What Is Goji Juice?

Goji (Lycium barbarum - Latin).
Through the ages, legends abound about this miraculous fruit, the goji berry. There are festivals held to celebrate its goodness, and a poem was written in its honor.
During the Tang Dynasty (around 800 AD), a well had been dug beside a wall near a famous Buddhist temple that was covered with goji vines. Over the years, countless berries had fallen into the well. Those who prayed there had the ruddy complexion of good health, and even at the age of eighty they had no white hair and had lost no teeth, simply because they drank the water from the well.
It is said that the Himalayans were the first natural healers, and that they shared their wisdom with the ancient herbalists of China, Tibet, and India. One of their most prized secrets was the fruit of the native goji vine, which had been flourishing in the Himalayan valleys since the beginning of time. Those who came there to learn took the goji home with them and planted it in their own valleys, thus spreading the legend of this most marvelous and healthful fruit.
The people of Central Asia who love and cherish these goji berries so much that they devote two weeks every year to festivals in their honor.
Scientists realized four primary bioactive polysaccharides were discovered in Lycium barbarum. They named them Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP).
Research suggests that goji's unique polysaccharides control and command many of the body's most important biochemical defense systems.
Since its discovery in the Himalayas, those who know of the remarkable goji berry are awed by its unmatched health-promoting powers.
Scientific research from major universities around the world has validated the remarkable health benefits of the goji berry claimed by the Himalayan Healers thousands of years ago. Over 50 studies have already been published in prestigious health journals, including:
British Journal of Nutrition, International Immunopharmacology, Journal of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Journal of Ethno pharmacology China Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Herb News Magazine Research Communications Molecular Pathology and Pharmacology Chinese Patent Herbs, Chinese Herbs, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery Chinese Oncology Magazine, Hygiene Research, Physiology Academic Journal Chinese Stomatology, And Many More...
This tiny fruit revealed itself to be quite possibly the most nutritionally dense food on earth!

Visit http://www.best-goji-juice.com for more information.
Lori Matthews does research and studies subjects as fitness, nutrition and health for people as well as pets.

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Sexual Dysfunction - Medicalization of Sexuality

The recent developments in "sexual pharmacology" only reinforced some to warn us about the medicalization of sexual dysfunction and human sexuality in general. We believe that the treatment of sexual dysfunctions/disorders belongs to the realm of medicine. However, we also believe that the "sexual pharmacology" and total medicalization of sexuality does not provide the best understanding of the complexities of human sexuality and is not always in the best interest of our patients.
Bancroft among others cautions just about a few important issues connected to medicalization of human sexuality. He points out that male sexuality has been medicalized for most of the 20th century, and that medical profession has paid more attention to female sexuality lately (interestingly, this increased interest seems to parallel with the increased interest of the pharmaceutical industry in female sexuality).
Bancroft points out that the interface between psychological processes and physiological response, especially in women, is not well understood. He discusses the numerous male-female differences in sexuality. He also asks, "when is a sexual problem a sexual dysfunction," as many times impaired sexual interest or response in women is psychologically understandable and thus rather an adaptive response to a problem in the sexual relationship rather than sexual dysfunction.
Medicalization of sexual dysfunction and human sexuality has been beneficial to some extent in expanding part of our understanding of human sexuality and its impairment(s), and in expanding our treatment armamentarium. However, it also poses dangers in a form of trivialization of human sexuality and secondary suppression of exploring other avenues of our understanding of human sexuality.
Conclusion
From the discussion of the history of the field, the evolution of nomenclature, and emerging data on epidemiology, it is clear that this is a field in rapid evolution. Most of the impetus for this change came from the discovery of effective oral therapies for male sexual disorder and the subsequent search for similar therapies for women. This has contributed to better studies of the epidemiology of these disorders and to debates about the proper nomenclature. In addition, clinicians have begun trying to find which psychological, pharmacological, or combined approach is most suited to treat these disorders.
The purpose of this book was to assemble experts in treatment of each disorder into one text so that this text could serve as a treatment guide for students and practicing clinicians. Ultimately, we hope that those who will benefit the most are our patients. Patient sexual satisfaction may be associated with many health factors, including a reduced risk for subsequent new severe disabilities.

About The Author
David Crawford is the CEO and owner of a penis extenders company known as Male Enhancement Group which is dedicated to researching and comparing male enhancement products in order to determine which male enhancement product is safer and more effective than other products on the market. Copyright 2010 David Crawford of erectile problems in men This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Are You Out of Balance?

Has this ever happened to you? You feel frazzled, have difficulty concentrating, sleeping and "getting your life together". You feel like a "walking dead". You have been told that your problems are stress related, but you are not sure why you are stressed. All the medication that you are taking is not working. Well it is possible that your problems are a result of unbalanced energies.
I frequently see patients who have symptoms which somehow do not appear to "add up" to a definite diagnosis. Many times they have an imbalance in their energies.
Eastern philosophy is based on the premise that all life occurs within the circle of nature. All things within this matrix are connected. They are mutually dependent on each other. The source of all things is the tao, with complementary aspects: yin and yang. It is the play between yin and yang, which creates ki (chi)energy. Nature is in constant motion. When the elements of nature are in balance, life is harmonic and flourishes. When the balance of polar forces is upset, disaster looms.
The course of our everyday lives require that we balance the yin(the interior process of nurturing the self) with the yang (the exterior work of the world). Our activity in the world is necessary for our productivity. As the day draws to a close we retreat from the business of the day to rest, relax and sleep in order to replenish our store of chi for the day that follows.
Modern life is filled with constant, often frenetic activity. We are often so consumed with productivity that we neglect giving time for the self to be replenished. To over exercise, overwork or over party is to overindulge in yang, which leads to burnout of yin. The fact is that the body cannot tolerate for long, consuming more than is replaced. Some of the consequences of this imbalance may be problems with the muscles, bones, joints, heart or kidneys; other consequences can be as serious as a heart attack.
On the other hand to be preoccupied with matters of internal health could mean an overemphasis on the yin phase. An analogy is that of an avid collector who keeps acquiring so many objects that have potential value, that he has no energy to put his hidden treasures to use in a productive manner. So in this case the yin is protected but the yang is without life.
Webster's New World Dictionary describes balance as "a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equality in amount, weight, value or importance as between two things or the parts of a thing; mental or emotional stability". Ms. Donna Brown, a Reiki Master/energy practitioner who practices in Jamaica, states that "balance pertains to optimum health within our life cycle. For instance one cycle can be the career, another home and family." The challenge is to balance body, mind and spirit within that life cycle focus. We need to remember that life is not static and our focus changes as we grow.
We are rarely balanced in everything at the same time. The importance of balance is that it keeps body systems in optimum working order. The body was created for balance.
We need to pay attention to what helps keep us in balance, especially in these times of pollution, high stress living and immune system breakdown. I recommend a wholistic approach for achieving balance.
SPIRITUAL FOCUS
It is important that we understand and accept the mind body spirit connection. We tend to underestimate our individual power to heal. We are composed of trillions of cells which are imprinted with divine intelligence and wisdom. We need to frequently and regularly connect with our divine source through prayer, meditation and quiet contemplation.
EXERCISE
The following are some practical tips to incorporate regular exercise into a busy schedule.
• Include exercise in activities of daily - this includes vigorous housework. Walk vigorously for at least twenty minutes, three times each week; while doing this swing the arms and legs. There are numerous video tapes and television programmes which are made for guiding viewers with specific exercises.
• If one is sitting at a desk for long hours, stretch every couple of hours and walk around every two to four hours. If you have been cooped up in your office, go outside, stand in the sun and inhale fresh air.
• Walk instead of driving
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator
ENERGY BALANCE
There are a number of universal energy healing modalities, including Bowen technique, Reiki, Quantum touch and emotional freedom technique (EFT).
Energies can also be balanced through deep breathing exercises, meditation
and living simply by un-cluttering the mind.
Ms. Donna Brown has provided this simple exercise designed to relieve stress
1. deep breathe in through the nostrils and out through the mouth (as if blowing through a straw)
2. lightly place the fingertips of both hands on the forehead covering the "Oh my God" points. Place the thumbs on the temples next to the eyes. Breathe deeply. Relax and remove the hands. Repeat as necessary.
NUTRITION
We must not underestimate the importance of good nutrition. This is essential to balance. Food can have a profound effect on the functioning of the body. If you are experiencing prolonged stress, you are at risk of developing heart disease, cancer, infections, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease. Numerous studies have demonstrated that adequate nutrition can help to prevent or minimize the effects of these diseases.
The solution to this problem is to elevate the quality of the food we consume - that means that we need to limit the anti- nutrients in the diet - These include poor quality fats, poor quality white flour, poor quality sugar, poor quality dairy and poor quality meats.
So practically how can we achieve balance in our lives? This can be done by the use of nutrition, supplements, herbs, physical exercise, magnetic therapy, aromatherapy massage, energy balancing, mental discipline and modification of life style habits. These forms of therapy can reestablish the rhythmic swing of the Yin- Yang pendulum.

DR. JACQUELINE E. CAMPBELL B.Sc. (Hons) M.Phil. (Pharmacology) M.B., B.S.
Dr. Jacqueline Elaine Campbell is a family physician whose special interests are Pharmacology, and the use of Alternative/Complementary Medicine in the treatment of diabetes and other diseases that are common in Jamaica.
She is the author of A Patient's Guide to the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.
http://www.6westmedical.com

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What to Do When a Cold Strikes

A patient recently complained that she thought her body had let her down because "I'm always boosting my immune system with supplements". She further informed me that like many women who were busy juggling careers, children and home life, she was too busy to get a cold. I reminded her that there is a reason why it's called the common cold. It is the most common illness known. A cold is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work. Women tend to get more colds than men. The reason for this is that women spend more time with children - whether at home or at work. Children catch colds easily and so if you are frequently around children, your chances of catching a cold will increase significantly.
The first step in fighting a cold is to make sure that you do have one. Many persons confuse the common cold with the flu. The common cold is a viral infection of the upper-respiratory tract that attacks the nose and nasal passages. Some of the symptoms include - sneezing, itchy throat, runny and stuffy nostrils. If you develop a persistent fever, hacking cough or a rash, you may have a more serious viral infection. Since the common cold is a viral infection, antibiotics, which fight bacterial infections, will not help in its treatment.
To shorten the life of a cold why not try the following?
1. Stay hydrated-drink a lot of water - coconut water and fresh fruit juice as these may help loosen and clear out mucous, soothe a sore throat, and replace fluid lost due to a fever or runny nose. The heat from soups, green and other herbal teas also help fight off the infection and relieve congestion. A favourite home decongestion remedy is drinking hot ginger tea with lime or lemon and honey.
Cold viruses thrive in cold, dry environments. By staying warm and raising humidity levels you can help to keep cold viruses at bay. This can be done by using a humidifier. Nasal passages can be cleared with the use of a neti pot and/or menthol inhalations.
2. Rest and relax - When the body is relaxed there is an increase in the production of interleukins, substances produced by the immune system to help it fight infections.
3. To treat a sore throat - gargle with warm salt water or use a mouthwash of sage tea or extract in water. Drinking licorice root tea is also good for sore throat and coughs. If this tastes too "strong" for you, add some peppermint. Slippery elm bark tea helps to soothe a sore throat because it contains mucilage, a gelatinous substance that coats the throat and reduces irritation.
4. For congestion - try the wet sock treatment as recommended by the physicians at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in the USA. In the evening before going to bed, warm your feet in a basin of hot water (be careful!); meanwhile soak a pair of thin cotton socks in ice cold water. Take your feet out of the hot water, put on the cold socks and then layer on a pair of thick, dry wool socks. Keep the socks on overnight.
Dr. Jamey Wallace, clinic medical director at Bastyr Center for Natural Health states that this treatment, known as a heating compress, rallies the body's natural defenses. "The body reacts to the cold socks by increasing blood circulation, which also stimulates the immune system. You have to 'rev up' the immune system, so it's ready for battle against the affliction or condition." People with chronic illnesses should consult with a doctor before starting this treatment.
5. If you blow your nostrils too much - chances are that you will develop a chafed nose. Apply a small amount of aloe vera gel to the irritated areas. If you are lucky and have an aloe plant in your backyard, slit open a leaf, scoop out the gel and apply it to the irritated areas. Failing that, aloe gel can be purchased at the health food stores.
6. Boost your immune system with supportive supplements - These include:
• The anti-oxidants-Vitamins A,C E and the mineral selenium. I routinely recommend that my patients who are fighting a cold or flu, take at least 4000mg of Vitamin C daily. These amounts are usually tolerated by most people but may cause diarrhoea in others.
• Rosmarinic acid - found in rosemary, sage, mint, and perilla leaf.
• Echinacea - some studies have shown it may shorten the duration of a cold in adults if taken at the onset of the illness. It should be taken for a total of seven to ten days.
• Zinc lozenges -taken at the onset of a cold may shorten the illness.
• Garlic supports healthy immune function while exerting antiviral effects. My grandmother used to make garlic and onion cough syrup for me when I had a cold. She always had a peg of garlic in her mouth and my mother says that she as far as she can remember, her mother had never had a cold or flu.
7. Eat healthily - make sure that your diet is full of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds.
While you are ill try to avoid dairy products, fried and sugary foods, alcohol and smoking. Alcohol suppresses the immune system making it difficult for the body to rid itself of the cold virus. Smoking irritates the throat and interferes with the cilia, microscopic "fingers", that remove viruses and bacteria from your throat.
If your "cold" symptoms persist or worsen, please seek medical attention

DR. JACQUELINE E. CAMPBELL B.Sc. (Hons) M.Phil. (Pharmacology) M.B., B.S.
Dr. Jacqueline Elaine Campbell is a family physician whose special interests are Pharmacology, and the use of Alternative/Complementary Medicine in the treatment of diabetes and other diseases that are common in Jamaica.
She is the author of A Patient's Guide to the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus.
http://www.6westmedical.com

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What Classes Do You Take When Studying in a RN Program?

The demand for nurses has reached its peak in the past few years. With the advent of modern technology and aging population the shortage of nurses are expected to rise even higher.
A registered nurse program includes various subjects in nursing. You will have to study different topics and get a bird's eye view on the different area of specialization of nursing. You will also be exposed in clinical settings where you can apply what you have learned in the classroom.
To become a Registered Nurse you must study these following courses:
1. Maternity Nursing Course
Maternity Nursing courses teach nursing students how to care of pregnant mothers, newborns and their family. Students are taught of the various risks during pregnancy and the nursing care you need to provide. Areas that are taught include care for the pregnant mother from pregnancy to childbirth, reproductive health and women's health.
2. Medical-Surgical Nursing Course
In this course students learn how to take care of patients with disorders on various body systems including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, respiratory, integumentary, neurological, GI and GUT systems. Caring for pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative patients are also taught.
3. Health Promotion Course
Health promotion and wellness has become very trendy these days. As a student nurse you must know the information you need to provide patients to promote healthier living. Nutrition and disease prevention are some subjects that you study here. It also teaches specialized care by groups like children, elderly, adults and permanently disabled.
4. Nursing Pharmacology Course
Registered nurses may not be the ones prescribing the medications but they spend a lot of time administering them. As nursing students pharmacology is for them to know various drugs, their classification, how they work and how to administer them.
5. Mental Health Nursing Course
Nursing students learn about the different psychological disorders and the treatment they need. Pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment plans. Nursing students learn the different settings of care for patients with psychological disorders like community care centers, mental health units and hospitals.
6. Nursing Management Course
As registered nurses there are medical staffs that you need to supervise. This subject will help shape nursing students to become leaders and managers. Nursing students are taught how and when to delegate work and help them develop leadership skills. Organizational structures, budgeting, staffing and other leadership roles are tackled in this subject.
In addition to classroom courses, student nurses are exposed to clinical setting. They are required to have skills in leadership, communication, assessment skills, communicable diseases and administering medications.
After getting an associate's degree in nursing you need to take a test to become a registered nurse. The test may differ in every area but you need to take it if you want to become a professional nurse.

Find out more about RN programs in Nursing Classes.

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Back and Joint Pain-New Relief Through Lipoxygenase Inhibition With Natural Supplements

Lipoxygenase Inhibition: A Missed opportunity for controlling pain and inflammation
Are we only "half treating" our back and joint pains?
Back and joint pains are among the top reasons for visits to the doctor. Yet complete resolution of the complaint is often slow in coming or never completely resolved. Why?
There are 2 major physiologic pathways leading to inflammatory and pain responses: the cyclooxygenase (COX) mediated and the lipoxygenase (5-LO) dependent one. While the former is widely known, and inhibited by the well popularized NSAID's (like Celebrex, Vioxx(!)), etc, the second one is virtually ignored in the current management of pain syndromes. Principal cause for this is the failure of major drug companies to develop synthetic drugs that can inhibit the 5-LO and its downstream metabolites, the all important leukotrienes. To make up for the failure to deal with the 5-LO, pharmaceutical solutions like corticosteroids are usually put in place - with their well known side effects.
The bottom line is that when only one of two pathways to pain is addressed the patient is only "half treated" and half satisfied.
Lipoxygenase and pain
The 5-LO enzyme works to produce the "misery" of the leukotrienes.1 They are abundantly involved in over 35 chronic conditions including: asthma, allergies, colitis, arthritis, gastric disorders (promote ulcer formation, stimulate acid secretion, etc), scleroderma, neurological diseases, and so on. 2
More recently the involvement of the leukotrienes in pain syndromes has become clear from a multitude of studies. 1
5-LO and leukotriene B4 are involved in orofacial pain perception and mechanical and thermal sensitivity.3-7
Postoperative incision pain in animal models could be considerably reduced using experimental 5-LO inhibitors.8
The beneficial effects of 5-LO inhibition were demonstrated in the reduction of inflammatory events accompanying experimental spinal cord injury. 9
Several studies have identified inflammatory mediators in disk herniation, such as leukotrienes. Cytokines occurring in degenerated facets have been shown to contribute to the pain of degenerative lumbar disorders. 10, 11
5-LO has been shown to be involved in both pain modulation and induction of opioid tolerance at the spinal level. 12 5-LO metabolites are found in clinical cases of herniated nucleus pulposus and experimental data gathered in the study of associated radicular pain in animals demonstrated that 5-LO inhibition may prove to be beneficial in such conditions.13
Pharmacological inhibition of the 5-LO
While the market availability of COX inhibitors is widespread the opposite seems to be the case with pharmaceuticals in the lipoxygenase class direction. Partially this is not due to lack of trying. Promising experimental drugs had to be abandoned due to unacceptable side effects - death of animal subjects! Even those that made it to market carry warnings of hepatotoxicity (Zileuton) or have been associated with an increase in abnormal mental behavior (Singulair). On the other hand there is a persistent lack of research on the part of the pharmaceutical industry secondary to a tragic underestimation of the potential market size.
Financial disincentives explain the lack of studies of extracts of "natural" substances which are not easily patentable.
Advances in nutritional therapy with high concentration boswellia (frankincense) extracts
The premier 5-LO inhibitor is the natural, herbal ingredient AKBA, acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellia acid, the most active component of the frankincense, Boswellia serrata. Boswellia as such has been known for centuries to be a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Studies have proven its efficacy in arthritis, colitis, allergies and environmental sensitivities. 14-16
More recent studies have confirmed the analgesic properties of boswellia extracts, both as stand alone solutions as well as synergistic enhancers of pain relief when given in conjunction with COX inhibitors, opioids and other NSAID's. 17, 18
The success of boswellia extracts is all the more surprising since only poorly standardized products have been available on the general market. The component AKBA is recognized as the active anti- inflammatory principle in the boswellia and yet by far most of the formulas have only 1-3% AKBA concentration.
Fortunately high concentration boswellia extracts are now available with a concentration of over 90% AKBA! This leads to enhanced efficacy. There are a number of high quality boswellia products on the market. To get the best a careful reading of the supplement facts on the label is necessary.
If the label does not specifically state that the AKBA content is minimum 90% you are not getting the best quality possible.
With the right quality and dosage, however, either taken alone or together with other therapies symptom relief could be seen from this nutritional modality. Improvement in previously therapy resistant back or joint pain, prolonged "holding" of chiropractic adjustments and faster pain relief after injury has been routinely noted.
Safety and toxicology;
High concentration boswellia extracts are considered GRAS - generally regarded as safe. There are practically no side effects except for an occasional report of headache. There have not been any reports of the intestinal distress seen with other boswellia preparations.
Conclusion
High concentration boswellia extracts with 90% or more AKBA is highly beneficial for the treatment of pain syndromes ranging from back to joints and other damaged soft tissues. They can help in other organ and neurological pain conditions due to their anti- inflammatory properties. It can be given as a stand alone solution or in conjunction with other COX inhibitors. They are considered nutritional supplements and should be part of a general health maintenance.
(These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These ingredients are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Never start a new program without consulting a qualified heath care professional.)
References
1. Whitehouse MW, Rainsford KD. Lipoxygenase inhibition: The neglected frontier for regulating chronic inflammation and pain. Inflammopharmacology. 2006;14( 3-4):99-102. 2. Werz O, Steinhilber D. Pharmacological intervention with 5-lipoxygenase: New insights and novel compounds. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents. 2005;15( 5):505-519. 3. Aley KO, Levine JD. Contribution of 5- and 12-lipoxygenase products to mechanical hyperalgesia induced by prostaglandin E2 and epinephrine in the rat. Experimental Brain Research. 2003;148( 4):482-487. 4. Amann R, Schuligoi R, Lanz I, Peskar BA. Effect of a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor on nerve growth factor-induced thermal hyperalgesia in the rat. European Journal of Pharmacology. 1996;306( 1-3):89-91. 5. Bisgaard H, Kristensen JK. Leukotriene B4 produces hyperalgesia in humans. Prostaglandins. 1985;30( 5):791-797. 6. Chichorro JG, Lorenzetti BB, Zampronio AR. Involvement of bradykinin, cytokines, sympathetic amines and prostaglandins in formalin-induced orofacial nociception in rats. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2004;141( 7):1175-1184. 7. Martin HA. Leukotriene B4 induced decrease in mechanical and thermal thresholds of C-fiber mechanonociceptors in rat hairy skin. Brain Research. 1990;509( 2):273-279. 8. Gaspar AF, Prado WA. Comparison of pre- versus post-incision administration of intraplantar indomethacin and MK886 in a rat model of postoperative pain. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2007;40( 8):1141-1147. 9. Genovese T, Rossi A, Mazzon E, et al. Effects of zileuton and montelukast in mouse experimental spinal cord injury. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2008;153( 3):568-582. 10. Goupille P, Jayson MIV, Valat J-, Freemont AJ. The role of inflammation in disk herniation-associated radiculopathy. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 1998;28( 1):60-71. 11. Igarashi A, Kikuchi S, Konno S, Olmarker K. Inflammatory cytokines released from the facet joint tissue in degenerative lumbar spinal disorders. Spine. 2004;29( 19):2091-2095. 12. Trang T, McNaull B, Quirion R, Jhamandas K. Involvement of spinal lipoxygenase metabolites in hyperalgesia and opioid tolerance. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2004;491( 1):21-30. 13. Singh VP, Patil CS, Kulkarni SK. Effect of licofelone against mechanical hyperalgesia and cold allodynia in the rat model of incisional pain. Pharmacological Reports. 2005;57( 3):380-384. 14. Ammon HPT. Boswellic acids in chronic inflammatory diseases. Planta Medica. 2006;72( 12):1100-1116. 15. Ammon HPT. Boswellic acids for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Medizinische Monatsschrift fur Pharmazeuten. 2003;26( 9):309-315. 16. Poeckel D, Werz O. Boswellic acids: Biological actions and molecular targets. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2006;13( 28):3359-3369. 17. Bishnoi M, Patil CS, Kumar A, Kulkarni SK. Analgesic activity of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, a 5-lipoxygenase-enzyme inhibitor. Indian Journal of Pharmacology. 2005;37( 4):255-256. 18. Bishnoi M, Patil CS, Kumar A, Kulkarni SK. Protective effects of nimesulide (COX inhibitor), AKBA (5-LOX inhibitor), and their combination in aging-associated abnormalities in mice. Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. 2005;27( 7):465-470.

Ross Rentea MD, Mark Kamsler MD
http://truebotanica.com

Pharmaceutical Education and Employment Opportunities Are on the Ascent

What are the usual professional responsibilities of pharmacists? Well, they dispense medicine prescribed by the physicians, in the first place. Also they are responsible to give the customers knowledgeable advice regarding the possible side effects and dosage of the medications to be administered. In case the patient should be made aware of the necessity to take certain precautions to be observed during the course of medications, a pharmacist is responsible for informing the patience about such precautions, if any are needed. Such are the most common responsibilities of pharmacists, as they are widely assumed by the general public. Still, as any licensed pharmacist can tell you, the responsibilities are not limited to those mentioned above. First of all, any licensed pharmacist is required to have a degree in pharmacology. Secondly, such specialist should be aware of the various medicines, their generic name, dosage and possible side effects. Besides the good professional understanding of the regulating legislature related to manufacture and sale of various medicines any good professional pharmacist must command sound understanding and knowledge of the composition of medicines. And that is not all, such issues as the right storage conditions for the medicines are of critical importance, since the efficiency of prescription medications during the period of their shelf life largely depends on the correctness of their storage conditions!
As you see, any licensed pharmacist has a long road of learning to go before been accepted as a fully-fledged and respected member of the pharmacists community! But the natural questions are "How good are the employment opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry today? But what do the forecasts for the near future hold in stock for pharmacists? Is it really worthwhile to invest time and hard-earned money into becoming a professional pharmacist?" All these question are quite justified, since nobody would like to send time and money down the drain, investing them into professional specialization that turns out to be without future.
Let us have a closer look at the present-day employment opportunities of freshly graduated pharmacists and the expectations for the near future.
As has been confirmed by the various reports of analytical agencies specializing in the job-market related issues, the pharmacist's specialization enjoys quite enviable demand. Traditionally, the most of the pharmacists still find employment with community pharmacies and drug stores, as they used to do over the decades. Well, that is no surprise, people got used to seen a pharmacists behind the counter of a drug-store or a pharmacy, handing out the prescription medicines as well as those that do not require prescription (they are justly referred to by the term of "over-the-counter" medicines). On the other hand, during the last decade the professional pharmacists have been in huge demand in public service and pharmaceutical industry. Hospitals, railways, large shopping centers and airports - they all look for good professionals in the field to fill in vacancies in their specialized their drug stores. Another interesting job opportunity for pharmacists could be found with medical drug information libraries and consulting, since the medical and nursing staffs are in need of information about new drugs - the industry of medications is constantly advancing, coming up each month and year with new generations of medications. Many specialists in pharmacology who graduated as pharmacists have developed successful and self-fulfilling careers, finding employment as tutors in colleges and universities. Others prefer to write or edit books of pharmacology, as well as reference guides - as you see, the employment and career opportunities in the pharmacology industry are in plenty!
What about the forecasts and expectations for the near future? The demand for professionals in the pharmacology in general and for the pharmacists in particular is expected only to grow considerably during the period through 2016 and beyond. The reasons for such forecasts are well-grounded. The population will continue growing in numbers - and the numbers of hospitals and other health care establishments are destined to grow accordingly, to accommodate the increasing demand. That means that more and more pharmacists will be required to fill in new outlets and positions - in traditional drug-stores, in hospitals and related job settings. Secondly, the number of senior citizens is also expected to grow considerably. Senior citizens of all the aged population groups are known to be the main consumers of prescription and "over-the-counter" drugs. As the result, the demand for specialists able to handle the growing demand on the part of the patients is guaranteed to increase over the practically foreseeable future period.
What are the usual education and certification requirements for those whishing to take up a career as pharmacists?
The educational and certification demands for pharmacists are very definite and strict. All persons, whishing to build a career of pharmacists are required to have a degree from a college (associate's, bachelor's or master's one), upon which they need to get licensed by the pertinent agency in order to start a professional career of a licensed pharmacist. Besides, the educational establishment they have gradated from should be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and Examinations. Such are the basic mandatory requirements for a professional licensed pharmacist, wishing to start up a successful career in the industry.
Besides the specific subjects, related to pharmacist's specialization, any accredited pharmacy degree program should usually include courses in mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
As you see, the academic requirements for the pharmacology students are noticeably high. In order to insure the adequate level of academic excellence among their student the majority of the pharmacy colleges have introduced admission tests for aspiring students.
The students, whishing to continue education - as well as those who have already some experience in the professional field and are after the better career opportunities - are offered continuing education options, such as bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as doctorates in various specialized areas of pharmaceutical industries.
One of the good options for busy working professionals to continue education and get a higher academic degree in pharmacology would be to make use of modern means of distance education - the online pharmacy degree training schools and programs. Those online establishments - surely, we are speaking about the reputable and properly accredited courses, nothing like some shady "diploma mill" sites - have proved to be a good competition to the traditional, campus-based ones.
Another consideration to be given a serious attention and thought - as far as career advancement in pharmacology and pharmacy industry is concerned - is that your success would largely depend on the type of work you will be able to get and your business talents/skills/experience. As an illustration to this statement you could easily find online the career stories of success: for instance, people who worked for drugstore chains became top-managers. Pharmacists employed at various hospitals - general or specialized - got to be directors of pharmacy services. The government agencies and educational institutions also offer interesting and promising openings. Pharmacy degree specialist could also build excellent careers by taking up teaching or research, that all depends on your personal talents, individual inclinations, career objectives etc. Anyway, besides the required level of academic excellence, necessary for each specific position, any newly graduated pharmacist should realize that their jobs always require them to communicate and interact with people of different types. From this point of view good person-to-person communication skills would always be a great advantage, so take care to acquire them by all means!

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