Naturopathy…nature’s gift to whole health

Most of us strive for optimal health and to have greater control of our wellbeing.  This usually means accessing the wide range of health services and products available at our fingertips.

There is no doubt that traditional prescription medicines will always hold a fundamental place in our health regime.  But more and more Australians are searching for a more balanced approach to their health and that is where naturopathy steps in. 

For some, naturopathy is viewed as the latest health fad.  In reality, naturopathy has a vast and extensive history.

In 400 B.C, Greek physician, Hippocrates first formulated the concept of "the healing power of nature" and remains one of the central ideologies of naturopathic medicine today.  Hippocrates was certainly on to something!

Supporting the whole health approach should be king.  Through natural therapy and treatments which are safe and non-invasive, naturopathy taps into the body’s self-healing abilities.  The ingenuity of naturopathy is that it can be an effective health option to improve overall wellbeing or it can work in unison with prescription medicine.

If you decide to go to a naturopath, they can give you advice and treatments for a suite of conditions including allergies, recurrent immune conditions, digestive disorders, depression and emotional disorders, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia syndrome,  menstrual and menopausal conditions.

You may think that combining both prescription and natural medicine may be a daunting and complex option, but with the right advice from experts – namely pharmacists and naturopaths; a successful WHOLE health strategy is possible.

The key is to do your research.  Find a pharmacy where pharmacists work closely with a naturopath to be able to safely and effectively integrate prescription and natural medicine for optimum patient outcomes.

Be ready to ask lots of questions as pharmacists are there to help you uncover all your medication choices – both traditional and natural.  

Community Care Chemists in Greater Geelong and Apollo Bay values the multidisciplinary approach to healthcare by having an in-house naturopath in the Belmont and North Geelong CCC pharmacies.  With pharmacists and a naturopath working together, patients will have the confidence and reassurance that all health options are presented and covered.

Let naturopathy be part of your whole health approach.

Community Care Chemist Belmont
157 High Street, Belmont
03 5241 1755
belmont@communitycarechemist.com.au

Community Care Chemist North Geelong
75 Separation Street, North Geelong
03 5278 4300
nthgeelong@communitycarechemist.com.au

Nothing to snooze about – sleep apnoea

With 10 percent of Australians suffering from insomnia and one in three adults struggling to catch enough zzz’s, sleep apnoea is no joking matter.

With sleep apnoea, a person may stop breathing for more than 10 seconds and with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing you to have a fragmented sleep with inadequate breathing.  No wonder, so many Australians are not waking up refreshed or feeling rejuvenated. 

Whether it’s putting up with your partner’s snoring (that’s 19 per cent of Australians out there) or the 35 per cent of Australians waking up frequently during the night, sleep apnoea showcases some frightening statistics, especially when 80 per cent of sleep apnoea sufferers have not even been diagnosed.

Sleep apnoea is not a normal part of life.  Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnoea will decrease a person’s life span by 10 years and may lead to serious health disorders such as hypertension, depression, heart disease and stroke.  Who knew, sleep, or lack of it, could be so dangerous.

The good news is effective treatments are out there.

There are the lengthy and often expensive systems to diagnose sleep apnoea which usually involves an overnight sleep study in a lab or hospital, and the waiting periods required for specialists.

Now, Community Care Chemist in Geelong West is offering an affordable sleep apnoea testing service which can be done in the privacy and comfort of your own home. 

CCC Geelong West has joined forces with Australian Pharmacy Sleep Services to offer Geelong residents a more convenient way to test for sleep apnoea.  By simply taking the overnight sleep study in your own home, results can then be sent to a sleep scientist and doctor for the diagnosis.  The pharmacist at Community Care Chemist will present the results within 10 days.  

If you do suffer from sleep apnoea, the CCC pharmacist can recommend a number of options including a mouth guard or a CPAP machine trial and tailor a treatment to the patient’s exact needs.

From 1^st May, CCC West Geelong is offering 50 per cent off the price of the sleep tests (usually $120). So there is little excuse not to attack sleep apnoea head on.

So for those 80 per cent of Australians who have sleep aponea and don’t even know it or the 19 per cent who experience sleepiness that interferes with daily activities, take the first step forward in getting the help you need.  You are only one Community Care Chemist step away in having a quality night’s sleep for good.

Community Care Chemist Geelong West
2/240 Pakington Street, Geelong West
03 5246 5850
geelongwest@communitycarechemist.com.au

Don’t let diabetes debilitate you

With diabetes regarded as a global epidemic, it is little wonder the medical world is investing massive resources in the prevention and treatment of the disease.

More than 2 million Australians are affected with diabetes, with Diabetes Type 2 being the most common form.  Widely known as the ‘lifestyle disease’, Type 2 Diabetes is connected to people who carry excess weight around the abdomen, if it runs in the family, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 

People with Type 2 Diabetes often have no symptoms, so they may have the disease for some time and simply not know. But it is imperative not to second guess or ignore the possibility.  Help is out there.

Type 2 Diabetes needs to be diagnosed and treated early to prevent further health complications.  It is that simple.

So what are the first steps in finding out if you have diabetes?  It is a pretty straightforward process and at Community Care Chemist North Geelong, it cannot get any easier.

Community Care Chemist has an array of products and services in testing and managing diabetes and this is backed by a dedicated team of experts including pharmacists, a diabetes educator and a naturopath.

CCC can conduct simple blood glucose tests at the pharmacy where the results are passed to the GP with your permission for treatment if the blood glucose level is found to be higher than normal.

So what does CCC stock for those with diabetes?  The question is, what they don’t have!  CCC has a top range of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) products and all major insulin types.

Patients are taught how to use blood-sugar meters and how to use the readings and information from them. Diabetes blood glucose monitors need to be kept in top notch condition and CCC can check and clean them as well.

At CCC, the experienced staff can talk through strategies needed to prevent diabetes including diet, avoid/quit smoking and being active.  Natural remedies to keep blood-sugar levels in check is another CCC offering.

Don’t be daunted by diabetes.  Take control of diabetes and your life.

www.communitycarechemist.com.au

Community Care Chemist North Geelong
75 Separation Street, North Geelong
03 5278 4300 
nthgeelong@communitycarechemist.com.au

Turmeric – The Wonder Herb by Gerald Quigley

Gerald Quigley is a Community Pharmacist and Master Herbalist with skills in the integration of complementary medicines with prescribed medicines

Gerald’s regular media includes 3AW Melbourne, 4CA Cairns, 2CC Canberra, 2UE Sydney, 4BC Brisbane, 3GG Gippsland, Curtin FM Perth, 6PR Perth and 2HA Coffs Harbour. He is often sought for comment on Channel 9’s A Current Affair.

Of all the herbs we currently have at our disposal, none has caused the level of excitement in health and wellness circles as consistently as turmeric.

I read a report recently that, on the basis of its proven method of action, turmeric has the potential to be of use in over 600 health conditions.

Up until the last few years, we regarded turmeric as that yellow powder with a curry flavour, that we added to soups and casseroles. Our only concern was to be careful that we didn’t spill it onto a white bench-top!

However, texts on Indian medicine, called Ayurveda, have always rated turmeric as a food from the “Divine Mother”. One of my texts states “turmeric gives the energy of the Divine Mother and grants prosperity. It is effective for internal cleansing and purifying the channels of the subtle body. It helps stretch the ligaments and is therefore food for the practice of yoga.”

Additionally, the text goes on to say that turmeric “promotes proper metabolism in the body, correcting both excesses and deficiencies. It aids in the digestion of protein.”

It seems therefore that in Western civilization, our understanding of the enormous benefits of using turmeric in cooking is just the beginning.

Turmeric is poorly absorbed, and that means that the ability of our “untrained” digestive processes to maximise the nutritional benefits is a little compromised.

From a supplement perspective therefore, the race is on to produce turmeric, or it’s relatively well known “active” called curcumin, in a bio-available form.

Speak to your pharmacist about the options available. But don’t shy away from the universal benefits brought to us by this truly noble and nutritious herb.

The benefits seem to be explained by its subtle, but nevertheless, powerful anti-inflammatory action. Inflammation is the root cause for the development of chronic disease as we know it. Here’s an opportunity to reduce your risk, and maximise your wellness.

This Blog has been Taken from: Community Care Chemist

Five minutes with Barry White, Pharmacy Manager, Belmont

Since early 2014, Barry White has headed up the Community Care Chemist in Belmont.  Barry and his team of pharmacists, have been the driving forces behind the innovative PainWISE Pain Management Program –a four-week plan designed to provide effective treatment strategies which combines self-management techniques to help patients manage their pain sustainably.

Here, we chat with Barry in what makes him tick as a pharmacist and to learn more about the pain management program at CCC.

What drew you to join the CCC team?

As a pharmacist of 35 years, it has always been important to me to sustain and nurture high quality professional advice and health solutions to my customers.  Community Care Chemist is the perfect platform to share that knowledge.  That is why, it is essential to introduce a myriad of health programs to the residents of Greater Geelong that can support their health needs. The PainWISE Pain Management Program is an example of how CCC puts its front foot forward in proactive health advice and strategies. As a not for profit organization owned by our members we have the ideal platform to introduce a range of services that assist the community with their health needs.

What is CCC’s philosophy in Greater Geelong and Apollo Bay?

At Community Care Chemist, we are all striving to become the community’s health and well-being destination – not just a place for your prescriptions to be dispensed.

We want to be there for our customers for their health concerns and queries.  This may extend to natural therapies and evidence-based preventative solutions as well as specialized programs for individual diseases and problems.

At CCC, we encourage our pharmacists to develop their special interests and provide additional training in these areas. For example, our manager at Geelong North, David Pyne has a special interest in diabetes care while our West Geelong Manager, Erin Meys, is additionally trained in Sleep Apnoea therapy. Myself, I have a special interest in mental health and the medications used to treat these conditions and as such, run discussion and information groups for clients who are interested.  Two of our Belmont pharmacists, Bryce and Kerry, are also trained in the PainWISE program.

Why is pain management such a hot health issue in Greater Geelong at the moment?

According to Pain Australia, one in five Australians live with chronic pain, and of those, between 50%-80% are undertreated.  This prevalence rises to one in three for the over 65 age group.  Simply staggering figures which cannot be ignored. 

Tell us more about the PainWISE Pain Management Program

The PainWISE pain management program will give patients the confidence to manage their pain to maximise their quality of life.  The highly experienced team at Community Care Chemist in Belmont will guide patients on what questions to ask their GP and specialist,  how to understand the different treatments available to them, how to access health services cost effectively and clearly understand that there are a suite of choices they can make that will help reduce their pain.

Community Care Chemist is hoping that more Greater Geelong residents will be more comfortable in attending group PainWISE sessions to alleviate the common isolation factor associated with chronic pain. 

Chronic pain is not just an inconvenience.  Left untreated, chronic pain may have a crushing impact on a sufferer’s life including personal relationships, work and lifestyle.

The PainWISE program aims to give patients a better understanding of their pain and empower them to take control of it. The focus is on educating patients about the many different avenues of treatment available, and guiding them to choose the right therapies for their individual circumstances. It does not take the place of other treatments but helps patients to take control of their pain, not the other way around.

Why is Community Care Chemist such an important entity in a person/family’s healthcare space?

With healthcare costs representing a growing percentage of the family budget, it is important to get good advice on available treatments and how best to utilize these medicines effectively and gain maximum benefit.

Community Care Chemist is uniquely placed to offer advice in a timely and convenient fashion and generally without appointments at times that are convenient to the consumer.  At Community Care Chemist, we strive to research the health care programs that will be of benefit to the residents of Greater Geelong. 

How are Greater Geelong residents improving their health care knowledge and regime?

We notice our members are more inclined these days to seek information and take personal ownership of their health care regimes.  What makes this possible is access to reliable advice and information to make these important decisions and best maximize available therapies. 

We have seen a great intake for the Pain Management Program which is fantastic to see.  No one needs to suffer in silence when there are resources to assist. Anyone interested in the program should come and have a chat with our two pharmacists Bryce or Kerry about how they can help in this debilitative condition.

Five minutes with David Pyne, Pharmacy Manager, West Geelong, Community Care Chemist

Since 2014, David Pyne has headed up the Community Care Chemist in North Geelong.  David and his team of pharmacists have played a pivotal role in setting up a comprehensive Diabetes program, including stocking a suite of products and services including the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) products and all major insulin types.

David is a passionate pharmacist who is keen to share his knowledge to the residents of Greater Geelong.  Let’s get to know David and what drives his enthusiasm with all things health.

What drew you to join the CCC team?  How long have you been a pharmacist?  Why did you become a pharmacist?

I’ve been a pharmacist for eight years and working in pharmacy for over 10 years. I started my career in Adelaide and moved to Geelong four years ago to further my career and moved across to the CCC team one year ago. I never thought I wanted to be a pharmacist growing up; I wanted to be a scientist and sit in a lab all day. I learnt very quickly though that I enjoyed interacting with people and loved helping people, so I thought a career change into Pharmacy was the likely choice, and have absolutely loved it since day one.

In the past few years, the community pharmacy industry was starting to see some difficult times and many companies were finding it hard to move forward. This is when I heard about CCC and the way they were pioneering new ideas.  Now that I am part of the team, I have, for the first time in my career, had the opportunity to do what I set out to do when I started as a pharmacist: spend quality time with patients and give medicines and health advice that changes lives and has a real impact.

Why is CCC so unique?  What draws customers to CCC over other pharmacies?

Community Care Chemist is such a forward-thinking pharmacy as they provide the resources which enable us spend a great deal of time with the people who come to our pharmacies for advice. They are also a non for profit organization, so I know all the effort I put into making a difference is benefitting the wider community. And being a local Geelong business is also very important to me. With Geelong going through a much talked about downturn in larger businesses, I am very glad to be working for a local business which services and benefits the Geelong region.

At CCC, you can speak to a pharmacist about your needs EVERY time you enter any of our stores.

Why is diabetes such a hot health topic in Greater Geelong?

Diabetes is a major problem in Australia, but is of significant worry in some areas of Geelong. There are areas of Geelong which have nearly twice the national average of people living with Diabetes.

What is on offer in the diabetes safe at CCC North Geelong?

We can help treat and prevent Diabetes. We have all the common insulin types in store and a large range of Diabetes support products. We keep a large range of NDSS products for people who are living with diabetes.

We also have highly trained pharmacists with extensive knowledge about diabetes and the lifestyle changes involved.

Also, we have a diabetes educator who is an expert on managing, treating and preventing diabetes. She has endless knowledge on the condition and is up to date with all the latest research, ideas, devices and ways of managing living with diabetes.

What are your top three tips when it comes to (1) preventing diabetes and (2) managing diabetes

1)     1. Diet and Exercise 2.  Natural supplements to help reduce Blood sugar.  3. Blood sugar testing at CCC or your GP at least twice a year (or more often as you get older)

2)     1. Diet and Exercise 2. Testing your own blood sugar regularly 3. See your diabetes educator twice a year

With such a barrage of health information on the internet, why do Australians still have so many health issues that are still on the incline such as diabetes?

It is largely due to our sedentary lifestyle. We spend all our time on our backsides reading about the health issues on the internet, rather than getting outside and doing something about it! A lot of the major health problems on the rise (like diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure) are preventable and manageable with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. We need to eat well and keep fit and continue to live a healthy lifestyle even as we get older.

What can CCC do to help residents of Geelong take control of their health?

Our pharmacists are well trained in providing health advice and if beyond their expertise, are able to refer to appropriate clinicians

At North Geelong, we are specifically trained to help with diabetes patients and in helping others prevent diabetes. We have our diabetes educator, Olga, in store to give up to date advice to diabetes patients. Olga also has excellent advice around a healthy diet to manage, treat and prevent diabetes.

We have a weight management program, Ultra Lite, as well as meal replacement supplements and other strategies to help you achieve your goal weight.

We are also trained in advice around most primary health problems. Just come in store and speak to one of our approachable pharmacists.

What can you expect when you walk through the doors of a CCC?

You can expect service and advice. You will always be able to speak to a pharmacist, no matter when you come into our store.

What do you enjoy doing outside CCC?  Hobbies, travel, books

Running, Soccer and Cycling are my sports. I also like travelling. I spent last summer combining my love of travel, food and cycling, following the Giro d’Italia bike race around northern Italy.

What is your ultimate cuisine and why?

I like trying new food, no matter how out there it is. I can’t go past a good curry though.

What makes you laugh?

I love standup comedy. I try get to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival every year. I also love good old English comedy. I was brought up on a staple diet of Monty Python and Mr. Bean. 

Five minutes with Erin Farrar, Pharmacy Manager, Geelong West, Community Care Chemist

Since 2012, Erin  Farrar has worked as a pharmacist at Community Care Chemist and now is Head Pharmacist at CCC’s Geelong West pharmacy.  Erin has been an integral force behind the Sleep  Apnoea Program and hopes to continue sharing her  health knowledge with the residents of Greater Geelong. 

Let’s get to know Erin and what makes her the pharmacist she is today.

What made you decide to become a pharmacist?  How long have you been a pharmacist? When did you join CCC? 

Pharmacy was something I  fell into: with a strong science background and a family who are passionate about chemistry, becoming a pharmacist just seemed right. I have been a pharmacist for three years now and joined Community Care Chemist when I had been registered for just one week. I began my career with Community Care in Belmont where I stayed for two years before being appointed manager of the Geelong store, where I have been for just over a year now.

What excites you about being a pharmacist and in healthcare?

Health is so important! Everyone cares about their health and to be able to help someone is a great feeling.  Medications are often scary and foreign to many people. Being a pharmacist, with  rounded expertise  in wellbeing I have the ability to allay fears through information and education. . I have a big interest in integrated medicines and it is exciting to see our general society moving towards proactive, whole health and an integrative medicine approach.

How and why are pharmacists so important to people? 

We are the first point of call and we have a very broad knowledge of health care. We are easily accessible and can provide sound advice for most conditions. In Geelong West, I have launched a Sleep Apnoea program and it has made such a difference to so many of my patients’ lives.  A pharmacy program like this has no waiting times and may lead to treatment almost instantly. Programs such as the Painwise chronic pain program at Belmont and the diabetes program at North Geelong Community Care demonstrate the value pharmacists can give back to their community – pharmacists also have the best medication knowledge of any health professional

How has the pharmacist’s role changed for people over the last five to ten years?

I was lucky enough to come into pharmacy at a pivotal time of change.  Instead of the pharmacist predominantly having a ‘behind the counter’ role as seen in the past, CCC has lead the charge in making pharmacists more accessible. Over recent times, the public’s awareness of complementary medicines has been heightened so, as pharmacists we help to integrate prescribed medicines with more natural medicines, safely and advantageously for the patient.

Tell me about your CCC experience so far as a pharmacist?

For me, as a young pharmacist, Community Care Chemist was a model pharmacy to utilize my new professional skills. CCC encourages professionalism and expert knowledge which are very important to me. I have been able to work with a team of pharmacists which has lead me to develop more knowledge and skills than I would have if left in a busy pharmacy on my own. CCC has also helped to develop me as a leader and a pharmacist by investing in training, sometimes interstate.  

Why is sleep apnoea  such an important health issue to discuss in not only Greater Geelong but in Australia?

The statistics speak for themselves, 5% of Australians have sleep apnoea and of those patients 8/10 are not diagnosed! For a condition that can have such a big influence on your wellbeing, and that is so easy to treat, it is such a shame that so many people out there are being left untreated and undiagnosed. Untreated sleep apnoea may lead to increased blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, migraines and may even cut 10 years off your life. 

What is on offer in terms of Sleep apnoea in Geelong West?

A simple diagnosis is available at my pharmacy with no waiting times, and the ability to have your sleep monitored while sleeping in your own bed.If a patient is diagnosed with the condition we offer a trial and purchase of CPAP machines and mouth guards.

What is your top advice to someone who may be affected by sleep aponea?

Get it checked out!

Why do you think sleep apnoea  numbers are growing Australia wide?

Sleep apnoea is linked to obesity, however in saying that anyone can have it whether it be a young child or extremely fit person. As Australians get larger the number of people with sleep apnoea will increase

When someone enters CCC Geelong West, what will they discover?

A professional dispensary with an integrated medicine approach and happy, helpful staff.

Why do you think customer service is so important in a pharmacy?

Customers need to feel comfortable in speaking about their health and this is a lot more likely with a readily available, friendly and polite staff member

What do you enjoy outside of pharmacy?

Spending time out with my dogs, I have two boxers who are full of energy so we go for lots of walks. I am an Essendon member so I travel to  Melbourne most weekends to watch the game. I also enjoy traveling and have recently returned from my honeymoon in Europe and am now holding out until my next big trip.

What is the last movie your saw and did you enjoy it?

After recently spending two weeks at home having had my appendix removed I watched a lot of movies, non of which were particularly good, but I am more  a TV program person and have been really getting into The Walking Dead recently.

Name five people in your ultimate dinner party guest list and why?

The Dalai Lama, President Obama, Batman, Luis Suarez and Nelson Mandela. To discuss world peace and soccer.