wine, and digested in a sand heat. It was recommended not only for easing extreme pain, but for assisting in discharging the peccant matter that occurred with the pain.

Literary use

In literary usage, the word has escaped its strictly medical meaning to convey anything "soothing or relaxing" (so used since the 18th century) or even anything "non-contentious", "blandly agreeable", or unlikely to cause offence or debate.

See also

Hua Tuo

• Mandragora

Notes

1. ^ Richard Quain, A dictionary of medicine: including general pathology, general therapeutics, 1883 full text

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
•  This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.

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