Apothecary Herbal Healing

Before pharmacists, there were apothecaries. During the Colonial period in America, apothecaries dispensed medicines, including herbal remedies. Apothecaries functioned as pharmacists and doctors. Their skills with herbs made apothecaries reliable resources for people seeking healing from any ailment. Apothecary gardens provided herbs to aid healing. The art of apothecary continues in the modern era. Herbalists grow their own herbs and treat ailments just as their colonial foremothers-and fathers. The term, apothecary, came to be used for the store where the apothecary operated. Apothecaries are the ancestors of modern pharmacies or drug stores.

Function

Horehound

The Official Site of Colonial Williamsburg explains that colonial era apothecaries performed more functions than modern pharmacists. People turned to their apothecary for solutions to medical problems. Apothecaries prescribed medications, were practiced surgeons and performed mid-wife duties. Many of the remedies apothecaries prescribed were herbal solutions. Apothecary shops carried notions, spices, candles and personal hygiene products.

Apothecary Herbs

Sorrel

Apothecaries prescribed a wide variety of herbs for their patient's ailments. The article, "Medicinal Uses of Herbs and Spices," recounts the dozens of herbs apothecaries prescribed. Included are sage, horehound, feverfew, sorrel, comfrey, and St. John's Wort. Apothecaries used these herbs to treat patients with respiratory problems, colds, headaches, and skin irritations, to name only a few conditions from which patients sought relief.

Remedies

Roses

According to Colonial Williamsburg's website, an apothecary during the Colonial period might recommend chalk for a patient with indigestion. Apothecaries knew that calamine applied topically soothed burns. Cinchona bark was given to regulate fevers. Colonial apothecaries prescribed infused thyme for respiratory ailments. Patients gargled with sage to soothe sore throats. Horehound was used to clear congestion. Colonials relieved their headaches with infused rue. Drinking feverfew tea or chewing the plant's leaves eased headaches. Sorrel, comfrey or St. John's wort in poultices was applied to cut or wounds. Mimicking their apothecary, individuals used vinegar of roses for headaches. Colonial citizens saved money by using home remedies to cure what ailed them. The roots of apothecary herbal healing are the same for skilled and unskilled herbalists.

Applications

Rosemary

According to History Online, colonials used herbs in various forms. Soaking herbs in alcohol results in a tincture. To make a decoction, boil the roots, stems and bark of herbs. Make an infusion by steeping herbs in water for several minutes. Strain and drink infused teas. To make a more potent infusion, distill herbs and catch the steam.

Gardens

Herb Garden

Botanic gardens were the sources of apothecary healing herbs. The idea of apothecary gardens came to the New World from Europe.According to Holy Smoke, the first botanic gardens used for medicinal studies were in Padua, Italy in 1545. When settlers arrived to the colonies, they brought seeds from European herbal gardens. Holy Smoke reports that seeds and rootstocks for a variety of medicinal herbs arrived with the settlers.
In exchange, ships returned to Europe with plants from the newly discovered territory. The first botanic garden was ear Philadelphia. The garden was lush with medicinal herbs including lemon balm, basil, black cohosh, and borage.

References

• Colonial Williamsburg: Apothecary
• Apothecary Gardens in History
• Medicinal Uses of Herbs and Spices

Resources

• Old World Apothecary