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Medicine men, shamans, priests, alchemists...they have gone by different names over the years, but ever since the first caveman discovered use of some plants or fungi could cure many ills, there have been a few high status members of every tribe who specialized in healing. The uses of specific plants and formulas were usually passed down from generation to generation and were highly guarded secrets known by the select few. These days, while shamans and alchemists still work their magic for the remaining indigenous peoples of the world, urban healers can be found at compounding pharmacies where they work in concert with physicians and patients.

Since the first drugstore opened in Baghdad in 754 AD, all medications were prepared individually and to order. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the discoveries of insulin and penicillin allowed for mass production and thence to the development of large pharmaceutical companies. The fifties and sixties saw the proliferation of these huge corporations, all but forcing compounding pharmacists out of business, turning them into mere dispensers of mass produced meds.

However, as advances in medical research progress, both healthcare providers and patients are realizing that while some types of medications are adequate in the one-size-fits-all model, many other patients require individually prepared prescriptions to fill their unique needs. This is especially true in the areas of pain management and hormones.

What scientists, physicians and patients have learned is that as the number of mass produced medications grows, so do the number of side effects. What may be the perfect solution for one man's headache may cause his teammate to break out in hives, or even potentially go into anaphylactic shock due to a severe allergic reaction to some component. One of the biggest pitfalls of mass produced pharmaceuticals is the number of additives that must be used to extend shelf life, stabilize the ingredients, etc. Of course, since big pharmas can't solve everyone's problems, we are witnessing the rapid turn-around back to the age old pharmaceutical specialists, also known as compounding pharmacists.

Although it is no longer necessary for these specialists to go out and harvest plants from which to create cures, it is still essential to know what ingredients to use, how to combine the ingredients and what amounts to use for patients with unique needs. For example, someone who can't swallow pills can be given the same medications in other forms, such as liquid or gel form, or even a transdermal patch; a patient with allergies to dyes or gluten can receive an allergen-free mixture; those who need a drug that is not produced by large manufacturers can often be served by a compounding pharmacist who can keep small amounts of different drugs on hand.

In other words, as more variations of basic cures are produced, each with additives that may be cost effective but not necessarily good for users, the need for traditional pharmacists grows. It is an interesting paradox that while big pharma has taken over production of thousands of medications, it has also brought back the need for the well-trained neighborhood chemist to counteract the negative aspects of mass-produced meds made for the majority of patients. Every individual has unique needs and a caring physician will recognize these differences and will work with a trained compounder to best treat each patient.

If you are seeking pain medication in North Hollywood author Stephen Daniels highly recommends you look into the services offered by Advanced Physicians Solutions. Their very qualified and licensed staff specializes in this field, and works with your doctor or naturopath to find the best solutions for your unique medical needs.

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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Compounding Pharmacies - The History of These Specialists and The ...

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