how do you appreciate the role of alcohols in medicines in everyday life
Answers
Ethanol which is a type of alcohol is widely used in medicinal field. Alcohol is being used in medicine since ages. It has powerful antimicrobial, astringent and sedative property.
The following are the uses of ethanol in medicinal field:
1) As a preservative agent : ethanol is used to preserve biological samples of plants and animals for further study.
2) As an Antiseptic agent: When an injection is to be made, a cotton swab soaked in alcohol is used to clean the surface. Then after injection, it is left there to see that there is no bleeding. This is done to clear the area of injection from any bacteria or microbes.
3) To reduce pain: In case of sever pain as cancer, alcohol is injected near the nerve endings to destroy the nerve. This leads to lack of pain from that nerve.
4) As a rubefacient agent: 70% ethanol and even Isopropanol have rubefaceint character. When applied to skin, it leads to dilation of blood vessels and then redness. In this condition the applied skin area is tender and has greater absorption property. This can be used to enhance drug absorption from ointment applied to skin.