To sign “medicine” in American Sign Language, you place the tip of your middle finger into the open palm of your opposite hand and rock or wobble your hand side to side. This is one of the most commonly used health-related signs in ASL, and once you learn the basic handshape, you can build on it to communicate about taking medication, types of medicine, and related concepts.
The Sign for Medicine Step by Step
Start with your non-dominant hand open and flat, palm facing up, as if you’re holding a small dish. With your dominant hand, extend your middle finger downward (the other fingers loosely curled) and touch the tip of that middle finger to the center of your open palm. Then gently wobble or twist your dominant hand from side to side, keeping the fingertip in contact with the palm. The rocking motion is what gives the sign its meaning. Think of it as mimicking the old-fashioned motion of grinding medicine with a mortar and pestle.
Some signers produce a small circular motion instead of a wobble. Both variations are widely understood. The key elements are the middle-finger contact point on the palm and the repeated movement. A single, still touch without any wobble or circle could be confused with other signs, so make sure you include that motion.
Signing “Take Medicine” and “Pill”
If you want to say you’re taking medicine, you can combine the sign for medicine with a natural gesture that mimics popping a pill into your mouth. Flick your thumb toward your mouth from a loose fist, as though you’re tossing a small tablet in. This gesture is intuitive and often understood even outside formal ASL vocabulary.
The sign for “pill” specifically uses a similar concept. You form a small pinching shape with your thumb and index finger (as if holding a tiny tablet), then flick or toss it toward your open mouth. Context usually makes it clear whether you mean a specific pill or medication in general.
To express that you need medicine or want to ask someone about their medication, you can pair the medicine sign with signs like “need,” “your,” or “every day” to form simple but effective phrases. ASL relies heavily on facial expression and context, so a questioning look while signing “medicine” and pointing to the other person naturally reads as “Do you take medicine?” or “Do you need your medication?”
How to Indicate Frequency and Dosage
In ASL, frequency is typically shown through number signs combined with time-related signs. To say “twice a day,” you would sign the number two, then sign “daily” or “every day.” Pairing this with the medicine sign creates a clear phrase: MEDICINE, TWO, EVERY-DAY. ASL grammar often places the topic first and the detail after, so leading with “medicine” and following with the schedule feels natural.
For “once a week” or “three times a day,” the same pattern applies. Sign the number, then the time frame. If you need to be more specific about morning versus evening doses, you can add the signs for “morning” and “night” to clarify timing.
Related Medical Signs Worth Knowing
If you’re learning the sign for medicine, you’re likely in a situation where a few other health signs would be useful too. Here are some that pair naturally with it:
- Doctor: Tap the fingertips of your dominant hand (formed like a “D” or a flat hand with fingers together) against the inside of your opposite wrist, where you’d check a pulse.
- Hospital: Draw a cross shape (like a medical plus sign) on your upper arm with your index or middle finger.
- Pain/Hurt: Point both index fingers toward each other and twist them in opposite directions near the area that hurts. Your facial expression should match the intensity.
- Allergic: Touch your nose with your index finger, then pull it away. Variations exist, so this is one where regional differences may come into play.
- Help: Place a flat hand (or a thumbs-up fist) on top of your open opposite palm, then raise both hands together. This one is essential in any medical setting.
Tips for Clear Communication
Facial expression is grammar in ASL. When you’re asking a question, your eyebrows should be raised (for yes/no questions) or furrowed (for who/what/where questions). Signing “medicine” with a blank face and no context leaves the other person guessing whether you’re making a statement, asking a question, or making a request.
Speed and clarity matter more than perfection. If you’re signing with a Deaf person in a medical context, going slowly and ensuring your handshapes are visible is far more helpful than rushing through signs you’ve just learned. Most Deaf signers are patient with learners and will often help you adjust your form if you’re close but not quite right.
If you’re learning ASL for medical communication specifically, watching the sign performed by a fluent signer on video is invaluable. Websites like Handspeak, ASL University (lifeprint.com), and SigningSavvy offer video demonstrations of “medicine” and hundreds of related signs. Seeing the movement in real time helps you catch the rhythm and speed that written descriptions can only approximate.