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Clinical Pharmacy – a US Working Model
There is an excellent US publication available online and its title is “Drug Topics”. I probably have some affinity because the range of topics discussed ranges from pharmacy management to clinical pharmacy, somewhat similar to material published in i2P. One recent article caught my eye, and it was titled: The new pharmacy: Revenue streams, Part…
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Am I missing something?
Old chestnuts aren’t allowed to settle. Unbalanced pharmacy media reporting just keeps on keeping on. I was puzzled recently about a debate around the value of homeopathy in the UK. The report keeps the pot boiling on how homeopathic remedies are a “waste of money” and more importantly, “may even cause harm”. More fascinating to…
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Homeopathy – a Political Diversion Rather than a Valid Issue
The spotlight has recently been shone on Homeopathy with GP commentators saying that if pharmacist collaboration is to occur with GP’s then homeopathy should be banned within pharmacies. Then we have had some pharmacy commentators echoing the call mainly from the HMR accredited sector- the pharmacists from NHP pharmacology actually seeking collaboration with GP’s. Given…
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Zinc and kidney stones
New research on kidney stone formation reveals that zinc levels might contribute to an increased risk. Research from the University of California, published in PLOS ONE opens a new perspective into the cause of urinary stones and related diseases. We all have patients who are prone to kidney stones. Once you’ve developed a first stone,…
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When it comes to cancer – who are the brave ones?
The recent death of Jessica Ainscough, the ‘Wellness Warrior’, sparked headlines that she was ‘brave‘. Suffering from a rare, slowly growing cancer, she rejected a drastic, but potentially life-saving medical treatment. She embraced ‘alternative medicine’. Two other beautiful young women, Amanda Rootsey and Belle Gibson, were also praised for ‘bravely’ fighting cancer ‘naturally’. Is that…
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Plant extracts offer hope against diabetes and cancer
Diabetes is the fastest growing metabolic disease in the world. A new study has shown that traditional Aboriginal and Indian plant extracts could be used to manage the disease and may also have potential use in cancer treatment. Researchers from Swinburne University of Technology identified plant species that could potentially be applied in the management…
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The truth about herbal ‘medicines’
Herbal medicines have been defined as “an unknown dose of an ill-defined drug, of unknown effectiveness and unknown safety“. Now under the spotlight by regulators in the US, the UK, Canada and here in Australia, do they work, are they safe and do you even get what you pay for? More than 60% of Australians…
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A Missed Opportunity?
The recent BioCeuticals Symposium in Sydney was titled “Interrelated Drivers of Health and Disease” and was attended by 350 health practitioners. Speakers at this outstanding forum included Dr Mark Houston, the world’s leading Functional Cardiologist, Dr David Haase, renowned Integrative Neurologist, Dr Joseph Pizzorno, pioneering naturopath and advisor to the Clinton Administration White House Commission…
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Something Fishy Going On?
I haven’t quite recovered from the surprise I received years ago when I found that the National Heart Foundation had awarded a fast food chain their famous “red tick” of approval for some of the “meals” they sold. On reflection, that fast food chain got rather good value for a $300,000 per annum investment, but…
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Wondrous Wiggly Worms!
Human evolution and parasitic infections have run hand-in-hand since antiquity. Humans can be hosts to nearly 300 species of parasitic worms. Some cause death, suffering and economic loss in both developing and developed nations and research is ongoing to develop vaccines for these infections. Can some worms offer health benefits? People become infected by consuming…