Every once in a while a company will contact me to do a give away here, but usually I’ll turn them down. If I don’t already shop at the store or buy the product I don’t feel good about sponsoring it here. But a few weeks ago a store I already shop at, Pharmaca, contacted me about doing a giveaway and I had to say Yes! Pharmaca is an integrative pharmacy that carries both mainstream pharmaceuticals as well as all natural products. For a person like me, who tries to approach our healthcare as naturally as we can, this place is a super fun place to shop. We have a Pharmaca here in Sonoma and I go every couple of months to stock up on various things our family needs. I try and only go every couple of months because it’s very easy to go on an overly indulgent shopping spree when I get inside.
Pharmaca also sent me a gift certificate so that I could purchase some things to show you. I went in over the weekend with the thought that school was starting soon and that meant colds were going to start cycling through our house very soon. Just a few weeks ago we had a cold take it’s turn going through the family, but Scott and I stopped it by taking zinc & elderberry lozenges. I bought some more at Pharmaca in a small bag to keep in my purse. These aren’t the same brand as I bought before, but the combination of zinc and elderberry is great at stopping colds, so I have every hope they’ll help us.
A lifetime ago I traveled to Tuscany to study ceramics and my roommate there was from Austria. She was in medical school to become a naturopathic doctor and she had a terrible cold. A horrible, terrible cold and her bed was just a few feet away from mine…I had three weeks left in my trip and I did not want to get that cold. She gave me some echinacea tincture drops regularly to put underneath my tongue (they absorb faster) and I never did get her cold. She gave me my first few lessons in natural health care all those years ago. I know there are other immune boosters and other ways to ingest echinacea, but I prefer to put the tincture drops under my tongue because it always reminds me of her and that dreamy time spent throwing pots in Italy.
I also am trying out this Kick it Allergy for Kids by WishGarden. Our oldest son has been hit again by allergies the past two weeks which activates his asthma. I have no idea what is in the air this time of year, but this happens every year. When I was in Pharmaca, I found two different homeopathic allergy brands that kids could take. I wasn’t sure which one to pick so I casually asked the man stocking the shelves in the children’s section for advice. He was able to give me a well informed answer and help me figure out which one would work best. You couldn’t find that kind of help from someone stocking the shelves at a mainstream drugstore! I hope it helps.
I stocked up on our favorite Badger brand sunscreen. I like them because they have really safe ingredients in them and they smell fantastic. Often we buy the Badger Kids Sunscreen and I was thinking of buying the Badger Sport Sunscreen by Pharmaca since it’s soccer season. But in thinking of an upcoming camping trip we’ll be taking I ended up getting the anti-bug sunscreen.
At the end of the trip through the store I picked up some lavender essential oil, which I had run out of and a bar of chocolate…because well…that’s health food for me!
So about the giveaway:
Pharmaca is offering one $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner. Please note that this gift certificate is good for use in-stores only, so make sure to check that there is a store near you. I’ll close the contest at 9pm pacific time Monday, August 26th and I’ll announce the winner on Tuesday, August 27th. Sound good? To enter just leave a comment below and let me know about your favorite all natural health product. All closed now, thank you!
Good Luck!
Thanks for sharing! Similar to your story about the echinacea, I was in Europe and not feeling well. I was staying at a bed & breakfast type place in Salzburg when I had some horrible things going on with my lower GI tract. I visited a doctor to no avail, but the man who owned the place I was staying in said his mother suggested chamomile tea–a pot twice a day. After a week or so my body was put to ease. I know it’s not a cure-all, but it was definitely my first experience with a natural way to cure my body.
Sign me up, I love Pharmaca!
Thank you!
Arnice to the rescue! I have always used Arnica cream for bruises. It makes them heal much faster & takes away the pain. A few years ago I also learned how effective it is for joint pain ( from to much typing, over-exercise, or when I fell & hit my knee, ouch!). It is an amazing flower that heals! I always end up giving it away to friends & family when they have an owie. (don’t use it on broken skin) I always keep some at home in my first aid kit, just in case.
I love that place (we don’t have it here though), and I’ll be in Sonoma next month, so count me in!!!
Thank you for sharing this with all of us, but because of your most recent post I’m going to have to go buy a stovetop milk frother. I didn’t know they existed, but now want one to go with my stovetop espresso maker. Anyways, we buy a lot of things at Pharmaca, but probably the item we both use the most are the Twist sponges. They work great with dishes and are 100% natural loofah. Thanks again…and fingers crossed.
Love that pharmacy. I always learn about products and discover new approaches to health there. Was just in there and ended up talking to one of the company reps giving out info about their product line. Something I had never heard about before. Opened my eyes!
I use oil of peppermint (externally) to help the clear some of the nausea associated with migraine headaches. It seems to help clear my head a little.
Great article, Kendra! You’re giving me some incentive to shop for some preventative goods for the fall. Thanks for the product recommendations. I like using Alaffia’s Everyday Shea Moisturizing Body Wash as my everyday hand soap. It’s made from Neem Leaf Extract, Handcrafted Shea Butter Soap, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sucrose, Essential Oil and/or Vanilla Extract. Love the Vanilla Mint scent. And 10% of the sales are given to community empowerment programs in West Africa.
We live in Lake County just north of Sonoma (we’re in Sonoma County several times a month), and would love that gift certificate! It’s hard to just pick one natural health product.. I’m currently 7 1/2 months pregnant with our first child and I’ve been going through sweet almond oil like crazy to soothe my itchy belly skin (tmi? lol). I’ve also been loving the lavender essential oil in my homemade deodorant and lotion..ahhh, relaxing!
I’m so curious to find out if that kick it allergy medication works. My fiance has year round allergies and we’ve yet to find anything to make him feel better (other than ultra-cleanliness in the house and air filters). My favorite, all-natural health product is an anti-viral tea blend I get from a farm in Placerville, CA. I actually order their products through Etsy, you can find them by searching for owensacres on the site. 😉
Pharmaca is wonderful! And yes, I have to restrain myself whenever I visit as there are so many interesting and beneficial products. Those zinc-elderberry lozenges sound good, I’ll definitely have to pick up some of those to keep ahead of all the coming bugs. Hope the allergy supplements work for you, and good luck with the new school year (yay)!
Thank you for doing the giveaway! My favorite natural health remedy is very simple: honey! Honey is a natural antiseptic so I put it on cuts and scrapes in lieu of an antibacterial cream. It keeps the wounds clean, helps them heal quickly and is entirely natural. And, of course, honey is one of the foods that never spoils so you can also keep a jar in the cupboard and just use a little now and then!
I really like using candida albicans drops…they are perfect for fighting my acne, especially after enjoying a plate of pasta.
I love Pharmica. I buy my vitamin E oil that I put in the lotion recipe I got from you!!!!
I had no idea Pharmaca existed until this post so I will definitely check one out soon. My best loved health product is coconut oil. I keep one jar in my bathroom for oil pulling and moisturizing and another jar in my kitchen to cook with. I love that I have been able to replace so many products with just one.
Sounds awesome, thanks for sharing! I really like using essential oil blends. My favorite one right now is called Deep Relief and is a great help with tension and headaches.
I have been using Vibrant Health Joint Vibrance for my knees and arthritis! really works and they tell me it sells great there at Pharmaca.
I want to enter.
I would have to say that my favorite item would be tea tree oil. I use it all the time on me and the animals.
Thanks
I also love Pharmaca’s chocolate selection. The dark chocolate, almonds and sea salt Chocolate Love bar is at the top of my “natural products” list.
I have so many favorites it is hard to choose just one. But I have to say that aside from the essential oils which I love, Citricidal is the thing I would rely on the most if I had to choose just one thing. It is good for both bacterial and viral illnesses.
I see endangered species chocolate in your picture…if that is a health product, it’s definitely my favorite!
my favorite health product are probiotics, like MegaFood MegaFlora Plus and Florastor
We love tea tree oil for keeping our laundry clean and fresh-smelling, for keeping our diaper pail fresh, and for acne back when that was a problem
We LOVE LOVE LOVE organic coconut oil, for recipes, for dry skin, hair care, skin irritations, as a carrier for other oils and fragrances and for making lotions.
I have never been to this store – but it looks like it is right up my alley – love the essential oils and also a big arnica fan — but guess my favorites would be sleepy time teas — anything with those ingredients that help me get a good night sleep!
sweet give-a-way. thanks, i have not heard of pharmaca.
regina
My favorite natural healthcare product is garlic mullien drops. They help prevent and relieve ear infections. Just a drop in each ear at bed time, when a cold comes on. My daughter is 3 and has still never had one. Yay!
I love dandelion tincture!
Arnica (in all forms) is a must have in our medicine box. My children use it, I use and we’ve even been know to use the cream on achy, old dog joints!! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks for a great offer!
I use ledum homeopathic remedy for insect bites, especially bee stings! Also use echinacea to boost immune system in our cat who has lupus.
So many to choose from. From Dr. Bronners to nettles and echinacea. SO versatile and wonderful for the body!
Raw apple cider vinegar does wonders! I also love essential oils and use them in healing/soothing salves
Hello from neighboring Petaluma! Love reading your sweet blog.
One of my many favorite things is jojoba oil. I rub it in all over while I am still damp from the shower, it ‘s a miracle for my very dry facial skin. It goes into the soaps and lotions I make. I’ll rub it into my hair on those crazy frizzy days. Love it!
We’ve been trying our best to use all natural healthcare remedies whenever possible. It has been fun to learn more about all the amazing things that essential oils can do. We also use arnica gel for all the bumps and bruises we get. Thanks for sharing your ideas as well!
Yes, Please … Pharmaca is great!