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COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 29 Advising on complementary medicine Education and professional development are key when it comes to dispensing advice around complementary medicine. However, effective healthcare provision goes beyond the theory. There’s a human element to effective practice. “The first thing \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[pharmacists and pharmacy staff need to know\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] is ... how to communicate with a person,” Mr Quigley said. “Seventy per cent of Australians use some sort of complementary medicine \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[but\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] most people don’t spread that news. They’re frightened they’re going to get told off by their doctor. And they’re often dismissed as well – ‘it won’t do you harm but why would you bother?’ – by some pharmacists. We’ve got to show people a lot more respect. “So, they need to know firstly the skills of communication. Secondly, the skills of patience, and thirdly, the skills of guidance where you might move the person away from something into something else. But it’s got to be done with respect and with common sense and with an obviously better outcome.” Ms Freeman adds that it’s “about having a conversation with the customer to understand what they’re trying to achieve by the various supplements that they’re looking at”. “And perhaps if they know that it’s a person on a lot of other medications, suggest to them that they chat to the pharmacist or their doctor ... possibly a dietitian – just to make sure that there’s no interactions or issues,” she said. “If they’re struggling and losing weight, hence why they might be on something like Sustagen, then yes, of course, it’s worth talking to the GP and getting a referral to see a dietitian.” Where does medicinal cannabis fit? While technically medicinal cannabis, in particular cannabidiol or CBD, is not defined as a complementary medicine (due to it being a scheduled 4 medicine – currently schedule 4) there may be some confusion here, as even Mr Quigley suggests that, in some forms, “it could be”. NEW “\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[However\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\], at the end of the day, CBD and all the developments there will probably be managed by the TGA,” he said. “So, I think we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves and what role pharmacists will play, who knows? But if they play their cards correctly and if the professional organisations align themselves with patient safety, health and outcomes, there will be a big role to play in using CBD product.” References 1. IBISWorld, Australia Industry (ANZSIC) Report X0015, ‘Alternative Health Therapies in Australia’, Report by: Arna Richardson, December 2019. 2. World Health Organisation, ‘Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine’, who. int/health-topics/traditional-complementary-and- integrative-medicine#tab=tab_1 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[Accessed 8/7/20\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] 3. NICM Health Research Institute, The Science of integrative medicine, ‘Understanding Complementary and Integrative Medicine’, nicm.edu. au/health_information/information_for_consumers/ understanding_cm \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[Accessed 8/7/20\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\]. 4. TGA, ‘Complementary medicines overview’, tga.gov.au/complementary-medicines-overview \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[Accessed 6/7/20\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\]. For more on medicinal cannabis, turn to page 30. Inflamax Liquid Caps 25 is the newest product to join the expanding Inflamax muscle pain relief range and is now available to pharmacies alongside the unique Inflamax Spray, 4% w/w diclofenac spray PROMOTIONAL OFFER AVAILABLE NOW VIA ALL MAJOR WHOLESALERS To order or find out more, contact your Arrow or Apotex Sales Representative directly or call 1300 927 769 www.inflamax.com.au INFLAMAX SPRAY: ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, TALK TO YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. INFLAMAX LIQUID CAPS 25: ASK YOUR PHARMACIST – THEY MUST DECIDE IF THIS PRODUCT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. INCORRECT USE COULD BE HARMFUL. Arrow Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd. 15-17 Chapel Street Cremorne Victoria 3121. Ph 1300 927 769. ABN 33 605 909 911. Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved. www.arrowpharma.com.au Diclofenac potassium 25mg 30 soft capsules RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • AUG 2020