Step inside The Apothecary’s Journal—where the past speaks through remedies, rituals, and real accounts of colonial healthcare. Each post offers insight into the practices, people, and plants that shaped the Spanish Military Hospital’s role in early St. Augustine.
This is not a collection of tourist tales, but a living record of history, healing, and heritage.
January 22, 2026
New Year, Old Remedies: Preventive Health and Daily Wellness in Colonial St. Augustine
A new year often brings renewed focus on health—more rest, better habits, and a fresh start. In colonial St. Augustine, people may not have used the […]
December 22, 2025
Spices, Spirits, and Survival: Winter Remedies in Colonial St. Augustine
In colonial St. Augustine, winter medicine was shaped by two realities: people still got sick, and supplies were never guaranteed. Apothecaries had to treat coughs, aches, […]
November 22, 2025
Preparing for Winter: How Colonial St. Augustine Battled Cold, Illness, and Recovery
In modern Florida, winter is often mild and brief. In colonial St. Augustine, however, cooler months brought their own challenges—especially for the sick, the injured, and […]
October 7, 2025
Bloodletting, Leeches, and Belief: Medicine Before Modern Science in Colonial St. Augustine
Modern medicine is shaped by lab testing, microscopes, and a clear understanding of infection and anatomy. In colonial St. Augustine, medical care followed a very different […]
September 11, 2025
From Ship to Shelf: How Apothecaries Supplied Medicine in Colonial St. Augustine
In colonial St. Augustine, medicine did not arrive neatly packaged or reliably stocked. Apothecaries depended on ships, trade routes, seasonal deliveries, and local improvisation to keep […]
August 6, 2025
When Summer Was Dangerous: Illness and Healing in Colonial St. Augustine
In modern St. Augustine, summer often brings images of ocean breezes, historic streets, and long daylight hours. In the colonial era, however, summer was the most […]
July 26, 2025
What the Apothecary Knew: Healing with Herbs Before Modern Medicine
Before the age of X-rays, antibiotics, and sterile environments, healing was grounded in nature. In 18th-century St. Augustine, apothecaries served a vital role in preserving life […]