As our bodies age, it may become necessary to be on more than one medication. It’s a complicated matter though. People over 55 may develop sensitivity to certain additives or preservatives used to produce their prescription medicine. In addition, they may have trouble swallowing pills or have a hard time keeping track of the sheer number they are required to take. Compounded medication can provide a benefit. more
It usually begins with a problem of some sort. For instance, a child can’t take a medicine because it’s too bitter. Maybe a patient has trouble swallowing a pill, or a particular strength that the doctor prescribes is not available commercially. This is where compounding enters the equation. more
Today’s pharmacist primarily serves behind the scenes, as the supplier of prescription-only medications at a doctor’s request. This role was established in the early half of the twentieth century, with a boom in pre-manufactured medications and the creation of prescription-only drugs in 1951. But this was not always the case: throughout the nineteenth century druggists and apothecaries (the predecessors of today’s pharmacist) were an irreplaceable part of health care, offering custom-made medications and medical advice and consultations. more
All of our compounded medications begin with bases created specifically for compounded topical treatments. These unique products are designed to effectively deliver the customized formulation of ingredients selected by your physician and pharmacist, but they also provide some special qualities of their own. All of our Wound Care Creams contain PCCA Spira-Wash™ Gel, a base created to protect wounds and help them heal faster. One of the unique ingredients in Spira-Wash™ that can provide added healing properties is Meadowsweet Extract.
Meadowsweet is an herb native to Europe and the Middle East that has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, but in the 1800s scientists began experimenting with extracting the salicin from Meadowsweet and converting it into salicylic acid, an effective pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and fever reducer. By 1900, the Bayer company in Germany had fine-tuned this process and patented acetylsalicylic acid, calling it “aspirin.” The name was created by combining “acetyl” with “Spiraea ulmaria”—another name for Meadowsweet.
Along with the anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing qualities which made aspirin so effective, Meadowsweet also has antacid properties, useful in treating dyspepsia (indigestion), peptic ulcers, stomachaches, and other digestive maladies, and antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, making it ideal for treating and preventing infection.
The many properties of this unique natural ingredient make Meadowsweet an ideal addition to Spira-Wash™ and our Wound Care Creams.
For more information about Spira-Wash™ Gel and IPS Wound Care Creams, please visit the Wound Care Cream page.