History of Pharmacy

Pharmacy traces its roots from medieval times, when priests ministered to the sick with religious rites, to the modern profession. Specialization in pharmacy first occurred in the 9th century around Baghdad, then spread to Europe as alchemy and eventually chemistry.

The word “pharmacy” derives from the Greek “pharmakon” (remedy). Early physicians both prepared and prescribed medicines; the distinction between pharmacist-as-compounder and physician-as-therapist was only generally accepted in the 19th century.