Ancient Pharmacy and Medicine Quiz

History of Pharmacy

• The presentation covers a historical journey of pharmaceutical care.
• A presentation by Mohd b. Makmor Bakry, Ph.D., R.Ph., a Professor of Pharmaceutical Care at the Faculty of Pharmacy.

Ancient: Before the Dawn of History

• Early humans learned about healing from observing animals.
• Basic treatments, such as cool water, leaves, or mud, were employed.
• Knowledge was passed down, and refined through trial.
• Eventually, the knowledge was used to benefit others.

Pharmacy in Ancient Babylon

• Mesopotamia had the earliest recorded practice of apothecary.
• By 2600 B.C., practitioners in healing were priests, pharmacists, and physicians.
• Clay tablets documented symptoms, prescriptions, and directions for compounding remedies.
• Invocations to deities were recorded.

Pharmacy in Ancient China

• Chinese pharmacy began around 2000 B.C.
• Emperors investigated medicinal plants.
• Herbs, roots, bark were tested and documented.
• A book, Pen T-Sao, recorded 365 medicinal plants.

Ancient Egypt: Days of the Papyrus Ebers

• Around 2900 B.C, Egyptian medicine was known worldwide.
• Papyrus Ebers(1500 B.C.) collected 800 prescriptions and mentioned 700 drugs.
• The gathering, preparing, and processing of drugs were handled by different specialists.
• Individuals like "head of pharmacy" were in charge of the departments

Theophrastus – Father of Botany

• Theophrastus (circa 300 B.C.) was a Greek philosopher/scientist who studied botany.
• He observed and documented medicinal qualities of plants (botany).
• His findings were unusually accurate.

The Royal Toxicologist – Mithridates VI

• Mithridates VI (circa 100 B.C.), was the King of Pontus.
• He experimented with poison and was a master toxicologist.
• He developed a "universal antidote" to poisons.

Terra Sigillata (Sealed Earth)

• Terra Sigillata, a medicated clay, was discovered before 500 B.C. on the island of Lemnos.
• The clay was used as medicine and processed annually as tablets and pastilles by specialized personnel.
• The process involved religious and government dignitaries.

Dioscorides: A Scientist Looks at Drugs

• Pedanios Dioscorides(First century A.D.) traveled with Roman Armies and documented Materia Medica.
• He documented observations about medicinal qualities of plants, methods of collecting and storing medicines.
• His work remained valuable throughout many centuries.

Galen, Experimenter in Drug Compounding

• Galen (130-200 A.D.) was a physician and pharmacist in Rome.
• He developed principles for preparing and compounding medicines for 1500 years.
• Galen developed a formula cold cream.

Monastic Pharmacy

• During the Middle Ages, remnants of Western knowledge of pharmacy were preserved in monasteries.
• Monastic scripts are documents regarding medicine and pharmacy.
• Pharmacists were taught in cloisters in the seventh century.

Islam & Pharmacy

• Islamic scholars developed and documented methods for preparing remedies.
• The scholars expanded knowledge of previous cultures.
• Islamic scholars made key contributions to medicine and pharmacy.

First Apothecary Shop

• The first privately owned apothecary shop was established in Baghdad in the 8th century.
• They preserved Greco-Roman knowledge, and added their own discoveries.
• Islamic scholars developed more advanced knowledge of dispensing.

Ibn Sina – The “Persian Galen”

• Ibn Sina (about 980-1037 A.D.), a Persian physician and writer, was a master of medicine.
• Ibn Sina's pharmaceutical teachings were highly respected in both the East and the West.
• His writings on medicine and pharmacy were instrumental.

Arabian Pharmacy Teaching

• Arabian scholars documented and refined various medicinal aspects.
• There were important contributions to the production of useful medicinal products.
• The practice of herbal medicine gained prominence during this time.

Separation of Pharmacy & Medicine

• In 1240 A.D, Pharmacy was separated from Medicine in Sicily.
• Regulations and clear professional boundaries were established for pharmacists.
• This separation marked a significant step towards professionalization.

First Pharmacopoeia

• The idea of a pharmacopoeia with official status originated in Florence in 1498.
• The first official pharmacopoeia with standards for pharmacists was compiled in Florence
• A document that contained the names of remedies became the standard in Florence.

Society of Apothecaries

• In the British Isles, the Grocers' Guild controlled and monopolized apothecaries.
• This later changed with court physicians and the establishment of the Society of Apothecaries in 1617.
• The Society of Apothecaries received a charter from the King.

The Pharmacopoeia Comes of Age

• The first United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) was published in 1820.
• The lack of interest in the medical profession almost led to the end of the USP in 1877.
• The committee of revision, chaired by a hospital pharmacist, saved the project.

Introduction of Pharmacy to Malaysia

• The Malaysian Pharmacy Board was established in 1951.
• ROPA and other laws were introduced to regulate the drug distribution and sales in the country.
• The presence and influence of Britain played a significant role.

Pharmaceutical Control Era

• The Malaysian government established the Pharmaceutical Services Division(1974) along with the Drug Control Authority in 1985 to regulate and control the dispensing of drugs.

Pharmacist & Practice Era

• Registration of Pharmacists Act was amended in 2004.
• The National Pharmacy Regulatory Agency's role was introduced in 2015.
• The regulatory body was formed to further standardize the profession.

Yesterday, Today & Future

• This section uses a table to show the evolution of Pharmacy across different time periods (spiritual, empiric, industrialization, patient care, and biotech).

Pharmacist & Individualised Therapeutics

• The trend in becoming more personalized reflects current medicine standards

4th Industrial Revolution Challenges

• The presentation emphasizes challenges and opportunities connected medical devices during the 4th Industrial Revolution

Digital Transformation & Adherence

• Smart administration and monitoring devices (ex. Ingestible pill sensors) were discussed.
• Wearable technology for monitoring patients was mentioned,
• Mobile applications for medication management were mentioned
• Smart pill containers were discussed as part of the solution

Ingestible Pill Sensor

• This technology allows medication tracking.
• Data is wirelessly transmitted to a device and to healthcare providers.

Wearable Technology

• Wearable technology monitors and tracks health status and communicates data with providers.
• Reminders and notifications are key features.

Mobile Applications

• Mobile apps provide medication lists, schedules, and documentation.
• Apps allow for communication with healthcare providers.

Smart Pill Containers

• Smart pill containers alert the user when it's time to take medication.
• Data on medication intake is sent to the patient and to the doctor's office.
• A real-time progress report is available with these devices.

Test your knowledge on ancient pharmacy and medicinal practices! This quiz covers significant contributions from figures like Mithridates VI and Theophrastus, the role of the 'House of Life', and the significance of Terra Sigillata. Dive into the rich history of Egyptian medicine and pharmacy.