In short, an apothecary is a historic pharmacy. However, a traditional apothecary is very different from the modern retail pharmacy that we know today. It was not until the 20th century that the practice of pharmacy developed into the dispensing of tablets, capsules and other commercially prepared products. Historically, an apothecary owner would work alongside medical practitioners to develop individualized treatments for ailments and diseases. Apothecary owners were considered the experts in selecting ingredients for treatments, extracting their medicinal components, and then choosing the proper base to prepare them in. Many therapies were derived from plant, animal, and mineral substances. As modern medicine has evolved, this practice has grown into what we now know as a modern pharmacy. Today, you can still find independently-owned pharmacies that practice the art of compounding individualized medications, but sadly, this practice is dwindling due to the empire of corporate retail monopolies, commercialized products, and insurance formularies.