Holiday Craft

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Make a Bell Jar Ornament
Making a holiday ornament with the kids is great fun and something the whole family can do together. It may even turn into a treasured family tradition. Bell jar ornaments are a fun craft to try, made from these items that you have in the house or can pick up at your local craft store and dollar store. You will need:

Plastic wine glasses without bases
Empty cereal box
Decorative paper
Glitter
Trinkets (Santa, Reindeer, Pine cones, Christmas trees, etc)
Ribbon or pipe cleaner
Glue
Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut circles from the cereal boxes and decorative paper (slightly bigger than the size of the wine glass rims).

2. Glue the decorative paper circles on the cardboard circles.

3. Glue your trinkets on the cardboard circle.

4. Decorate the wine glass with glitter and glue it, rim down, on the decorated cardboard circle.

5. For use as a tree ornament, attach ribbon or pipe cleaner.

THE TRANSDERMAL METFORMIN SOLUTION

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Transdermal Metformin bypasses the gastrointestinal system, which benefits people who experience gastrointestinal side-effects from the oral version of the drug…

Metformin (Glucophage®, Glumetza®, Fortamet® Riomet®), which traditionally comes in tablet form, is a very beneficial medication commonly used for treating Type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovaries. However, some patients cannot tolerate the oral dose due to nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, diarrhea and loss of appetite, which are common side effects of oral Metformin. Indeed, one in 20 patients have oral Metformin therapy discontinued due to the severity of their side effects. Besides, some patients may have difficulty swallowing the large tablets, which increases the risk that they will discontinue their medication prematurely. Metformin also interacts with other medications that patients might be taking.

Although oral Metformin is the first line of treatment for patients, for those who cannot tolerate it, Compounding pharmacies such as NewSpring offer a solution – change the route from oral to transdermal.

With a doctor’s prescription, a compounding pharmacy will formulate Metformin into a gel or cream to be applied on the skin. Transdermal application of Metformin bypasses the gastrointestinal system, which benefits people who experience gastrointestinal side-effects from oral metformin.

Since Metformin is so effectively absorbed through the skin, the dosage for transdermal application is significantly lower than the oral dose. Research has shown the transdermal route to be effective. Each patient is carefully monitored to ensure that the formulation works for them

For more information on Transdermal Metformin come into the pharmacy or give us a call on 623-932-9800.

Source: The above article is based on an article published in the Feb 2014 PCCA Apothagram

THREE WAYS PROBIOTICS SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S WELLNESS…

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  1. They keep intestines functioning well so they can absorb nutrients efficiently
  2. They can help with healthy digestion
  3. They can help support the body’s immune system

Children’s Acidophilus is a combination of several probiotics in a grape-flavored chewable. It is available at the NewSpring Pharmacy store or online at our e-store

EYE SPY: Eye Safety Tips for Kids

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Hey kids, what do you call those beautiful eyes of yours? Peepers? Blinkers? Orbs?

Eyes are amazing! Did you know that your eyes can see about 10 million different colors. We have to take good care of our eyes so they don’t get injured.

Here are a few ways you can take care of your eyes.

Never run if you are carrying something sharp like scissors. Ask your parents to show you how to carry scissors safely.

Love sports? Do you play ice hockey, baseball, basketball or tennis? Wear safety glasses when you play these and other sports.

Do you have a pet? A cat or a dog? Wash your hands after playing with your pet.

Did you know that your eyes can get sunburned? Don’t look directly at the sun. Do you have sunglasses for bright, sunny days? Talk to your parents about getting a pair.

Playing with sand is fun, but flying sand can harm eyes. Don’t throw sand and keep away from anyone who you see throwing sand.

DID YOU KNOW…

A CHAMELION CAN LOOK IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WITH EACH EYE.

AN OSTRICH’S EYE IS BIGGER THAN ITS BRAIN.

YOU HAVE 2 EYES. YOU KNEW THAT? WELL BEES HAVE 5 EYES!

HOW MANY EYELIDS DO YOU HAVE? CATS HAVE 3 EYELIDS, ON EACH EYE!

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SNEEZE WITH YOUR EYES OPEN.

NEWBORN BABIES CRY, BUT THEY DON’T HAVE TEARS UNTIL THEY ARE AT LEAST 4 WEEKS OLD.

YOU BLINK ABOUT 12 TIMES EVERY MINUTE.

FUN FOOD QUIZ AND POPSICLE RECIPE

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IS A TOMATO A FRUIT OR A VEGETABLE?

A PINEAPPLE IS A BERRY. TRUE OR FALSE?

WHICH IS A GOOD BREAKFAST FOOD? CAKE, OATMEAL OR FRIES?

APPLES ARE MEMBERS OF THE SAME FAMILY AS ROSES. TRUE OR FALSE?

PEANUTS ARE NUTS. TRUE OR FALSE

POPSICLES WERE INVENTED BY AN 11-YEAR-OLD. TRUE OR FALSE?

TANGY FRUIT AND VEGGIE POPSICLE

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 apple
1 banana
1 cup fresh spinach
1 cup apple juice
Chop the fruits and spinach and blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into popsicle mold and freeze. Try whichever different fruit and vegetable combinations your family loves best. Oranges, watermelon, watercress, grated carrots…Enjoy!

Quiz Answers 
A tomato is a fruit
A pineapple is a bunch of berries
Oatmeal. It keeps you full longer and you can add delicious fruit to it
True. Apples, pears, peaches and plums are all members of the rose family
False. Peanuts are legumes like peas and beans. They grow in a pod.
True. 11-year-old Frank Epperson from San Francisco in 1905

KIDS STORY: ARCHIE’S ALLERGIES

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Every time Kitty cat came close, Archie would sneeze. It wasn’t a little sneeze, but a great big ATCHOOO that made him do a funny little jump. If Archie played with Puppy dog, he sneezed so loud that if you were standing next to him, YOU would do a little jump. His eyes itched and he rubbed his nose until it was as red as a beetroot.
Archie had allergies.
He was allergic to Kitty and Puppy. He was allergic to many other things too – flowers in Spring, dust in the attic, and even carrots. Yes, Archie was allergic to carrots, which made life difficult because he was a rabbit, you see. And young rabbits love carrots more than anything else. Every time he ate a carrot, he itched all over his body and had to spend ten minutes scratching. His mom had to put mittens on his hands so he wouldn’t hurt himself.
“Why does Archie have such terrible allergies?” Archie’s mom asked the doctor?
“Archie’s body is just trying to protect him from anything that might harm him; things like cat or dog hairs and dust and pollen. But it works too hard to fight these things and so poor Archie sneezes and scratches and rubs his eyes! Keep him away from Kitty and Puppy as much as you can,” the doctor said.

Common allergies
In addition to Pollen, Dust, Pets, Insects and Food, some people are allergic to a Medicine or to something in their medicine. They have to take an alternative or get their medicine specially made to leave out the ingredient that causes the medicine.

Can we help?
Parents, come into NewSpring Pharmacy if you or your child are allergic to something in your prescription medicine such as dye or gluten. We can reformulate the medicine to avoid or replace the allergy causing items.

TRIPS TO THE PHARMACY HAVE YOU EXHAUSTED?

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You can synchronize your child’s prescriptions to a single monthly pick-up…

If your child is on more than one medication for an extended period of time, trips to the pharmacy for refills can become time consuming. You still have a good supply of one medication, but the other is finished, then a few weeks later you run out of the other and have to make the trip all over again. This can be frustrating and time consuming. NewSpring Pharmacy now has a service to make this process more convenient for you. We can synchronize all your child’s meds so they all come due for refill at the same time. This means you only need to pick them up once a month.

When you join the pharmacy’s synchronization program, the pharmacy will keep up to date on changes and refills, as well as work with your doctor to assess and evaluate concerns like interactions and dosing issues when you come in to pick the meds.

Recently a patient consulted us when she failed to get relief from a medication formulated at another pharmacy. The medical team went through an assessment process and discovered that the medication had been formulated with the wrong concentration. When this was remedied the patient was able to get relief.

WHY CUSTOMIZE YOUR KID’S MEDS…

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Every parent knows their kid is unique. Even identical twins are unique individuals. Here are some important reasons why we customize kid’s medication.

Allergies: Your child’s medication is supposed to help them feel better; but that’s not going to happen if your child is allergic to an ingredient in the medication. If your child is sensitive to an additive or coloring in their medication, we can compound the medication without that ingredient or replace it with an appropriate substitute.

Special needs: If your child has a condition such as a seizure disorder or congenital challenges they may be particularly sensitive to certain ingredients. Some children, for instance, may be affected by the dye in some medications.

Diaper rash: Barrier creams and ointments can be infused with antifungals, antibiotics or other prescription medications, to suit the patient’s needs.

Liquid: Children usually have difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules. Their prescriptions that come in these difficult to take forms can sometimes be compounded into liquid form.

Rapid Disintegrating Tablets (RDT): These dissolve in the mouth without the need for chewing or water, which is helpful for a child who has difficulty swallowing tablets.

Taste: Feeling unwell is bad enough; terrible tasting medicine doesn’t make it any easier. When it’s time for your child’s meds, a flavor like bubble gum or chocolate and an attractive color might help.

Call or come in to NewSpring Pharmacy if you need to have medication customized for kids, adults, or even for your pets.

Micronutrient Testing

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How to know FOR SURE which supplement is right for you?

Proper nutrition is absolutely essential for health. But we don’t always get all the nutrients we need from our food.

You may know people who take dietary supplements, or maybe you take some yourself. Perhaps you wondered whether you need a dietary supplement at all or what nutrients you needed to supplement. After all, you are an individual with unique needs, and one size does not fit all when it comes to supplementation.

NewSpring Pharmacy has partnered with SpectraCell Laboratories to offer you the most accurate method of assessing nutritional deficiencies. The test measure the function of 35 nutritional components, including vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and amino acids within the white blood cells. This gives us the most accurate analysis of a body’s deficiencies.

Why do I have a nutritional deficiency?
We know that a diet that does not contain enough of the nutrients we need can cause a deficiency. There are other causes as well. For instance, a disorder of the small intestine may prevent proper absorption of nutrients. Intestinal parasites will also often cause a deficiency, and so will certain conditions such as hypothyroidism. Pregnant women also need extra nutrients. Supplementation helps them prevent nutritional deficiency, in particular, iron deficiency. Micronutrient testing can therefore alert you to a health issue, thus enabling you to get resolution and improve your wellbeing.

Who should be tested?
All of us can benefit from micronutrient testing, even when we have no illness. Discovering nutritional deficiencies early gives us the opportunity to correct them and potentially prevent serious diseases later on, such as Osteoporosis, Arthritis and heart disease.

Remember though that supplementation is not a substitute for your physician’s advice if you have a medical condition.
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NewSpring Pharmacy has a full line of dietary supplements to overcome deficiencies, available in our e-Store.

Patient Story: Diabetes Pain Cream

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Mr. S.C.

Mr. S.C. had diabetes for many years. He was a regular customer who, month after month, came in for his prescriptions. Among them were meds for neuropathy secondary to diabetes. When he mentioned that the meds were not helping, the pharmacist talked to him about the pain creams that we compound. On his request, the pharmacist contacted his physician, who called in a pain cream prescription. We compounded the cream and called Mr. S.C. in for it. Early the following morning, Mr. S.C. called, excited that for the first time he’d had more than 6 hours of sleep. Shortly after, the physician called to discuss how his other patients could benefit from compounded pain cream prescriptions. And sure enough, they did benefit. We made believers of the physician and his patients. The physician was able to tweak the percentages of the various medications in his prescriptions to suit the patients’ individual needs. The pain creams we compounded as a result were customized to suit each individual need.