How to Learn About Apothecary History

Introduction

Nearly every civilization has used herbs and plants as medicines to treat everything from infertility to pain to infection. Throughout the majority of the last millennium, apothecaries acted as pharmacists, midwives, medical experts and surgeons all rolled into one. The history of the apothecary gives us insight into what life was like before work was highly specialized and medicine closely regulated. Follow these steps to learn more about apothecary history.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Learn About the History of Apothecary

Things You'll Need

• Library card
• Computer with Internet access

Steps

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Step One

Be a detective. To learn about the history of apothecaries, you need to be able to search the Internet thoroughly, with an eye for detail. The "Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London" Web site will give you a glimpse of some apothecary history (see Resources below).

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Step Two

Research the history of the pharmacy, the history of herbal medicine and the history of monasteries, which often grew herbs in "physic gardens." Nearly every civilization has used herbs and plants as medicines, treating everything from infertility to pain to infection. These histories will help broaden and deepen your understanding of apothecary's place in history.

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Step Three

Consider the etymology of the word "apothecary," which comes from the Latin "apotheca" and even earlier from the Greek "apothéké." Originally, it meant a "storehouse for spices, wines and herbs." Later, it came to mean a person who stocked and sold all kinds of herbs for medicine, cosmetics and other uses.

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Step Four

Curl up with a good book. You'll learn a lot by reading Joan Lane's "A Social History of Medicine: Health, Healing and Disease in England, 1750-1950" (see Resources below).