Pharmacy History Quiz: Ancient Practices and Origins

Pharmacy Overview

• The branch of science that deals with the origin, development, manufacturing, and dispensing of drugs prepared from natural or synthetic sources, and their use in the treatment and prevention of diseases is called Pharmacy.

Father of Medicine

• Hippocrates is considered the 'father of medicine' and surmised that disease was caused by an imbalance of bad humors.

Official Book of Pharmacy

• The official book listing drugs and medical preparations, including standards for drug's preparation and analysis is called Pharmacopeia.

Ancient Greek Symbol for Pharmacy

• The ancient Greeks used the symbol ℞ (Rx) to represent pharmacy.

Healthcare Professional in Pharmacy

• A pharmacist is the healthcare professional who practices in pharmacy and is responsible for providing the best pharmaceutical care to patients in hospitals and health centers.

Earliest Record of Pharmacy

• The earliest known record of the practice of pharmacy was found in ancient Mesopotamia.

Pharmacy in Houses of Worship

• In ancient cultures, pharmacy was practiced in houses of worship such as temples, churches, and mosques.

Father of Chinese Medicine

• Shennong is venerated as the Father of Chinese medicine.

Development of Pharmacy

• Chinese people collaborated with Muslim scientists to develop the application of pharmacy in the Middle East during the Islamic Golden Age.

Sources of Medicines

• According to the text, Shen Nung derived medicines from some of the following sources: plants, animals, and minerals.