What was sold in an apothecary?

In the past, apothecaries sold a wide variety of items:

- Medicinal drugs, including herbs, spices, minerals, and other natural products

- Medicinal compounds created from these ingredients, such as ointments, tinctures, and powders

- Medical instruments and equipment, such as scales, mortars and pestles, and cupping glasses

- Home remedies and folk cures, such as teas, tonics, and poultices

- Cosmetics, toiletries, and perfumes, including soaps, lotions, and fragrances

- Other household products, such as vinegar, honey, and spices

- Some apothecaries also offered basic medical services, such as bloodletting, tooth extraction, and wound dressing.

Apothecaries were the forerunners of modern pharmacies and played a vital role in the provision of healthcare during the medieval and early modern periods.