What is swimmer’s ear? Swimmer’s ear, also called tropical ear or otitis externa, is an infection in the outer ear canal normally caused by excess moisture in the canal. Swimmer’s…
Almost 2 years into the Covid-19 pandemic the boundary lines in Queensland have begun to shift. Borders have recently opened and restrictions have begun for those who are not vaccinated.…
The Difference Between the Astrazeneca, Pfizer & Moderna Vaccinations
Confused about the different Coronavirus vaccines? A lot of people are. The first confusing part is the name given to the virus. We have a habit of referring to the…
Period pain, or menstrual cramps, are very common with most women experiencing symptoms at some point in their life. A 2016 study found that as many as 88% of women…
Top Products to Help With Easing Seasonal Allergies
Hay fever (or allergic rhinitis) affects around 18% of people in Australia. This includes sufferers of seasonal allergies (triggers such as pollen or grass) and perennial allergies (triggers include dust,…
Where to Start With Finding Reliable Coronavirus Information
As our country opens its domestic and international borders, it seems like there may be light at the end of this very long Coronavirus tunnel. But many people also have…
12 Reasons Why Everyone Should Be Using Calanna’s Click & Collect
Your Calanna Wholehealth Pharmacies are always looking for ways to make managing your medications easier. We know life is busy. MedAdvisor is an app which makes managing your medications so…
Our pharmacies are open late and even throughout the weekend. We pride ourselves on being able to help when you can’t reach your doctor. So what kinds of things can…
Last year Australia had dramatically lower numbers of influenza cases than in previous years. There’s been a lot of discussion around what factors led to this, but it is quite…
5 ways to stay healthy this flu season With all the concern around coronavirus over the last two years, we have almost forgotten about influenza. But in 2019, 900 Australians…
No one plans to get sick or injured. Here are 11 Pharmacy Essentials we recommend. Calanna Pharmacies are open late at night and into the weekend so we’re here when…
Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have repeated episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the throat (also known as "pharynx" or "upper airway") during sleep. During sleep, a person's throat…
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. The same mosquito also transmits three other vector-borne diseases: Dengue Chikungunya and Yellow fever – across tropical and subtropical…
Ross River Fever virus is the most important representative of the alphavirus genus which is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes. This virus is named after the Ross River in North Queensland.…
Hendra virus is a type of rare zoonotic disease. It can be passed from an infected horse to a human. The virus is named after the location where it was…
Do you have a natural food chemical allergy or intolerance?
Food intolerance is a general term used to describe an adverse reaction to certain types of foods. An intolerance to Salicylates is a relatively common condition which can be managed…
Smoking is the action of inhaling and emitting smoke or a visible vapour whilst burning tobacco. People smoke for many different reasons: peer pressure, social activity or addiction to substances…
Most people who smoke become addicted to the nicotine content in tobacco. When you try to quit you will experience a craving for nicotine which causes withdrawal symptoms. There are…
The skin is a tough supple membrane which covers the entire surface of the body. The structure of the skin Skin is divided into three layers: EPIDERMIS: a thin cellular,…
Testing for allergies is used to determine whether a person has an allergy and what substance is causing their symptoms. Allergy tests Skin prick testing involves placing a small amount…
Subconjuctival Haemorrhages occur when there is bleeding into the tissue beneath the outer membrane of the eye. They appear as a bright red area that is localised to the white part…
Cleaning a wound It is important to clean the wound well to prevent infection: e.g. wash wound with tap water to remove any dirt and grit. A sterile swab can be…
Wound Dressings are used to cover wounds and are divided into different types depending on the type of wound. A Wound Dressing should provide a moist environment at the wound surface…
EAR (Expired Air Resuscitation) is used when a person has stopped breathing (respiratory arrest). CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is necessary when the patient has no heart beat (cardiac arrest). EAR and…
A sore throat is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. It can often make it painful to swallow. Viral infections are the most common cause of sore throats. Antibiotics…
Acne is a chronic inflammatory condition resulting in pustular skin eruptions (pimples) which occur most commonly on the face, neck, shoulders and upper back. Your skin has tiny holes called pores, which can become…
MyDNA tests to determine best medication for your body
Pain relief answers may be a simple as a mouth swab New research carried out by genetic interpretation company myDNA reveals that more than 1 in 3 people have turned…
Supplements and Exercise - the science behind it. Exercise is vital for good physical and emotional well being. It improves our sleep, maintains weight or increases weight loss, lowers the…
DNA analysis is a growing field of science. New evidence comes to light every day about the meaning of specific genes results, and how they can help guide our lifestyle…
It's already a drier than expected September with no heavy rain forecast for the foreseeable future - the perfect weather for bush fires which bring the dangers of bush fire…
Courtesy of INSIDER.com Myths About Sugar busted. MYTH 1: Some types of sugar are better for you than others FACT: All "types" of sugar have the same effect on your…
This year has been a rollercoaster ride. There’s been so many ups and downs. We’ve all had to learn new skills, new terminology, new ways to interact and maintain relationships.…
Why it’s so important to choose one pharmacy, and stick to it!
Written by Emma Davies, Calanna Pharmacist I know people get tired of being told to choose one pharmacy. But you wouldn’t see a different doctor every month, would you? I’ve…
5 things you can do to improve your heart’s health naturally
The cardiovascular (CV) System plays a fundamental role in our body by pumping blood through the heart and delivering oxygen and nutrients to our organs via our blood vessels. High…
Calanna Pharmacy founder Mario Calanna is celebrating 50 years in Pharmacy. Here's what he had to say when we asked him about the most interesting changes he's encountered in Pharmacy…
A chronic (persistent) cough is defined as lasting eight weeks or longer in adults or four weeks in children. Description A persistent cough may be caused by: A long-term airway infection,…
A food allergy is an allergic response to particular foods or food additives. Eating or drinking an allergenic substance is the common cause of allergic reaction. In some highly sensitive people…
The Pelvic Floor Muscles are a group of muscles that help support the uterus, bowel and bladder and the passages that lead out of the body - the vagina from the…
Asthma is a condition that causes sensitivity of the airways in the lungs. When exposed to certain triggers these airways narrow, making it hard to breathe. When a person with asthma comes…
A cold, or upper respiratory tract infection, is the most common cause of illness in children and adults. Most colds are caused by a virus. A cold is a mild viral infection…
Dry skin occurs when the outermost layer of the skin is lacking moisture or sebum. The skin is a vital area of the body and is responsible for the elimination…
The first COVID-19 Testing Facility has been opened in Cairns to try and prevent the spread of the virus. This is one of 100 Australian Government-funded GP-led respiratory clinics which…
Why you should make Calanna Pharmacy your Pharmacy
Hopefully, I’ve convinced you by now that choosing one pharmacy to get all your medications from is the best option for your health. But, why choose Calanna? We focus on forward…
Why it’s important to choose one pharmacy, and stick to it!
When I was a fresh faced Pharmacist, only a few months after getting registered, I worked in a small pharmacy in the bottom level of a renovated town house. One…
'Sleep' and 'stress' are 2 words that are spoken about a lot this year. The uncertainty, isolation from loved ones and the financial strain for a lot of people has spiked…
If you are a migraine sufferer, you might ask yourself; "what are some of the things I can do to help my migraine burden?" Here are some strategies that may…
The debilitating pain of a migraine is very common with more than three million cases in Australia. Migraine's are the most frequent type of headache in children. It's a multifactorial…
It is estimated that 1 in 4 Australians will die due to Cardiovascular Disease. The heart plays a very important role in our body. By pumping blood it helps deliver…
Menopause is a different experience for every woman. Symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats are widely recognised as being a typical symptom but there are other less obvious…
Bedwetting: everything parent’s need to know from causes to treatments
Bedwetting is one of those unspoken trials most families endure but don’t talk about. But it’s a conversation we should be having - because it is totally normal! Almost a…
We are well and truly into Summer so here are some top tips from our Wholehealth team to get you through this scorching time of year! Stay hydrated Water is…
Why exercise is crucial for managing mental health
The benefits of exercise extend well beyond improving your physical health providing enormous advantages for your mental health. Exercise stimulates chemicals in your brain that improve your mood and the…
As mothers we can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect – to know everything there is to know about parenting, children's health and development because we…
3 supplements to help you achieve your health goals
Exercise is vital for good physical and emotional well being. It; improves our sleep maintains weight or increases weight loss lowers the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes helps…
Do you know how to prevent and treat lice if they end up in your home this year? Interesting facts Head Lice CANNOT live or breed on animals, clothes, toys,…
What is reflux? Your stomach is an organ between your oesophagus and small intestine and this is where the digestion of protein begins. Here food mixes with stomach acid, which…
There are many factors that can cause skin irritations and allergies. Some of the factors include heat, immune system disorders, medication and infections. We’ll be looking at the symptoms and…
What is magnesium? Magnesium is one of the most essential minerals for optimal body function. We like to call it the “Magnificent Mineral” and its usefulness is indeed “Magical”. Magnesium…
WHAT ARE ANTIOXIDANTS? Antioxidants are compounds that neutralise free radicals. A Free Radical is a molecule that has lost a part of its structure and is therefore unbalanced. This is…
Prickly Heat, also commonly known as Heat Rash, is caused by blocked sweat glands. Babies and children can also get prickly heat rash in hot weather because their sweat glands…
7 tips on how to manage taking multiple medications
Medication management is not something many people consider. But given how many people lose scripts, can’t remember what they take or simply forget their daily medications I know it’s an…
The risks of taking 5 or more different medications
There’s no doubt in the medical community that patients who take more than 5 medications need to be closely monitored. It doesn’t seem like a lot of medications, and there…
How DNA testing can help you reach your health goals
Have you ever trained hard at something only to have a friend outperform you with little to no training? I know some people who can run a marathon with only…
We are constantly being told to stay active and workout regularly but what does that mean? Did you know there are 4 different types of exercise you should be doing…
Immunity is the ability of our body to resist harmful microorganisms. If you are a Star Wars Fan you can imagine Our Immune System is like a Jedi Knight, being…
1. Re-current Cold’s & Flu Are you getting multiple colds or viruses throughout the year? Just as one cold goes you feel like you’re coming down with another. If your…
Recently we talked about some common signs of low energy. Here are 8 things you can do to increase your energy levels. 1. Check your sleep Most adults need between…
This year has been a rollercoaster ride. There’s been so many ups and downs. We’ve all had to learn new skills, new terminology, new ways to interact and maintain relationships.…
Eat a healthy varied diet You don’t need to be keto or vegan to have a healthy diet. Fill your fridge with plenty of fruit and vegetables and make sure…
Osteoporosis is a condition of the skeletal system, mainly caused by the body’s attempt to correct an unhealthy biochemical imbalance - by utilizing the calcium that should normally remain in…
Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia. It affects one in every seven Australians over the age of 50 and the incidence increases…
Dear Matthew, What can I ask my pharmacist? Don’t be afraid to ask your pharmacist any question about your health and medicine. We have face to face dispensing to encourage…
The main difference between a Doctor and a Pharmacist
Dear Matthew, what’s the main difference between a doctor and a pharmacist? For any minor medical concerns, your pharmacist is always a great place to start. We can let you…
Dear Matthew, What should I look for in a pharmacy? You should look for one that has pharmacist who’s experienced and understands your family’s needs. Face to face dispensing is…
Dear Matthew, how can I get the most out of my medication? Make sure you’re taking the right medicine and the right dose, at the right time. Our Medication Packing…
5 reasons why it’s so important to choose one Pharmacy
Dear Matthew, why is it so important to choose one pharmacy? By choosing only one, your family is in safer hands. Why? All of your medication data will be in…
Drink Water Your skin is 65% water so when you’re under-hydrated, it will show in your skin very quickly. If you have trouble drinking enough water each day, carry a…
What your body is trying to tell you through your skin condition
For centuries, physicians have identified many signs in the skin that give clues as to what’s going on inside your body. Some of these signs can indicate that some changes…
Eczema is an intensely itchy, inflammatory disease of the skin. The skin is thick, dry and often overgrown by bacteria such as staphlycoccus aureus. The different types of Eczema have different distinguishing markings…
You may have heard the Buzz lately about ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’, and ‘The Mother’? Vinegar (made from fermented fruits), has been around for a very long time – dating back…
