The History of Pharmacy and its effects on Western Civilization Essay

The History of Pharmacy and its effects on Western Civilization - Essay modellingIt is the pharmacists role to ensure the purity and effectiveness of drugs. At the same time, pharmacists collaborate with some other health professionals in order to provide the best healthcare to afflicted patients.Right at the dawning of civilization, human began attempting to use natural substances to fight against diseases. Early medicine consisted of readily available plants and minerals. The first pharmacists were selected individuals in society known in some cultures as medicine men or healers. The basis of this earliest perpetrate was a combination of superstitious belief and natural science. Early practitioners were sometimes referred to as sorcerers or magicians. The English word pharmacy itself traces its etymology to the Greek word pharmakeia, which means sorcery or witchcraft. Te observational shift in perspective came with the advent of Greek medicine. The study of the history of pha rmacy is to understand the practice in its wider concept of modern society, understand its functions and its trend in the future.Mesopotamian civilizations were among the earliest producers of medicinal drugs between 3000Bc and 539BC. medicine is this era was intertwined with religion. Sickness was considered punishment for sin. Healing, on the other hand, was considered cleansing or purification (Kremers, 1986). Medicine principally was made from plants. An examination of clay tablets revealed the use of plant drugs and minerals. Milk, wax, honey and various fats and oils were also used for medicinal purposes. A document dated 2000BC shows a record of powdered seeds to be dissolved in beer and offered to the patient. Mythology vie a huge role in this early practice. Dispensation of drugs included drug formulas and incantations involving the mention of mythical gods want Ea and Gula. Ninazu was considered god of the healers, and his son messenger of the gods. They were symbolize d by a rod and a serpent. Kremers (1986)notes the