There isn't a week that goes by that I don't hear of somebody whose life has been affected by cancer. This was never more apparent for me than four years ago when my Dad was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. In the 8-months from his diagnosis till when he sadly passed away, he battled like a true gentleman, undergoing two operations in Wellington hospital and weeks of radiation in Palmerston North. As luck would have it, he had already survived through prostate cancer two years earlier. During this time, he underwent 12-weeks of radiation treatment in Palmerston North. As he had his own engineering business, he worked full time and travelled to Palmerston North twice weekly for his radiation treatments....
Over the years Pharmacists have traded in the lab coats, typewriters and capsule making for dispensing software and a focus on advice, and all the while, been trusted by our communities to listen, answer questions and consistently be there to meet your needs. New services and products can now be offered through your pharmacy.
Turmeric, as a spice and medicinal herb, has been used for thousands of years in India and recently, studied more for its therapeutic benefits. This lovely spice that gives food a vibrant yellow colour contains the active ingredient, curcumin. Curcumin has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Will I get an anti-inflammatory effect from eating turmeric? Certainly you can add turmeric to your curries, soup, smoothies and lattes but the amount of curcumin in the spice turmeric is only around 3% and dosages are usually around 1g/day, so it would be difficult to get enough. Supplements are available as an alternative. The other issue to consider is the absorption of curcumin. On its own, it is very poorly...
There may be many reasons for poor sleep and tiredness, one is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and it often goes undiagnosed. OSA is where a person’s upper airway collapses during their sleep ...
In 2020 we learnt much about the spread of viruses, the distance droplets can travel and how good hygiene protects us. We used lots of space, soap, disinfectants and the influenza (flu) vaccine. Flu infection rates dropped. In 2021 we have the option to add the COVID-19 vaccine to our arsenal against viruses. As influenza and coronavirus are caused by different viruses, vaccination against one does not offer any protection from the other. This means a three-step vaccination program is recommended for adults over 18 years, for most people, starting with your annual flu vaccination. Step 1: Influenza vaccine The flu vaccination offers protection for you and your loved ones against four strains of influenza. It is available for...
