Before the days of mass literacy, medicine was more art than science, and people recognized a pharmacy by the four traditional colored bottles that represent earth, fire, air, and water. Medicine has come a long way since the days of the apothecary with its impressive collection of powders and bottles; drugs today are highly regulated and must comply with standards set by the ., Europe, Japan, and other countries. A drug must be shown to be efficacious and meet rigorous standards of purity, composition, and potency before being approved for use in the patient populatio.
