Making medicine

One of the pharmacy things I love (but don't get to do often) is compounding. Compounding is when you actually make some form of medication, maybe a cream, a suppository.... Some compounding pharmacies specialize in custom making medications for certain people...like medicinal lollipops or lozenges for those who can't swallow.

Tomorrow we are making some sort of cream or something in class. One of the cool things about herbal medicine is not only getting to make your own medicine, but having the person be able to participate in their own medicine making as well. Teas are a large part of herbal medicine and as many of my tea-loving friends know, there is just something comforting about making and drinking a nice hot cup of tea. Add medicinal properties to that and, well, what's not to love?

Last semester in school we had to try three different teas and were shown how to make different teas in class. The purpose of the trying the tea was being able to see what it would be like to drink tea all day before we tell one of our clients to do so. We also made tinctures (which are usually made with alcohol). I chose not to make or taste the alcohol tinctures, but did make a vinegar tincture with another classmate who is not able to take much alcohol,

For my teas, I chose three herbs I had never heard of. The first one was introduced to me by a classmate and that I have grown very fond of. It's called Mullein and if you feel it you will know why it is called "nature's toilet paper" (it's softer than charmin!). I loved Mullein tea; no matter what I did to it it always came out tasting great. Imagine my surprise and elation when I found Mullein in my backyard back home in NJ!! And another little Mullein is growing next to the driveway. :)

The other two were recommended to me by one of my teachers because, since I did not "do" alcohol, I would have the challenge of having only teas, pills or powders to suggest for my clients. Since some teas are bitter and sometimes easier to give as tincture (because you can put them in juice to mask the taste), she suggested some bitter teas.

I do NOT like bitter tastes. AT. ALL. The second tea was bitter and I didn't like it. I used some mental techniques and in the end, I grew to tolerate it, at most. The third tea was a horribly, nasty tasting tea (and this is not just my opinion). In fact, I suggested it be referred to as Nastea, because it was so horrible. I did not want to quit, though and knew that there must be some way to be able to take it. In the end, I did find a way to tolerate taking it. As I told my teacher, I would probably never recommend anyone drink it unless there is a bad habit they are trying to quit (and that will be their drinking it will be negative reinforcement).

Still, it was a great learning experience. If I had learned what that herb did and then wanted to suggest it for a client who fit that pattern, I would not have known what I was doing to that person. Imagine if your doctor or pharmacist knew how horrible your medicine REALLY tasted or how bad it made you feel (from its side effects). Maybe it would help with compassion for the patients and help improve compliance with medication. Maybe they wouldn't be so quick to prescribe (some) medications without knowing how bad it really was. Maybe there would be some more understanding and help in trying to get the patients off med or in advising them how best to take the medication.

I cringe when I hear drug reps who are showing off their new "wonder" drug and claim it has no side effects or drug interactions. You mean it has no KNOWN side effects or drug interactions. If it didn't, then I could pop one in right now. But I wouldn't. Nor would the drug rep, pharmacist or doctor, I am sure. All drugs, even herbal medicines, have SOME side effects, whether they are severe or slight. Even food has side effects (beans, for example...).

Anyway, that's all for now because I am actually quite tired and still have readings to do.