Pharmacentre Limited > Blog > 2016 > January
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New Horizon NectAloe

New Horizon Nectaloe is a carefully selected blend of Marshmallow Root, Slippery Elm and Aloe Vera to support the digestive tract.

Traditionally Marshmallow root has been used for centuries in the treatment of inflammation, specifically sore throats and stomach trouble because of it’s soothing “mucilage” quality. Marshmallow leaves were considered a delicious vegetable and often used in soups but the root was prescribed in the Renaissance era for sore throats and ulcerative symptoms to heal and soothe.

Slippery Elm was similarly used to reduce inflammation for all inflamed gastric conditions including ulcers and gastritis. It is soothing and healing on gut irritation but highly nutritious and easily digested by the body, making it an ideal food for one who is does not feel like eating.

Aloe Vera is one of the most popular digestive herbs for virtually any digestive condition. It is soothing, cooling and anti-inflammatory. In Ayurvedic medicine Aloe is used for excess Pitta conditions which include acid reflux, gastric or peptic ulcers and heartburn.

Nectaloe is flavoured with Mango, sweetened with stevia and comes in convenient single dose sachets for use when feeling the symptoms of heartburn and upper digestive discomfort.

Many people can identify the triggers for their symptoms but if you are suffering regularly, or have any concerns, consult your health care practitioner.

 

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Saguna Silicol Gel

A recent product of the week and now a Staff favourite!

Codrin in Edgware loves Saguna Silicol gel. He says “It’s a great remedy because it works fast to cover the lining of the stomach and intestine to soothe and ease irritation. It helps ease nausea, pain and flatulence. It’s ideal for people who suffer from IBS, but can also be used when recovering from any stomach upset. It can be used as a quick short term fix to ease pain and discomfort, and it works alongside more long term remedies such as probiotics.”

A single tablespoonful of Silicol®gel taken three times a day has been shown in a clinical trial to normalise the function of the stomach and bowel quickly and without side effects.

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Saguna Silicol Gel

Most of us have a bit of an iffy digestion this time of year. We change our diets, exercise more and try out new foods we’re told are good for us. Before you know it you have all the symptoms of IBS.

Silicol Gel contains Silicic Acid, a compound of Silicon & Oxygen and is a hydrated liquid gel that can be easily taken as an oral dose which then acts rapidly in the gastrointestinal tract. cover the lining (mucous) of the stomach and intestine.
It binds toxins, irritants, cell residues and excess acidity, and carries them safely and naturally out of the body, thereby protecting the lining of the stomach and intestine to maintain digestive comfort. Silicol Gel also acts as a “magnet” physically adsorbing/binding irritants, harmful toxins & pathogens, rendering them harmless, as well as adsorbing excess acidity and gases to reduce bloating. Visit us in store to find out more about how to get great digestive health.

 

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BetterYou Magnesium Spray

Juan, a nutrition student, in our Putney store loves BetterYou Magnesium Oil. He says: “Initially, I was very sceptical about magnesium oil in a spray, but after using this great product I can confirm that it works rapidly. After 2 or 3 days it will make a big difference for you. Magnesium is another key nutrient absent in most of our diets. Too much processed food, not enough time for preparing proper meals, stress, high consumption of stimulant drinks such as coffee or tea and excess alcohol contribute to reduction of magnesium in our bodies. This mineral is important for our health because it is involved in more than 300 functions in our body and low magnesium can be related to anxiety, sleeping problems, moments of hyperactivity, muscle cramping, facial tics or painful muscle spasms.
BetterYou has the most soluble and pure, natural source of magnesium known. The spray is an amazing way for a body to absorb quickly and probably nearly 100% of magnesium that is applied onto skin. The absorption is really effective if it is applied immediately after taking a shower. The reason is very simple – pores are open and magnesium can go easily penetrated deeper through skin. So many people could benefit from Magnesium Oil. It could also be beneficial for those who practice sport, to recover and rebuild muscles fast. I would also recommend it to people that have sleeping difficulties and for skin health. I do some sports and after a week of using the Magnesium oil, I noticed a big difference in my performance.
I have also suggested BetterYou Magnesium Oil to two of my friends and they are very grateful to me. One of them was getting really strong abdominal ache days previous to menstrual cycle. I told her to apply 4 or 5 sprays in the tummy area at the first onset of pain and now she doesn’t have words to describe how happy she is. The other suffers from restless leg syndrome. I suggested to him to try magnesium oil and he now feels much better. “
We don’t need more convincing! Visit us in store to find out more about the BetterYou Magnesium range.

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Immunity advice from A.Vogel

The immune system is the body’s defence mechanism – the army with which the body protects itself against disease-causing organisms such as viruses, bacteria or fungi, which are known as pathogens. The troops that make up this army are various types of white blood cells, which are produced in the bone marrow.

When working well, the immune system is constantly vigilant in order to protect us from infection, infestation and general invasion by bugs of all descriptions

If you have a fully functional immune system, then when you are exposed to a bug, you should kick it out quickly and symptoms such as a raised temperature will not last for long.

But if it’s not working well:

Weak immune function makes it harder to withstand infection by viruses, bacteria or fungi. You will be more susceptible to contracting colds, flu and cold sores. The immune system will take longer to detect and conquer the bug, so symptoms such as raised temperature, swollen glands, sore throat,coughs, catarrh, etc., will be present more frequently.

What weakens the immune system?

  • Eating a bad diet
  • Eating lots of sugary or fatty foods
  • Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
  • Smoking
  • Being stressed and unhappy
  • Not getting enough sleep

How can A.Vogel Echinacea help you?

Echinaforce® is a licensed traditional herbal remedy for colds and flu. It helps the body fight the symptoms of these infections by supporting the immune system, helping to maintain the body’s resistance.

A.Vogel Echinacea is produced using extracts of freshly harvested, organically grown Echinacea purpurea herb and root, picked fresh and used within 24 hours of harvest. The benefit of using freshly harvested herbs has been demonstrated in research – extracts produced from fresh plants contain almost 3 times more active substances compared with those obtained from equivalent amounts of dried herb*.

This is why, when you need a herbal remedy to help you fight the misery of colds and flu, not all Echinaceas are the same.

Panacea stores stock a wide variety of A.Vogel Echinaforce® products including liquid tinctures, tablets and their latest Echinaforce® Hot Drink

 

*Tobler M et al: Characteristics of whole fresh plant extracts. Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur GanzheitMedizin, 1994

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Vital Protein Powder

A new addition to our ranges is Vital Protein – It is extracted from the highest quality European golden peas and is a naturally complete protein, containing over 18 amino acids naturally; nothing needs to be added, unique for a vegetable protein.

Due to its unique extraction process it is highly digestible and does not cause digestive complaints such as bloating. Vital Protein also use a natural sweetener Thaumatin™ which was originally derived from a mixture of proteins isolated from the katemfe fruit. The Vital Protein range has a great 100% natural taste, is vegan and free from dairy, lactose, gluten, soy & wheat.

Available in Vanilla and Chocolate flavour (check out our Chocolate Protein Ball recipe HERE)

 

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A.Vogel Milk Thistle Complex

Micha in our Muswell‬ Hill store likes A. Vogel Milk Thistle Complex. She says: “It’s an amazing herb remedy for liver health. It not only detoxifies but regenerates. Milk Thistle has been said to help get rid of the excess oestrogen in the body but is also a great support whenever needing to recover and detox from overindulging”

A.Vogel’s Milk Thistle Complex was amongst the very first herbal products formulated by Alfred Vogel, one of Switzerland’s best known naturopaths. The seeds of Milk Thistle are combined with fresh extracts of Dandelion, Artichoke, Peppermint and dried Boldo leaves all of which have been seen to support the digestive and liver health.

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Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is all the rage… Fashionistas and health bloggers are raving about its health benefits. What is it all about?

It’s actually an ancient Ayurvedic technique (also known as “Gundusha” or “Kavala”) used to clean teeth and to improve oral health. The technique involves swishing oil in the mouth for up to 20 minutes on a regular basis (even daily). The idea is oil will dissolve impurities in the mouth and “pull toxins out” from in-between the teeth. It’s a little like oil-based skin cleansers that are also very popular at the moment; the idea is “like dissolves like”. The added benefit of oil is that it’s gentle and healing to gums and teeth. However, I wouldn’t recommend replacing tooth brushing and mouth rinsing… add oil pulling to your usual routine.

Many people find the idea of swishing oil in their mouth rather repulsive… But don’t knock it. I gave this technique a go and I got used to the sensation pretty quickly. Furthermore, I started feeling the difference within days: my mouth never felt so squeaky clean, and my breath is definitely fresher. Empirical evidence and some research studies all suggest oil pulling works to clean the mouth and reduce harmful bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans (responsible for tooth decay). Ayurveda and fans of oil pulling suggest it can improve overall health and cure a myriad of ailments… It’s not so far-fetched. Oral health and gum disease have been strongly linked with health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

So which oil to use? Traditional cultures use sesame or sunflower oil… but that was probably what was readily available then. Coconut oil is an ideal choice now. It is rich in lauric acid which possesses natural anti-bacterial properties (and I think it’s particularly yummy). Is there anything coconut oil can’t do?!

How to do it:

* Put 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil into the mouth.

* My Naturopath friend recommended I add 2 drops of pure Oregano Oil (for its antibacterial properties) – optional.

* Swish for 20 minutes. From my research on the topic, it seems this is the ideal length of time. According to Dr. Bruce Fife, author of Oil Pulling Therapy, 20 min is long enough to break through plaque and bacteria but not long enough for the body to reabsorb toxins and bacteria.

* The oil gets thicker and milky as it mixes with Saliva. It will look creamy white when you spit out.

* Always spit it out (remember that you’ve been dislodging plaque and bacteria). And remember to spit it into a rubbish can (coconut oil solidifies when cold!)

* Afterwards rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water.

* Brush your teeth, floss and gargle.

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Natrol Garcinia Cambogia

Are you struggling to get back into a regular eating pattern after the constant snacking in the festive season? Natrol Garcinia Cambogia may help you change bad habits and lose that puppy fat you gained. It has been seen to help with reducing food cravings, reducing fat production, and increasing serotonin levels. Not only do you lose weight, you feel good about it too. Chat to one of our in store product advisers about how to get the best results with this product.

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Minami MorEPA

Yogini in Edgware and Santha from Kingston both love Minami MorEPA smart fats. This is a supercritical ECO friendly Omega-3 fish oil with a high EPA concentration– this Omega-3 fatty acid aids in the maintenance of clear blood vessels and may promote a good mood and support concentration. MorEPA helps to restore your fatty acid balance has been proven scientifically. It’s back to school soon – when using this fish oil, students show more inclination to make extra mental efforts. Omega 3 has also been seen to reduce inflammation in the body, most notably in the joints. A good all-rounder we think.

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