JANUARY 2015 - Detox, should we or shouldn't we?

Do you suffer from 3 or more of the following symptoms?

• Recurring headaches
• Ongoing fatigue and lethargy
• Poor memory and concentration
• Digestive problems such as bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and reflux
• Muscle aches and pains
• Allergies and intolerances
• Mood swings, anxiety and depression

If so then detoxifying the body is  something you should seriously consider this year to get your body working at is absolute best.

Any detox program should begin with the gut and aim to rid the body of any nasty parasites, bacteria and fungi  particularly within our digestive system and then to rebuild and strengthen the stomach along with the liver kidneys and other body organs.

Important points you should know about detoxing…

1. Drink plenty of clean pure water every day. This will help prevent dehydration, rid the body of toxins and improve the overall health of the body.
2. Eat plenty of alkalizing foods such as green leafy vegetables such as Kale, Spinach, lettuce and cabbage. Tomato, avocado, lemon and lime are also beneficial along with almonds brazil nuts and caraway seeds.
3. Avoid more acidic foods such as meats, peanuts, sugar and sweeteners, soft drinks coffee and processed foods.
4. Herbs can be beneficial in helping the organs to eradicate unwanted parasites in the body and to strengthen the digestive system
5. Eat small meals regularly
6. Avoid strenuous exercise during detox programs – walking is beneficial
7. Side effects from detoxing include headaches, irritability and stomach upset
8. Do not detox if you are pregnant or breast feeding
9. Avoid detoxing if you have a cold or flu or are unwell or have a chronic medical condition
10. Always talk with a qualified health care practitioner before commencing any detox program.

 Written by: Matthew Calanna - BPharm

Calanna Pharmacy Group

JANUARY 2015 - Itchy Head?

Seven things you SHOULD know about Head Lice

1. HEAD LICE CAN NOT FLY OR JUMP - Head lice are small and have limited leg structure and are wingless so are not able to jump or fly from head to head. Headlice are transmitted by head to head contact or sharing hats, combs, scarves and other objects that may come in contact with hair
2. HEADLICE CAN ONLY THRIVE ON THE HUMAN SCALP - The insects are attracted to the temperature and humidity of the scalp and feed off blood supply from the scalp. They survive less than 36 hours once they are not in contact with the scalp. It is important to focus treatment therefore on the hair more than household items
3. CLEAN HAIR DOES NOT MEAN NO HEAD LICE! - Head lice can survive in clean and dirty hair alike. Having great hygiene does not necessarily mean you can not get head lice
4. HEAD LICE ARE MORE COMMON IN GIRLS - Yes, generally speaking girls are more prone to contracting headlice than boys. Girls generally having longer hair making it easier for head lice to move from scalp to scalp.            
5. ONE ROUND OF TREATMENT IS USUALLY NOT ENOUGH - Its pretty difficult to eliminate every louse and nit with one treatment. Also head lice mature around 10 days after hatching and are capable of reproducing. Therefor it is important to re-treat the hair 7-10 days after the initial treatment.
6. HEAD LICE DO NOT SPREAD DISEASE - They may be annoying but they do not communicate or carry any diseases
7. THERE ARE NON-CHEMICAL WAYS TO TREAT HEADLICE -There are a variety of non-chemical treatments for head lice. Many of these utilise one or a variety of essential oils which work synergistically to help the removal of head lice and their eggs.

THE NEW ATHERTON CALANNA PHARMACY!

The new Calanna Pharmacy Atherton team opened the doors to a brand new store in Main Street Atherton on the 15^th December 2014 and have been enjoying meeting new customers and serving the community with the Calanna approach.

Calanna Atherton has employed 12 new team members, all with a wealth of experience in Pharmacy.

Pharmacist manager Jessica Flood leads the team along with pharmacist Melanie Lindsay (Mel) who had previously worked across the Woree and North Cairns Calanna stores since 2002. We also welcome back into the Calanna family Nicole Callaghan who previously worked across the Calanna stores in Townsville.

As with all Calanna Pharmacies, the store operates the traditional Calanna “face to face” dispensing model which allows clients to sit with the pharmacist while their medicines are being dispensed, ask any questions they need and have the pharmacist provide the necessary advice and information to ensure you get the most out of your medicines.

The store also hosts Naturopath Katie Faile  who is on hand to assist you with the stores wide array of vitamins, health foods and herbal products.

We look forward to servicing the Atherton community in 2015. The store is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm Saturday. 

Contact us:

P: 07 4089 2900

e: Atherton@calannapharmacy.com.au

Herbal Head Lice Stopper

Mario’s Range Head Lice Shampoo & Conditioner are great products to keep Head Lice at bay, especially at the beginning of a new School Year.

Shampoo contains: A combination of herbs & essential oils to effectively deal with head lice

Conditioner contains: A combination of essential oils which may assist in the elimination of head lice eggs, by  loosening the ‘cement’ which attaches them to the hair shaft

Calanna Fish Oil 400caps 

The benefits of Omega 3 - Fish Oil are;

• Helps with Arthritic Pain
• Reduces joint swelling and inflammation
• Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels
• Assists general health
• Is odorless - so no fishy after taste.

 Did you know that you can find   Omega 3 in three different sources?

1. Marine based omega 3
2. Plant based  omega 3
3. Animal based omega 3

Oily fish as well as Barramundi & seafood such as scallops & mussels are  good marine sources. Soybean oil & Linseeds are good plant based sources and Eggs, Chicken and Beef are good sources of omega 3 from animals.

JANUARY 2015 - Words of Wisdom

Hello Club Members

Welcome to 2015 and a new year which provides an opportunity to reset our Philosophy and contemplate our opportunities.

I believe it can be safely stated that we determine – to a very large extent – our own destiny and how we decide to live our lives. Although politics do affect our lives – we will not achieve too much if we wait for the “political winds that suit us” – for they never will.

To wait for these winds to suit us - we could quickly fall into a “Victim” mentality and allow someone else to determine our destiny. Our other choice is to be the “Hero” and decide to be accountable, responsible and make our own opportunities.

Sure – this can cause some pain or discomfort – as we establish new habits and bigger goals. For there is the need to form new disciplines - to learn more - to listen more - and to be more objective in looking at ourselves.

As Jim Rohn continually reminded us: 

“You need to live with either the pain of discipline or the pain of regret”

For those who watched the First Test Match in Adelaide in December – we saw the heights of achievement which were underpinned by the emotional death of Phillip Hughes and the agony of Michael Clarke’s defining injury. Both teams were spurred on by respect for Philip, for their desire to achieve and – most importantly – by the desire to achieve the best outcome for their team.

We heard that Michael Clarke works three to 4 hours every day – to strengthen his back. The players had many emotional demons to overcome. But united and disciplined as two teams – they achieved the ultimate result – a memorable and remarkable Test match. They were “heroes” – they decided their destiny.

Long lasting prosperity and the building of a cohesive community and country can only come when we decide to grow personally and as a team or community. For as the Chinese Proverb says:

"If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If want 100 years of prosperity, grow people"

Growing people means to mentor, to teach, to inspire and to influence the “hero” in others.

The Character of our Nation, of our society, of our communities, of our families – is all dependent upon the character of each individual. The onus falls on each of us to improve our Nation.

Take Care………………..Mario

CEO Calanna Pharmacy Group

Cairns Queensland, Australia

NOVEMBER 2014 - A Fun and Delicious way to Strong & Healthy Bones

Strong bones as we well know, are the foundation of our bodies.  Unfortunately though, as we age, our bones become weaker.  It is important therefore to instil in our  children and early adults the importance of eating quality foods, rich in vitamins and minerals that our bodies require to produce strong and healthy bones.  Learning about which foods are of benefit to us and help provide our bodies with  daily essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can help    prevent the onset of chronic disease in the future i.e. osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

This month we are looking at how we can keep our Bones Healthy & Strong, by giving some advice on foods that can be incorporated into your daily meals, which provide essential bone building vitamins & minerals. 

When we say ‘Strong Bones’ the word Calcium comes to mind.  Calcium is a critical element for bone structure. The body also needs a “helper” to assist in absorbing calcium into the blood stream and this help is known as Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is formed in the body through exposure to sunlight, which is why regular short periods of sunlight exposure are important for calcium absorption and helping create strong bones.  Magnesium is another important mineral for bones as it enhances the absorption and usage of calcium within the body. 

Let’s look at some foods that we can get Calcium, Vitamin D & Magnesium from:

Foods containing  Magnesium:

• Whole grains - especially Brown Rice
• Avocado
• Banana
• Dried Fruit

Foods containing Calcium:

• Kale - green leafy vegetable - Rich in calcium,  Vitamins K & C - Contains ‘sulforaphane’, a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties
• Spinach - one cup of cooked spinach contains almost 25% of the daily required calcium plus  fibre, iron & Vitamin A
• Almonds - Also contain Vitamin A, B, B6, B12, Vitamin C, E, K and Folate
• Oranges
• Cabbage - Chinese (Pak Choi / Bok Choi), Red & Green leaf
• Yoghurt - Non-fat contains 49% (%DV per cup) of the daily requirement of calcium

Foods containing Vitamin D:

• Eggs - Yolks hold the Vitamin D, also protein & Vitamin B12
• Mushrooms - lightly cooked button mushrooms also contain Vitamin B5
• Salmon - contains Vitamin D and essential fatty acids
• Cod Liver Oil

Calcium and magnesium supplements are also useful to assist in ensuring the body receives adequate bone building nutrients. Check with your practitioner, pharmacist or GP to ensure you are taking the correct supplements for your body’s requirements.

Calanna Calcium & Vitamin D 

Pharmacist Formula Extra Strength Calcium 600 & Vitamin D is formulated to help maintain healthy bones and teeth.

CALCIUM helps build bones & teeth

Supplements with calcium can assist in maintaining adequate daily levels of calcium in the body, thereby helping to reduce the risk of deficiency and osteoporosis.

VITAMIN D is important for calcium absorption in the body

Vitamin D has the added benefit of assisting muscle strength in the elderly, and this may help reduce the incidence of falls and fractures.

Vitamin D deficiency can result in decreased bone strength and density.

NOVEMBER 2014 - Christmas in Northern Queensland, Australia

Christmas and the holiday season are upon us again, and so soon!!   Many, like myself are wondering where the year has gone.   Major department stores are filled with Christmas decorations and promotional products already!  The holiday season is, as always so hectic, there are parties to organise, gifts to buy and food to prepare and all in such a short period of time.  It is easy to understand why these last few months of the calendar year are the busiest and most stressful of the whole year.  There is not time to waste, things need to be done, what can we buy for “so and so” an on it goes.  At times it can be extremely difficult and exhausting just organizing and preparing for the coming “silly season”.   

One of the greatest secrets to surviving the pressure of the holiday season is so simple it is often overlooked but can be summed up in one word “relax”.  Don’t stress over small and insignificant things, you know, the silly things we can’t change but that seem to grow bigger and more urgent the more we stress over them.  Every now and then it is important to Stop take a few breaths and try to go with the flow, you might be amazed at how easily things fall into place when you stop “swimming upstream” fighting trivial battles.

The months leading up to Christmas are a great time for socializing with family and friends however, it is important to remember everything in moderation.  Too much socialising can be harmful.  Remembering to include fresh fruits and drink plenty of water this can make all the difference to your health and well-being throughout the “silly season” particularly in the tropics.  A diet rich in fresh fruit (we are blessed in the far north to have a great variety of fresh fruits like paw-paw, mango, pineapple, lychees, peaches and more) and seasonal vegetables are a quick, easy and healthy option for the hot summer months ahead.  You will be amazed at how much extra energy you will have to tackle those pre-Christmas sales by simply making the effort to plan meals that incorporate salads, fresh herbs and lean protein such as fish, chicken and eggs. 

Keeping all your meats, fruit and vegetables adequately refrigerated helps to keep the nasty bacteria’s that can cause food poisoning at bay.  If you do happen to be unlucky this coming festive season and suffer with a bout of food poisoning activated charcoal is an excellent remedy for food poisoning, keeping a bottle handy is a great idea.  A good probiotic is also an excellent addition to one’s health and wellbeing regimen.

Stay hydrated with plenty of fresh water and a good multi B complex will not only help with stress levels but can also reduce the severity of hangovers that might occur after indulging a little too much.  In keeping with the staying cool theme, remembering the old saying “Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun” will alleviate dehydration and sunburn.  Stay in the shade between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm and if you have to go out in the hot midday sun make sure to wear a shirt with long sleeves, sunscreen and a suitable hat, necessities up here in the far north.    Small doses of the sun’s rays are important to maintain vitamin D levels and sun exposure is also great for pineal gland regulation however, this can be achieved through more gentle and safer ways.  Early morning sunbaths are an excellent way to get your daily dose of D vitamin.

Finally, and most importantly … try to see the silver lining in every situation and strive to recognize “the lesson” in more difficult situations.  A positive mindset might make all the difference to how you fare this coming holiday season.

Written by: Kym Hughes

Naturopath Calanna Pharmacy Kirwan

www.calannapharmacy.com.au