# Do you use salve or an ointment?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-salve-or-an-ointment/542571>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 9, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-salve-or-an-ointment/542571 "2010-06-09T19:50:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-salve-or-an-ointment/542571/21 "2010-06-12T01:38:24Z")

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I despise the institution of salvery.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-salve-or-an-ointment/542571/22 "2010-06-12T11:53:01Z")

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**WhyNot** ’s taxomony matches mine. Salves aren’t much used anymore. So neither is the word. Which I haven’t heard, said, or read in years.

Most modern commercial preparations are ointments or lotions. Which words I do hear, say, & read frequently.

And as **bjbrashier** says, “stuff” seems to be the most common current term, at least from the Unwashed Masses.

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**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-salve-or-an-ointment/542571/23 "2010-06-12T18:18:24Z")

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I’ve always thought of ointments as having an oily/vaseline-like base, like neosporin ointment. Salves are more of a creamy type. I’m sure I learned the difference in nursing school, but that was over 30 years ago. (I know docs used to write prescriptions with the abbreviation “ung” to indicate a topical unguent).  
Rushgeekgirl–my Daddy swore Vicksav cured most anything!

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-salve-or-an-ointment/542571/24 "2010-06-12T18:58:54Z")

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[You look like a man who could use a good can of salve!](http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80714013/)

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**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-salve-or-an-ointment/542571/25 "2010-06-12T22:45:07Z")

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I love the sound of **salve**. Makes me think of my mother who once remarked that TCBY frozen yogurt tasted “salvey” to her. I got the gist, though I don’t think I could tell a salve from an ointment in a blind taste test.

I’m allergic to one of the ingredients in Neosporin–makes the rash even rashier! These days, I swear by Bactine and Bag Balm.

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