Wellness Blog - Big Sky Specialty Compounding

Bergamot Oil: Good for the skin and the mind.

September 2, 2016 By BSC

bergamot plant — The botany of Bergamot: The tree produces Neroli from the flowers, Petitgrain from the leaves and Bergamot from the peels of the fruit.

Bergamot Oil

Bergamot oil is one of my favorite oils. I use it often to help treat acne, especially for teenagers. Simply apply a little bit of the oil directly to the acne prone areas helps keep bacteria down and clear up the skin.

My son is 13 and plays baseball, the bergamot oil helped clear up the acne he gets on his forehead where his baseball hat sits. All the citrus oils do make the skin more sensitive to light and should be put on at night not in the morning. A couple of applications a week works great.

Bergamot is also one of the “Happy” oils, meaning it lightens the mood. I love the refreshing smell in the diffuser and the following new study shows potential benefits for helping people feel less stressed.

As reported in the German journal of Research in Complementary Medicine, the inhalation of Bergamot essential oil (Citrus bergamia) significantly reduced physiological and psychological markers of stress in human subjects. This is exciting news, as this is one of the few studies to use a placebo control, and a population size resulting in statistically-significant results.

The experiment was a simple one: 41 test volunteers were exposed to each of three experimental conditions: 15 of rest, 15 minutes of exposure to water vapor + rest, or 15 minutes of water vapor + Bergamot essential oil + rest. Saliva samples were taken immediately after each session, and 10 minutes later the volunteers completed questionnaires reporting mood, anxiety and fatigue levels. Heart rate variability was measured throughout each of the test periods.

The results note: Salivary cortisol levels (the stress hormone) were lowered, high frequency heart rate activity was increased (a good thing indicating lower levels of stress), and mood, anxiety and fatigue scores were all improved with the inhalation of Bergamot.

This is one of our favorite “single” oils to use in a diffuser, no blending required. It’s inexpensive, has a lovely sweet-tart citrus aroma, and actually has a significant body of research backing its use for supporting other conditions – most notably its potential to reduce the perception of pain. This research has not been confirmed with human studies, but the results seem promising enough that we may see such a study in the future.

Have a blessed day,
Kiersten Alton Rph. – Big Sky Compounding

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Beauty, From the Inside Out.

August 26, 2016 By BSC

Healthy skin is best healed from the inside out

As I get older I am starting to notice things about my skin that I really don’t like. Uneven skin tone, wrinkles and thin skin are just a few of the changes taking place. Topical products can definitely help, my favorite being vitamin C serum.

The wonderful antioxidant helps even skin tone, build collagen and repair damage caused by the sun. I would also encourage everyone to look inside for healthy skin. The health of our intestinal tract will often times determine the health of our skin.

Our skin is our largest detoxification organ. If your liver is congested you can get dark spots on your skin. Supporting the liver and intestinal tract can help with many skin issues.

In addition providing the body with the nutrients the skin needs to repair, specifically minerals and amino acids is also beneficial. Many times skin is best healed from the inside out rather than simply applying more product on the outside.

My favorite nutrient for healthy skin and face specifically, whether your issue is acne, age, large pores or thin skin, is pearl capsules from Dragon Herbs. Dragon Herbs specializes in Chinese tonic herbs, tinctures and ground freshwater pearl.

Pearls are full of amino acids and minerals which are used to help build healthy skin and support brain function as well. When my children were little I used to open up a pearl capsule and add it to their baby food once a day to help with brain development.

Pearl is one of the great secrets of the most beautiful women of the Orient.

Pearls are usually thought of in the Western world as a jewel to be worn, not consumed. But in the Orient, finely ground pearl powder has been used as a dietary supplement for thousands of years, especially by the wealthy. It has many physiological actions beneficial to humans.

Studies conducted over the past several years have proven that the best way to use Pearl is to use it whole. The traditional problem with using whole Pearl powder was that it was difficult to grind fine enough to make it highly bioavailable.

Recent advancements in grinding technology now allow the Pearl to be ground into a powder that is very close to nano-sized. This powder is easily and completely absorbed by the body and is fully utilized once it is in the blood stream. The technique now used is known as levigation

Check out Dragon Herbs Pearl Capsules and if you mention this blog post, you can receive 10% off your first bottle at Big Sky Specialty Compounding. Give us a call 406-752-05499.

Have a blessed day,

Kiersten Alton, Rph.

A Compounding Pharmacist’s Role in Pain Management

July 5, 2016 By BSC

A recent opinion letter in The Buffalo News, NY highlights a compounding pharmacist’s role in pain management.

(Original June 28, 2016 letter The Buffalo News )

Compounding pharmacy can relieve patients’ pain

The “Combating the Heroin and Opioid Epidemic” legislation is a good start. However, there needs to be more than legislation. There needs to be a complete rethinking on the treatment paradigm options for pain. One of those options is the compounding pharmacist.

An accredited compounding pharmacy working with a physician or midlevel health care provider can offer a wide array of personalized pain therapy options that are non-narcotic, non-opioid, non-addictive drug therapy, specific to the needs of an individual patient. Whether the pain is arthritic, nociceptive, neuropathic, chronic or acute, there are unlimited options that may be offered to prescribers specific for each individual patient need. There are also products and therapy options available that can help reduce the patient’s opioid dose or even wean them off of narcotic therapy.

The problem is the recent trend of health insurers is to severely limit, or exclude, coverage of compounded prescription medications to their subscribers. Another trend is putting large co-pays on products that are covered, therefore making the affordability of these medications difficult for patients.

There are many reasons health insurance companies give for non-coverage or limited coverage of these therapies for subscribers. Of course, the most common is the cost. How does one measure the downstream cost to the insurers, patients and society on overuse of narcotics for pain? What is the cost of overavailability of opioids in the community, or long-term residential treatment for addiction and opioid dependence maintenance therapies?

In the June 23 News article, “Will the new opiate law work,” Dr. Nancy Nielson said, “Chronic pain patients will continue to need opioids, but we also need to address alternative ways to treat pain.” Patient-specific, individualized, compound pain medication, from an accredited compounding pharmacy, is an alternative way to treat pain.

Martin E. Pietruszewski, RPh

Essential Oils To Treat Your Seasonal Allergies

June 30, 2016 By BSC

Have you been dealing with pesky seasonal allergies this spring?

Runny nose, itchy eyes? Many of us suffer from spring allergies.

My son is seven and is allergic to grass and pollen. This might not be such a big problem except we live on a farm surrounded by grass hay. His eyes turn red, swell and itch. His nose is congested and he can barely breathe when he sleeps.

This spring we began using the Doterra essential oils Lavender, Peppermint and lemon to treat his allergies. In combination with a homeopathic allergy formula for grass and pollen allergies.

I use equal parts of these three oils mixed together and then put 5 drops in his diffuser at night while he sleeps. In addition he take the oils internally in a capsule form called Triease during the day. This regimen has helped his symptoms tremendously.

I also apply a small amount of Doterra Lavender oil to the outside of his nose to help with congestion when needed. When used regularly he wakes up with clear eyes and nose.

Here is a brief description of the Triease.

“TriEase Softgels were developed to protect against seasonal and environmental elements and to promote a healthy respiratory system when needed most.

Each softgel contains equal parts of Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint essential oils, known for their ability to maintain clear breathing and a healthy immune response when combined together.

Used by both veteran and novice essential oil users, this well-known blend is frequently mixed together for its respiratory health benefits.

Now, with TriEase Softgels, this combination can be consumed quickly and easily when traveling, attending outdoor events, or when seasonal or environmental elements are particularly high. TriEase Softgels can be consumed safely on a daily basis during times of seasonal discomfort to promote clear breathing and overall respiratory health.”

Key Ingredients and Benefits

Lemon Peel: cleansing to the body’s systems and frequently used for respiratory discomfort*
Lavender Flower: renowned for its calming and balancing effects*
Peppermint Plant: promotes clear breathing and healthy respiratory function*

If you have any questions or are interested in using essential oils to treat your spring allergies, please stop by Big Sky Compounding Pharmacy or call us 406.752.0499

What is your vitamin D level?

April 22, 2015 By BSC

Spring is in the air. You have almost made it to summer in the Flathead Valley. Did you get your vitamin D levels checked this winter? Before you head into winter again, ask your doctor to test your total vitamin D levels. If they are low then add a D3 supplement. Call us if you need help deciding how much.