What is the meaning of Rx in doctor’s prescription?

 

All of us have been to doctor or medical shops to purchase medicine for some reasons. This is a common thing. But have you ever notice that the doctors always write a word Rx on prescription before prescribing any medicine. Also, Rx is written on many medicines.

The thing is, Have you ever thought why it is written so and what it means? If No, then think about it. 

The popular explanation is given that, In old age Rx was related to the sign of roman god Jupiter. Jupiter was called the planet of healing.  The reason behind to write Rx on prescription and medicines that we are praying to the planet of healing (Jupiter) that the person who takes this medicine heal early. The physicians invokes god’s blessings on the drug by writing Rx on prescription to help in the early recovery of patient. There was a belief in that period, that diseases were a result of planetary positions. So, medicines was thought to must take under the influence of Jupiter planet. It is said that the planets were named after roman gods. And ‘Jupiter’ was known as the king of roman gods.   

In Greek, the Rx symbol known as the sign of Jupiter and it was related to the Zeus. Zeus is regarded as the god of sky.

Similarly, many explanations were given in past. In modern period new explanation has given about the meaning of Rx which is originated from Latin word ‘Recipere’ which means ‘take thou’ or ‘take this’.

With the development of medical sciences, it is clear that simply praying to god or using certain symbols can never cure illness, unless the disease is properly diagnosed.