Some of the most important questions one can ask in life are Who?, What? When? Where? How? and Why? In the field of healthcare these questions are equally important. Let us ask these questions in regard to diabetes mellitus (the complications of elevated blood glucose). […]

The description of a professional in Wikipedia states “A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepares members of a profession with the particular […]

The repurposing of drugs has been going on for a long time. Repurposing is the term used for using a drug for a different condition than what it was originally intended. Drug companies are pleased when they can find another use for an approved medication, […]

I had an occasion to visit with one of my friends, an older gentleman in the pharmacy profession, one I like to call a seasoned pharmacist. When I stopped by to visit with him, he usually had a good story to share. Here is his […]

I know a pharmacist who is on in years. I once spoke to him about how he motivated himself over his career. This is his story: “When I graduated from pharmacy school a long time ago, I was married and had a family. I was […]

Gold, in ancient times, was used to treat disease.  There are stories that Pliny, in the first century AD, reported that gold could be used to heal fistulas (an abnormal connection between two body parts) and hemorrhoids. In the 1200s Arnald of Villanova advocated gold […]

When one thinks of silver, it is as a coin, utensil, or jewelry, yet silver has been used in medicine for many millennia and continues to this day. The purpose of this column is to discuss how the use of silver benefits the health of […]

Acute inflammation, though uncomfortable and painful, does have its benefits: Acts as a defense mechanism to protect from infection and injury. Localizes and eliminates the injurious agent. Removes damaged tissue. Fortunately, the discomfort is temporary and leaves when the inflammatory response has done its job. […]

Intravenous (IV) therapy, a common procedure, is the method of introducing fluids and medications into the body quickly, bypassing the digestive system. IV therapy as we know it is only about 100 years old. Reports of attempts to introduce fluids via the IV route of […]

Quinine was first known to be used by the indigenous peoples of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador to halt “shiverings” or fevers. It is not known how long they knew of this remedy, but when the Spanish Jesuit missionaries in the 1570’s became aware of this […]