You Need To Know The Difference; Apothecary vs Pharmacy
Recently I tore some tendons in my elbow. The orthopedic specialists prescribed some medication to help heal the issue. I was told I needed to go to the apothecary to get that prescription filled. I didn't realize that apothecaries still existed.
My first thought was I should probably feed my horse before I ride him to town to visit the apothecary. I also thought about the stale black licorice I could purchase at the apothecary. Aptothecaries are alive and well in Michigan.
What is an apothecary?
Merriam-Webster defines an apothecary as:
one who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes
That sounds like a pharmacist to me. These folks were leading the way to what we know now! Wiki says:
Apothecaries' investigation of herbal and chemical ingredients was a precursor to the modern sciences of chemistry and pharmacology.
What is a pharmacy?
One thing about the pharmacy I loved when I was a kid was getting candy. If we were picking up a prescription, I was sick. The candy of course made me feel better, not the meds.
: the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs : a place where medicines are compounded or dispensed
What's the difference between a pharmacy and apothecary?
The previous two definitions were almost identical. There is a difference between the two, what is it? According to Clemson Apothecare:
A pharmacy is generally more aligned with modern, allopathic medicine, using scientifically tested and approved drugs to treat specific conditions. An apothecary, conversely, typically aligns more with holistic and natural health philosophies, using a variety of plants and herbs in their treatments.
Apothecaries focus on natural ways to heal. Going back in time, mecicine was natural. There were no man made chemicals. They are still doing it that way. Hopfully if you have to go to the apothecary, they will have some good candy for the kids to enjoy.