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150 years. This year one of the oldest pharmacies in Lithuania joins. If you visit Šiauliai, visit Valerijonas. Not necessarily drugs, or rather, not drugs at all. The only pharmacy museum in Lithuania operates here, and it is also interesting to visit the health food tea house next to the pharmacy.
More importantly, it is one of the few pharmacies outside of a major network that began to disappear like dinosaurs with the arrival of online pharmacies in the country.
Ms. Almyra has been working here since 1972 and since 1974 she is the pharmacy manager. For many years this institution belonged to the Jews, then when the Soviet era came, it became a state, and after the return to independence, it became private.
By the way, it is interesting that the pharmacy is not owned by a single person: the shareholders are pharmacists who work here, as well as former employees already retired.
The museum has several exhibits
After meeting us at the pharmacy, Ms Almyra invites you to the museum in the basement, which contains around 130 different exhibits related to the history and pharmacy of the pharmacy.
Among them is “Red streptocide” (“Prontozil”), for whose discovery the German Gerhard Domagk received the Nobel Prize for its antibacterial properties.
“During the war, about 200 thousand people were saved by it. It lives. It is a drug that kills bacteria to dress wounds,” says the pharmacist.
The museum contains medicines and tinctures from various domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies, as well as exhibits of packaging, old recipes, books, photos, pharmacist’s instruments, and difficult-to-read medical prescriptions.
By the way, A.Girdenienė has his own opinion on the doctor’s letter, which seems completely unreadable to a stranger.
“Everything is read here,” he says, and begins to read the recipes out loud. – Everything is clear. Maybe only young pharmacists sometimes do not read, then tell them: go to Valerian. The prescription is a referral from a Latino doctor to a pharmacist. “
Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / “Valerijonas” pharmacy
The pharmacist’s oath focuses on the person
“We are an old surviving manufacturing pharmacy. Pharmacists work here, to whom nobody says anything to sell. Pharmacists work according to their conscience and vocation. There are few such pharmacies; we will be in the Red Book ”, laughs Mrs. Almyra.
The woman says she is sworn in not only by Hippocrates but also by a pharmacist.
“We have affirmed that oath in the pharmaceutical guild. Its essence is that we apply our acquired knowledge to human health, that the pharmacist should not look to profit or profit, but to the person.
This profession is something sacred. According to Ayurveda, which interests me, the highest goal for which we live on earth is service to man. And in the hands of a pharmacist, after all inserted human health, ”said A. Girdenienė.
The pharmacist is convinced that people in this specialty must have a calling, and when it comes to taking medication, we really drink excessively. Why?
“Because advertising everywhere, only everywhere: buy, buy, cheap. Medications are not shoes, they don’t have to be. This is not the case in other European countries. It all depends on the local government.
For example, when the Minister of Health was Vytenis Andriukaitis, the advertising of medicines was banned. It is a drug, a chemical, and must be taken when needed. And now? ”- says A.Girdenienė.
The name came from the fact that the cat was lost
The pharmacy itself can be found not only by direction, but also by cats – there are their metal sculptures on the roof of the pharmacy.
The name “Valerijonas” was given to the pharmacy in 1992, and a little later cats appeared on the roof.
A.Girdenienė said that various herbal potions have been produced in the pharmacy for many years. Among other herbs, valerian is also used.
“Our women made those potions. I remember sitting in the office and listening to the recipes screaming. I run and see that the kitten has jumped through the glass into the production room.
Sitting in the garbage cans, where we filled the bush, we wrapped our heads in it and rolled it, smelling the valerian, ”said Ms. Almyra.
The women who caught the cat took him outside, but he returned after half an hour: “Then we gave the drops and took them to the basement. That’s how those cats appeared on the roof, according to them the name of the pharmacy ”.
Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / “Valerijonas” pharmacy
Interested in healthy eating and wellness
Then, when network pharmacies began to be established in Lithuania, Valerijonas also received an offer: he was offered to sell the pharmacy. And this is not at all strange, because not only is it the oldest and favorite pharmacy of Šiauliai residents, but its facilities are in the center of the city.
The proposals, says Almyra, were quite intrusive: “But we resisted.” But with the launch of online pharmacies, it has become impossible to survive on the sale of drugs to small pharmacies alone.
“Valerijonas” is helped to survive with vegetarian tea, cosmetics produced in a pharmacy, and several awards have been received for the products of the “Razalija” cosmetic line. By the way, one word razalija stands for valerian.
“After all, we learned Latin, we understand everything that is written on the packaging of luxury creams. And we thought we could do it ourselves. This is how we began to produce facial creams, ”said the pharmacist.
Meanwhile, tea activities are also related to Almyra’s own lifestyle: the woman has been interested in healthy eating and wellness for many years. Therefore, it is not only offered to have a snack or buy quality products, but also educational classes.
Pharmacist Almyra, 74, practices yoga, doesn’t eat meat, and her morning starts at 5 am with exercise and a cold shower.
According to the pharmacist, our well-being and quality of life really depends on what we eat and how we live.
“But everyone has to listen to their body: what they want. It is not necessary to do anything by means of coercion, ”said A. Girdenienė.
Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / “Valerijonas” pharmacy
Recipe VEGANEZO by A.Girdenienė
Pharmacist Almyra suggests replacing traditional mayonnaise with a healthier seasoning – veganez, which can be easily prepared at home.
Will need:
- 100 g cashew nuts,
- 100 g of water,
- 100 g of olive oil,
- teaspoon scraped salt
- a teaspoon of turmeric,
- a teaspoon of mustard powder,
- tablespoon of honey,
- 5 cloves of garlic,
- lemons to taste.
All the products, except the oil, are stirred with a grinder, then the oil is added.
The vegan can stay in the refrigerator for four days.
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