Turpentine

From Wikinfo

Turpentine is a semifluid resin obtained from trees, mainly pines of the genus Pinus. A volatile oil called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine or, colloquially, turps can be extracted by distillation. Turpentine has been described simply as "distilled trees".

Turpentine is sometimes called acquaragia; cf aqua regia.

Contents 1 Medicinal uses 2 Industrial uses 3 External links 3.1 References

Medicinal uses

Turpentine has been used medically since ancient times.

• Applied externally to the affected areas, turpentine is a highly effective treatment for lice.

• Turpentine can be mixed with animal fat as a primitive chest rub for nasal and throat complaints. Some modern chest rubs still contain some turpentine (e.g., Vick's Vaporub).

• Internal administration of turpentine is no longer common today, though it was once the preferred means of treating intestinal parasites.

Industrial uses

Turpentine is used as a solvent, especially for thinning oil-based paints, and as a raw material for the chemical industry.

External links

• Gum naval stores: Turpentine and rosin from pine resin

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Turpentine" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turpentine, used under the GNU Free Documentation License