General Health

Potential drug shortages in the wake of Hurricane Maria

The recent hurricane in Puerto Rico wreaked havoc in the U.S. territory, killing 45 people, flattening thousands of buildings and devastating the Caribbean island’s economy. However many people aren’t aware that Hurricane Maria has also ravaged Puerto Rico’s little-known, but highly-significant pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, described as “one of the biggest in the world”. According to […]

Cases of rotavirus on the rise

Australian health officials are reminding people to practice good personal hygiene after a spike in reported cases of the gastrointestinal bug, rotavirus, in New South Wales. 1300 cases of the highly-infectious rotavirus have been recorded in the state this year alone, representing a 5-year high. Health officials are currently investigating the reasons behind the dramatic […]

Is it OK to buy medications from an overseas website?

The quick answer here is no. The long answer is absolutely not. There are hundreds of overseas websites on the internet offering “cheap” drugs they claim are identical to the ones you’re paying more for here in Australia. But remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here’s why:   […]

What your pH levels say about your health

We all know we should be eating more fruit and vegetables and less processed foods like sugary drinks, white bread, ice cream and those mysterious deep fried chicken nuggets (do they actually contain chicken?). The media is saturated with the “eat more vegetables” message like so many beef patties in a McDonald’s fryer. It’s hard […]

Why has this year’s flu season been so bad?

In recent weeks there’s been a number of worrying media reports about people, particularly children and the elderly, dying from complications after contracting the flu. These reports have got people asking why this year’s flu season has been so particularly bad. More Queenslanders have been admitted to hospital ¹ for severe flu this year than […]

Megavitamin Therapy – What is it and who could it help?

Megavitamin Therapy, sometimes known as orthomolecular therapy, is the use of very high levels of vitamins to treat a range of health complaints. The levels prescribed greatly exceed the recommended dietary allowance and therefore Megavitamin Therapy should only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Proponents of Megavitamin Therapy are of the view […]

Encouraging patients to stick to the plan

According to a World Health Organisation report ¹ around half of all patients with a chronic disease, do not follow the treatment prescribed by their doctor. It’s a big statistic and one that is of concern to all health professionals. While most patients will commit to a short course developed in consultation with their doctor, […]

Cat vs Pill. There are no winners.

Most people would rather watch 12 hours of Parliament Time on the ABC, back to back, than attempt to give a cat a pill. It’s just as exasperating but there’s less chance of bloodshed. Usually. A quick scour of the internet will produce blogs and countless You Tube video clips offering a solution to the […]

Why your eczema gets worse during spring

It’s been a chilly winter, and most of us can’t wait for spring to get here so we can enjoy our magical Queensland sunshine. Most of us, except for the eczema sufferers. If you count yourself in this group you’ll be all too familiar with that extra itchy feeling you get every time September 1 […]

When do additives in medicine become a problem?

When a patient experiences an adverse reaction to their medication it can be a difficult task to pinpoint the cause.  What part might preservatives, binding agents and other additives (excipients) play? In an article published in the UK’s Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s publication, The Pharmaceutical Journal, Simon Wills from Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust outlines some […]