Medical Symbols

⚕ vs ☤: the classic mix-up

The true symbol of medicine is the rod of Asclepius ⚕, a single snake coiled around a staff. Asclepius was the Greek god of healing, and the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and most ambulance services use this emblem. Unicode names it STAFF OF AESCULAPIUS (U+2695); see the staff of Aesculapius page.

The caduceus ☤ has two snakes and wings. It belongs to Hermes, messenger of the gods and patron of trade. Its use as a medical sign, common in the United States, dates from its adoption by the US Army Medical Corps in 1902. For medical content, ⚕ is the historically correct choice. ⚚ is the plain staff of Hermes.

℞ prescription

℞ (U+211E, prescription take) is the traditional heading of a prescription, abbreviating the Latin recipe, “take”. It is often written as Rx. Pharmacists and health apps use it as an icon. It is part of the letterlike symbols block.

The red cross

The Greek cross ✚ is a neutral character, but a red cross on a white background is a protective emblem under the Geneva Conventions. Its unauthorised use, even by clinics and first-aid products, is restricted in many countries. For first aid, a white cross on green is the ISO safety sign.

Typing medical symbols

In Word, type 2695 and press Alt + X for ⚕, 2624 for ☤ or 211E for ℞. On a Mac, use the Character Viewer and search “medical” or “staff”. The emoji versions appear on phone keyboards under Objects. For hazard signs used in labs, see warning symbols.