HOLD THE HAM MAN!

Bacon & eggs for breakfast
Ham sandwich for lunch
Sausages on the barbie
Peperoni & salami on a pizza
Chorizo in your pasta

How many times this week have YOU eaten one of the above?


Ham ,bacon, chorizo, salami, pepperoni, sausages, frankfurters are all processed meats. These meats are all cured with preservatives, such as salt & nitrates or through smoking. Recent studies are suggesting that regular consumption of these foods is linked with bowel cancer and it seems likely that maybe nitrates are the cause.

The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that approximately 10% of bowel cancer can be linked to the consumption of processed meats. Other studies have confirmed that a high consumption of both red and processed meats increases the risk of bowel cancer and heart disease.

Whilst lean red meat is a good source of protein, iron & zinc the same cannot be said for processed meats, which are not very nutritious and often high in saturated fats.

It's so easy for you to improve your health! All you have to do is to replace these processed foods with a variety of more natural choices.

Try a tuna or salmon sandwich for lunch. Avocado and hommus are also great sandwich fillings. Choose chicken, fish or lean red meat for your next barbecue instead of sausages. Add mushrooms & herbs to increase the flavour of your pasta sauces. Have a poached egg on a bed of spinach with a side of tomatoes instead of bacon for your next Sunday breakfast.

Stop and think about the foods you are eating and whenever possible choose a natural food over a processed food. One of the best ways to improve your health is to include more vegetables in your diet and think about the types and amount of meat you are consuming.
The best part is your body will definitely benefit from the healthier food choices you are making!

Tired of Counting Sheep??

Suffering from insomnia? Not getting a good nights sleep?

Some general tips for a better nights sleep include:

• Reduce Caffeine.
• Avoid caffeine or other stimulants for 6 hrs before bedtime. 
• Sometimes eliminating caffeine entirely is necessary.
• Do not smoke within 6 hrs of bedtime
• Do not drink alcohol within 6 hrs of bedtime
• Do not have a heavy meal just before bedtime, a light snack may help.
• Do not do strenuous exercise within 4 hrs of bedtime
• Some medications may interfere with sleep. Check with our pharmacist if you are taking any medications.
• Regular daily exercise of at least 30 minutes.
• Relaxation techniques, such as guided meditations and yoga.

Over the counter products for insomnia are available from the pharmacist.  They are kept behind the counter so that we can make sure you are purchasing the right drug for you.  Come and have a chat.


Natural products We love include:

• Redormin
• Ethical Nutrients Sleep Enhance ,
• Fusion Sleep (a combination of Western and Chinese herbs) and
• Medi Herb Valerian Complex.

These herbal remedies work in a gentle yet affective way to help the body slow down, relax and allow the individual to sleep.

The essential oils of Marjoram and Lavender help the nervous system to relax and dissipate any built up tension. Marjoram and Lavender can be used in a bath before bedtime, in a diffuser in your bedroom or just add a few drops on a tissue and gently inhale when going to bed .

A Homeopathic Remedy we find amazing is Bioglan Melatonin. It helps to re-establish normal sleep patterns after a long plane flight and helps combat jet lag. It is also great for shift workers or if you have been keeping irregular sleep hours.

We can also formulate a herbal sleep mixture to suit your individual needs, containing a personalised combination of relaxing and sedating herbs. Perhaps you need to  address some health or lifestyle issues which may be contributing to your sleeplessness. Come in and see us for a Naturopathic Consultation - we can definitely help you bet the balance back in your life and help restore a healthy sleep pattern.

People have been discovering Redormin.

Are you often counting sheep or solving the World's problem's at night?

ReDormin may be little known but it has some very powerful clinical studies behind it.

ReDormin® (Ze91019) has been shown to assist in the relief of sleeplessness and insomnia. ReDormin contains standardised whole plant extracts of Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and Hops (Humulus lupulus), in a combination that has been demonstrated, in clinical trials, to improve sleep quality.

What is ReDormin used for? Clinical trials have shown that ReDormin can significantly improve sleep: Decreasing the time taken to get to sleep (sleep latency)
Improving sleep quality, so that you wake less during the night and rise feeling more refreshed

Situations that may benefit from ReDormin include:

• Difficulty getting to sleep
• Difficulty staying asleep i.e. waking during the night
• Trying to regulate sleep patterns e.g. shift workers, jet lag, chronic sleep disturbance
• Wanting to improve the quality of sleep, leading to feeling more refreshed the following day

This is supported by the millions of doses purchased worldwide every year. In fact, 300 million doses of ReDormin have been sold worldwide since its launch in 1996. ReDormin has been shown to be very well tolerated, with no known risk of dependency.  Try some.

Did you know there are different probiotic strains that have different beneifits?

1. For Everyone Everyday  Inner Health Plus
2. For Every Child every day  Inner Health for Kids
3. For Frequently Sick Kids  Inner Health Immune Booster for kids
4. For Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers  Eczema Shield
5. For Eczema Suffers   Eczema Relief
6. For Travelers  Travel Bug
7. For IBS Suffers  IBS Support
8. For Diarrhoea Relief  Gastro Relief
9. For Womens Needs  Inner Health Candex

Come into the Pharmacy and ask the Probiotic Experts which one would be best for you.

Iberogast for IBS. Are you missing out?

One of the biggest challenges with our health is digestive health.  Often there are clues, as you can see in the list below, that things are not quite right.  One of the best solutions available is Iberogast.
Iberogast® (STW 5) is clinically proven for the treatment of abdominal discomfort associated with conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia. Iberogast has been extensively researched in 19 international clinical trials. More than 25 million patients have used Iberogast since it was developed and launched in Europe more than 50 years ago.
Its efficacy has made Iberogast the number one natural medicine for gastrointestinal symptoms in Germany, selling over 5 million bottles per year.
Due to its evidence, Iberogast won the Australian Journal of Pharmacy Award in the category best complementary medicine for 2012.
Suitable for nearly born through to grandmas.  Try it now for any of the symptoms below.

Stop Cold Sores Fast in One Easy Step

Do you suffer from recurrent outbreaks of cold sores?

Did you know your pharmacist can now recommend a single dose anti-viral treatment to relieve your symptoms and shorten the duration of your cold sore?

Cold sores are caused by the HSV-1 (Herpes simplex type 1) virus.The virus is acquired from close contact with an infected person, often a parent or relative when you were a child.
Cold sores usually appear on or around the lips, mouth or nose. They first appear as small red bumps that turn into fluid-filled blisters.These blisters may weep or burst and then form a shallow ulcer with a yellow crust that eventually drops off. Cold sores are often painful and unsightly.

Many people know when a cold sore is coming as they experience a tingling, burning, itching sensation or redness in the area. These signs mean the virus is rapidly reproducing.
This is the best time to treat your cold sore!
Recent studies show that starting anti-viral treatment before the appearance of blisters significantly reduces the severity and duration of your cold sore outbreak.

The newest anti-viral cold sore treatment available from your Pharmacist involves only a single-dose! Topical anti-viral creams need to be applied every few hours for up to four days to produce the same results!  It is called Dynamiclear.

If you suffer from recurrent cold sores visit our pharmacists at Cranes to see whether this new breakthrough in cold sore treatment will work for you!

10 Ways to Cut your Risk of Developing Cancer

1. Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
2. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
3. Avoid sugary drinks, and limit consumption of high-calorie foods, especially those low in fiber and rich in fat or added sugar.
4. Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes (such as beans).
5. Eat lots organic broccoli
6. Limit consumption of red meats (including beef, pork, and lamb) and avoid processed meats.
7. If you drink alcohol, limit your daily intake to two drinks for men and one drink for women.
8. Limit consumption of salty foods and food processed with salt (sodium).
9. Drink 6 cups green tea per day
10. Eat lots of turmeric.  Grate the root into your salads, cook with it in your curries or mix it with ginger, lemon and mint to make a refreshing tea.