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Development of Pharmacy as a Science� Dr. Murtada Ahmed Oshi� 2026�.

Introduction� ●Pharmacy is one of the oldest health sciences, concerned with the discovery, preparation, preservation, and proper use of medicines. ● It developed gradually alongside human civilization as people searched for ways to treat disease and relieve suffering. ● Over centuries, pharmacy evolved from mystical healing practices into a structured scientific discipline based on observation, experimentation, and regulation. ● The history of pharmacy reflects humanity’s intellectual progress, cultural exchange, and scientific advancement across different societies.�.

Early Beginnings of Pharmacy� ●The origins of pharmacy can be traced back to prehistoric times when early humans relied on natural materials such as plants, minerals, and animal products to treat illnesses. ● Knowledge of healing was largely based on trial and error, and remedies were closely connected with religious beliefs and magical rituals. ● Healers, shamans, or priests were responsible for preparing treatments, and pharmaceutical knowledge was transmitted orally from one generation to another.� ●As civilizations developed, medical practices became more organized..

Early Beginnings of Pharmacy� In ancient Mesopotamiaﺑﻼﺩ ﻣﺎ ﺑﻴﻦ ﺍﻟﻨﻬﺮﻳﻦ, around 2600 BCE, clay tablets recorded some of the earliest known prescriptions, describing ingredients and preparation methods. ● These records marked the beginning of documented pharmaceutical practice. ● Similarly, ancient Egyptian civilization made remarkable contributions through medical texts such as the Ebers Papyrus, which contained hundreds of medicinal formulas and descriptions of dosage forms including ointments, powders, and pills. ● Egyptian practitioners demonstrated an advanced understanding of compounding medicines and maintaining organized medical.

Early Beginnings of Pharmacy� knowledge.� Mesopotamia�.

Pharmacy in Ancient Asian Civilizations� ●In India, the Ayurvedic system of medicine emphasized harmony between the body and nature and included extensive knowledge of medicinal plants. ● Drugs were classified according to their therapeutic effects, representing an early attempt at systematic pharmacology.� ● Meanwhile, Chinese civilization developed sophisticated herbal medicine traditions, documenting plant properties and therapeutic uses in early pharmacopoeias. ● These civilizations contributed significantly to botanical knowledge and the therapeutic application of natural substances.�.

Greek and Roman Influence on Scientific Pharmacy� ●A major transformation occurred during the Greek period, when medicine and pharmacy began to separate from superstition and move toward rational scientific thinking. ● Hippocratesﺃﺑﻘﺮﺍﻁ promoted observation and logical reasoning in medical treatment, reducing reliance on magic and spiritual explanations. ● Theophrastusﺛﻴﻮﻓﺮﺍﺳﺘﻮﺱ advanced the scientific study of plants and is often considered the father of botany due to his detailed descriptions of medicinal herbs.� ●One of the most influential figures in pharmaceutical history was Dioscoridesﺩﻳﺎﺳﻘﻮﺭﻳﺪﻭﺱ., whose work De Materia Medica described.

Greek and Roman Influence on Scientific Pharmacy� hundreds of medicinal substances and remained a primary reference for more than fifteen centuries. ● Later, during the Roman era, Galenﺟﺎﻟﻴﻨﻮﺱ developed systematic methods for preparing medicines, emphasizing accurate formulation and compounding techniques.� ● His influence gave rise to “Galenical pharmacy,” referring to medicines derived from natural sources through standardized preparation methods.�.

Greek and Roman Influence on Scientific Pharmacy� Galen� Dioscorides�.

Greek and Roman Influence on Scientific Pharmacy� Theophrastus� Hippocrates�.