We use the words medicine in two ways. We mainly think of it as a substance used to help prevent or cure something wrong. These are sometimes called drugs. But doctors tend to think of medicine much more widely than that. To a doctor medicine is like science or chemistry. It is a branch of knowledge.
The simplest and most commonly used medicines are those to reduce pain or inflammation.
The one you are most likely to know about is called paracetamol. What it does is to relieve pain such as a headache. It also has the effect of reducing temperature, for example when you have a fever due to a bad cold or flu. It can also help to stop inflammation, but only to a small degree, which is why it is often given at the same time as ibuprofen (see below). Most over-the-counter flu-relief medicines contain paracetemol.
Like all medicines described below, paracetemol is only safe in the doses shown on the packet.
Another common medicine is aspirin. Aspirin is one of the oldest medicines used. The active ingredient of aspirin was first discovered from the bark of the willow tree in 1763 by Edward Stone of the University of Oxford. It does three things: relieves minor aches and pains, reduces fever, and reduces inflammation. It also reduces the way the body can stop bleeding or the development of blood clots. That is why it is used in very low doses to help prevent heart attacks. It is possible that it is also helpful in reducing the risk of some types of cancer. However, aspirin can also cause problems with the wall of the stomach and that is why, in particular, it is not recommended for use by children.
Ibuprofen is used to reduce inflammation. It also helps control a fever. It is less effective as a painkiller. It is probably the least effective of the trio of Paracetemol, Aspirin and Ibuprofen, but has fewer side effects.
The other medicine in tablet form that you might take is when you have runny bowel movements (diarrhoea, from the Greek, meaning 'to flow through'). The problem with runny bowel movements is that they can cause the body to lose too much water. This is called dehydration and can be fatal. It is the second most common cause of death in children world-wide. It is stopped by using medicines containing loperamide that take water out of the intestines. You can get these medicines over the counter (often described as helping 'traveller's tummy').
The most common cause of diarrhoea is an infection from food or water. It can be countered by drinking only clean liquids and properly cooked foods.
Other common medicines can come in the form of gels in tubes. The most common of these is antiseptic. Antiseptics kill microbes on the skin. You would normally squeeze some antiseptic over a cut or graze and then rub it into the skin. That will stop microbes from getting in and turning the injury septic. (Note that disinfectants also destroy microbes, but they are intended to be used in non-living things and have a different strength).
