History of Pharmacy - Introduction to Pharmacy NUC-PCY 101

The origin of the word 'Pharmacy'

• The word "pharmacy" ultimately originates from the Greek word "pharmakon," meaning "drug" or "medicine."

Timeline for Humans Using Medicinal Plants

• Evidence suggests humans have used medicinal plants for at least 60,000 years.

Civilization with Well-Established Herbal Medicine Traditions

• Ancient Egypt had well-established traditions of herbal medicines.

Individuals Involved in Medication Preparation and Administration

• In ancient Egypt, priests, scribes, and healers were involved in preparing and administering medications.
• In ancient Greece, physicians and apothecaries were involved.
• In ancient Rome, physicians, apothecaries, and even slaves were involved in dispensing medications.

Exclusive Preserve of Medical Doctors and Surgeons

• The text does not mention any specific practices exclusively reserved for medical doctors and surgeons in ancient times.

Ancient Egyptian Papyri Documenting Medicinal Uses

• The Ebers Papyrus, the Edwin Smith Papyrus, and the Hearst Papyrus documented the medicinal uses of plants and minerals in ancient Egypt.

The 'Father of Medicine' in Ancient Egypt

• Imhotep, a high official during the 3rd Dynasty of ancient Egypt, is considered the "father of medicine" in ancient Egypt.

Greek Physician Authoring 'De Materia Medica'

• Dioscorides, a Greek physician, authored the five-volume encyclopedia 'De Materia Medica,' a comprehensive work on medicinal plants.

The Abbasid Caliphate's Innovation to Pharmacy

• The Abbasid Caliphate introduced the concept of the "pharmaceutical chemist," who was responsible for preparing and dispensing medications.

The Islamic World's Role in Pharmacy Development

• During the Middle Ages, the Islamic world played a significant role in the development of pharmacy.
• They made significant contributions to the study of medicinal plants, the preparation of medications, and the development of pharmaceutical techniques.

Institutions Developed in the Islamic World

• During the Middle Ages, "bimaristans" (hospitals) and "dar al-shifa" (houses of healing) developed in the Islamic world.
• These institutions had dedicated pharmacies where medications were prepared and dispensed.

Muslim Scholar Translating Medical Texts

• Hunayn ibn Ishaq, a 9th-century Muslim scholar, actively translated Greek, Persian, and Indian medical texts into Arabic.