Wine, spices and entertainment: what medieval Riga's pharmacies really sold
A historian from Riga's Pharmacy Museum explains that medieval pharmacies sold far more than medicine, including wine, spices and entertainment items. Wine was then regarded as a cure-all remedy.
Medieval pharmacies looked nothing like today's drugstores. Their shelves held goods that would now be found in entirely different shops, according to Indra Vīlistere, museum educator and historian at the Pharmacy Museum, speaking on Latvian Radio's programme "Zināmais nezināmajā".
Wine as medicine
One of the more unusual items sold in pharmacies of the time was wine. Physicians of the era prescribed it to patients as a health-strengthening remedy. According to Vīlistere, a belief prevailed during the Middle Ages that even half a teaspoon of wine could ward off almost any illness. As a result, the drink held an important place among the era's medicinal offerings.
A wider assortment than modern pharmacies
Besides wine, medieval pharmacies also sold spices and items associated with entertainment. This shows that the pharmacy of the time served a much broader function than today's drugstore — it operated as a kind of marketplace combining medical treatment, everyday consumer goods and entertainment.
The account of Riga's medieval pharmacy offers a glimpse into everyday life of the period and illustrates how understanding of medicine, health and what counted as a remedy has shifted over time.
