General Health

Could you be allergic to the dyes used in your medication?

A recent article in the New York Times has shone the spotlight on a source of allergy that is commonly overlooked by allergy-sufferers, GPs and even allergy specialists – the artificial dyes used in some prescription medications. The article begins with the story of an American woman who was driven half-mad by constant itching that […]

Sterile Compounding headed to the Gold Coast

Somewhere, buried deep beneath the stylish exterior of those Hazmat suits, are two of National Custom Compounding’s most enterprising pharmacists – Matt and Karen. They donned their finest chemist-couture to take part in a three-day course on sterile compounding last month, in preparation for the opening of NCC’s new sterile compounding lab scheduled for later […]

Worldwide drug shortages causing concern among Australian doctors and pharmacists

In an article recently published in Fortune Magazine attention was drawn to a looming crisis in America’s healthcare system:  ongoing and persistent shortages of essential medicines. Of greatest concern is that these drug shortages are being experienced, not with rare medicines, but with medications that are used and prescribed routinely every day – medicines that […]

New penalties concerning drug shortages welcomed by compounding pharmacists

With the incidence of drug shortages increasing worldwide, one made-to-order medication specialist has welcomed a proposal to introduce substantial fines for drug manufacturers and marketers who don’t report upcoming disruptions to supply. Matthew Bellgrove from National Custom Compounding on the Gold Coast said failure to notify authorities of a shortage in some essential medications could […]

Compounded medication is about to get even safer

The world’s leading authority on safety in drug manufacturing, United States Pharmacopeia (USP), has announced that this year they will be updating their standards for the compounding of medications in traditional compounding pharmacies. Specialist pharmacist Matthew Bellgrove from National Custom Compounding welcomed the news saying it would help to build trust in the sector. “Anything […]

Tablet vs Troche vs Cream – what’s best for hormone replacement therapy?

Thousands of women around the world have reported the benefits of hormone replacement therapy in managing symptoms of menopause, however getting a treatment plan just right for the individual can be a tricky thing. No two people are the same and neither is the way their body produces, circulates and utilises hormones. One area that […]

Salicylic acid in the treatment of acne and psoriasis

We regularly receive enquiries from people who’ve heard about salicylic acid and how it can be used to treat acne and psoriasis. Anyone who’s had to deal with either of these skin conditions, particularly when they occur in an area that’s highly visible, knows how tricky they can be to get rid of. Off the […]

Integrative vet uses PEA to treat chronic pain in pets – with encouraging results

We recently received a call from a pet owner curious to learn more about a compound called palmitoyletanolaminde, or PEA for short. Her integrative vet, Steve Denley from Balance Veterinary Care based in south east Queensland suggested they give PEA to her dog after he saw one of our articles on the subject. We contacted […]

Could DHEA provide a piece of the puzzle for infertile women?

A recent study by the University of Edinburgh has found that introducing DHEA to the lining of the womb doubles the level of a protein that directly affects how well fertilised eggs are implanted. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Fertility and Sterility in February could potentially help scientists develop new treatments for infertility, […]

What is natural thyroid extract?

Natural thyroid extract is made from the thyroid glands of animals and is used to treat a range of conditions associated with poor thyroid functioning. Synthetic hormones are often prescribed to treat these conditions, however there are some key differences between the synthetic and natural extract treatments. What does the thyroid do? The thyroid is actually […]