take medicine

[pinkie9]

This is about external medicine.
I know native speakers say "apply external medicine" and "use external medicine".
How about "take external medicine"? Is "take" used only for internal medicine?
Thank you.

 

[Barb_D]

Can you be more clear? Do you mean something like applying an anti-bacterial cream to a cut or scrape?

 

[Johnny Brambley]

Take in this case would almost certainly imply to ingest.

 

[emsr2d2]

You "take" medicines if you eat, drink or swallow them.
You "apply" medicines if they go onto your skin (topical application).

 

[pinkie9]

Thank you all.

Can you be more clear? Do you mean something like applying an anti-bacterial cream to a cut or scrape?

I meant all kind of external medicines, which you don't ingest. For example, ointment, cream, poultice, mouthwash, eye-drops, and suppository.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thank you all.


I meant all kind of external medicines, which you don't ingest. For example, ointment, cream, poultice, mouthwash, eye-drops, and suppository.

With those medicines, we have a warning that says "for external use only".

 

[Barb_D]

Don't use "take" with any of those. Stick with "apply" for things that go on the skin, and "use" for things like mouthwash and eye drops.

 

[probus]

To complicate matters "internal medicine" in AmE is a specialty in the field of medicine. Specialist in AmE medical usage is the same as Consultant in BrE.

 

[emsr2d2]

You're not going to get much help from a suppository if you use it externally or apply it. You need to insert it into the relevant orifice.

 

[Raymott]

To complicate matters "internal medicine" in AmE is a specialty in the field of medicine. Specialist in AmE medical usage is the same as Consultant in BrE.

Yes, but internal medicine has nothing to do with taking internal medicines as opposed to external medications.