How did monasteries use pharmacies and medicinal gardens to care for sick people?

During the Middle Ages, monasteries played a central role in healthcare by establishing infirmaries, known as an infirmitorium, to treat sick monks, pilgrims, and travelers. These institutions integrated spiritual care with physical healing, as the monks viewed the care of the sick as a primary Christian duty.12

To support their medical efforts, monasteries maintained a pharmacy and cultivated medicinal gardens containing various herbs and plants. These gardens were essential for sourcing natural remedies, such as thyme, rosemary, and fennel, which were used for their therapeutic properties.13

The monks who staffed these facilities acted as both doctors and nurses, providing a model of care that influenced the development of early European hospitals. While their practices often combined traditional knowledge with spiritual devotion, the monastic system provided a vital structure for institutional health care before the rise of secular medical authorities.21