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Over 70 percent of young Australian girls would rather fail a class subject than have their peers know they have their period. This is outrageous.Its time we eliminate the shame and stigma surrounding a natural bodily function that over half the world's population experience at some point in their lifetime.In this special episode of the Dispensary Discussion, we welcome out first ever guest, Allie Xu, to discuss this worrying statistic, and to help us promote the #periodpride movement, which aims to normalize the conversation around women's menstrual cycles.Allie is an accredited consultant pharmacist and certified holistic health and life coach at The Chinese Medicine Pharmacist, founder of the Global Pharmacy Entrepreneur Network, and winner of this years health promotion Hack-A-Thon at the University of Queensland. Her project aims to raise awareness of the Australian-based charity, Share The Dignity, that provides education and period products to women that are homeless, at-risk, and those experience domestic violence. Their ambition is to reduce the shame and stigma surrounding menstruation. Allie explains what we can do to support this amazing cause, as well as why education surrounding this issue is paramount.Over the course of time, cultures around the world have treated menstruation very uniquely. We discuss what was the normal practice for that time and place, as well as trying to understand the reasoning behind these practices. Most importantly, we explain what is normal. Too many women are unaware of what is classed as normal regarding menstruation, and are too embarrassed to talk about it with their peers. Lets remove this social stigma and start the conversation to help normalize menstruation. #periodprideEpisode written and recorded by Dale Richardson and Tracy DevlinSpecial Guest Allie XuMusic by Shades of Grey

Thanks to two Australian researchers, the discovery of a little known bacteria has suddenly thrust major gastrointestinal diseases into the spotlight. Despite winning them a Nobel Prize in Medicine, the medical community were skeptical at first about the devastation this bacteria could cause in humans, and it wasn't until a self-sacrifice took place that it really gained traction.We now know the links between Helicobacter Pylori and gastric ulcer, gastric cancers and the more common GORD/GERD, and Dale and Tracy run help explain where this bacteria comes from, and what exactly it does to our gastrointestinal tract. Evidence suggests this has been around for over 50,000 years, but thankfully in Western medicine, it is deemed an endangered species (yes, that exists for bacteria). But why is it so common in other cultures without causing significant illness? Join us for a look at the hardy bacteria that is seen as a major contributor to health costs around the globe. Episode written and Recorded by Dale Richardson and Tracy DevlinMusic by Shades of Grey 

Its a tiny, walnut sized gland that can cause so many problems. So why do men put up with prostate issues?Men are notoriously bad at looking after their own health, with excuses ranging from being time poor, to the outrageous excuse that they don't like hearing bad news. The importance of looking after your health cannot be understated in men, and issues surrounding the prostate is a great example of getting things checked regularly to avoid future issues.There are many different issues men can face with the prostate, ranging from infection through to cancer, and if screened appropriately and regularly, can be managed easily. Dale and Tracy run through some common issues surrounding the prostate, as well as treatments available to help manage the condition. They even might be able to alleviate some fears associated with getting regular checks!Women are constantly getting checked for breast cancer and cervical cancer through screening, so why do men avoid it like the plague? Its time to man-up, look after your health and get your prostate checked regularly to avoid being one of the statistics. Episode Written and recorded by Dale Richardson and Tracy DevlinMusic by Shades of Grey

Anaemia (or anemia) affects more than half a million Australians each year, and varies greatly from person to person. Yet, it is a condition that is often so easily fixed. So why is it such a burden on our health system? From missed days at work, continual pathology tests, right down to treatments requiring infusions, anaemia is often a huge financial cost to the population, yet often overlooked as a main cause of fatigue and shortness of breath. There are many types of anaemia, from Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Pernicious Anaemia, and even Haemolytic Anaemia, and Dale and Tracy run through the causes of these, what happens to our bodies when it occurs, and what we can do about it to ensure it can be resolved. It is also considered one of the main requests in community pharmacy for self-treatment, despite the potential underlying health conditions causing this issue.  Our red blood cells are vital to our ability in transporting oxygen on its haemoglobin, and a diagnosis of anaemia is often an early warning sign of something much more sinister.  ** Anemia - US spellingEpisode Written by Dale Richardson and Tracy DevlinMusic by Shades of Grey

Being health care professionals, Dale and Tracy get asked multiple questions every flu season about this common virus. A lot are easy, while some are more difficult, but debunking myths surrounding the flu vaccine is a field Dale has worked in in the past. In today's episode, they promised they would be back to explain Influenza vaccines, and they have delivered.How companies make flu vaccines is one of the most commonly asked questions. From selection of strain, to manufacturing, and further onto distribution and administration, they go through each step to help you understand why it is so important to get your flu shot each year, and why you can trust the process inside out to ensure you protect yourself and your family this flu season. Not everyone will agree with getting the flu shot, but it is, and has remained, the best protection against the seasonal flu since its inception over 70 years ago. There are many examples of fake evidence being thrown around, so let Dale and Tracy ease your mind on why they choose to vaccinate themselves against the Flu each year.

Its amazing to think that just over 100 years ago, humans had not discovered the crucial role insulin plays in our body. From metabolizing carbohydrates, fats and proteins, to ensuring the balance of our blood sugar levels remains constant to support our body. We have gone through an amazing process of theory, discovery, utilization and now optimization of this amazing peptide hormone that provides a new lease of life to people with Diabetes mellitus, and we should celebrate this marvel of science that resulted in a Nobel Prize in medicine for their discoverers. Join Dale and Tracy as they tell the story of the discovery of insulin, how it was first used in humans, and the types of insulin analogues we have on the market today. Each analogue has its own unique characteristics that provides patients requiring insulin the flexibility in their management of their chronic disease, and they explain why each brand of insulin is different, and why some will work for people and others wont. 

Everyone gets sick, and Its normal to experience multiple infections per year. Whether it is a cold or the flu, we often put these in the same category despite there being significant differences. Most of the time we just want to feel better and to get over the illness quickly, but how can we do this safely, yet effectively? And why do we need to show our drivers licence to get a box of pseudoephedrine? Join Dale and Tracy as they break down the similarities and differences between the common cold and the seasonal flu, as well as offering evidence for and against the use of natural remedies to help you beat the Winter blues. 

It's our largest organ in the body and yet it is one that can have so many complications if not looked after properly. Our skin is the first natural barrier for our immune system, but what happens if we don't look after it properly?In this episode, Dale and Tracy explain why it is important to look after our skin, as well as offering advice on ways to improve the integrity of our skin. They also explain two very common, yet manageable, skin conditions (contact dermatitis and psoriasis) and how these occur within the body and what to do to avoid complications surrounding these.With Winter just around the corner in the southern hemisphere, now is the most important time to ensure our skin is looked after, as there are many complications that can arise from poor skin management. They want to ensure you love the skin you're in!

One of the most important facets of your health is sleep. We all know how important sleep is, as it has been driven into us from a very young age. But what happens when it goes wrong? Are there consequences of poor sleep? Not only can it make you feel tired and lethargic, but there are a significant amount of health complications linked to poor sleep quality as well as a reduced duration of sleep. From links to higher body weight, greater risks of stroke and heart disease through to larger incidences of depressive episodes. In this episode, Dale and Tracy explore how important sleep is, as well as explaining the many different sleep conditions that people may experience in their lifetime. Additionally, they run down the natural remedies hypothesized to help as they are often overwhelming due to the choices available, while some hints and tips are shared to ensure the Sandman will pay you a visit tonight. 

Since the scourge of SARS-CoV-2 was brought upon the world last December, researchers have been racing to find a treatment or a vaccine that will help us all get back to normality. There have been many therapies touted from day dot, but some have been showing more promise than others, while some politicians and health leaders insist on unproven drugs for everyone. So what are researchers looking in to? Join Dale and Tracy as they outline some of the major drugs and treatments that are being trialed at the moment, as well as the current state of play in regards to their evidence. Not all of them are showing promise, even ones that were deemed "a gift from god" less than 2 months ago

We have all been asked it in the past; "Will you take a generic medicine?" Well, why should we? Dale and Tracy explain how generic medicines work, how they come to market and why you can be sure it is exactly the same as the original brand. There is a bigger game at play in the economics of the healthcare system, and we break it down to show you why you should, and everyone should, get generic medicines where possible. And no, you are not allergic to that brand......

There is no denying the burden that the opioid epidemic has placed on healthcare systems around the world, but how do we stop the rot? Join Dale and Tracy as they explain potential solutions that have been floated to help fix the opioid epidemic problem, as well as evaluating some interventions that have been initiated already. 

With the spread of SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, around the world, it is a perfect time to reflect on past pandemics and the outcome from these. Join Dale and Tracy as they discuss the potential for pandemics to get out of control, as well as explain how public health experts try and curb the explosion of cases. 

We have all heard of viruses, but what exactly are they? and why are they able to cause such devastation to the human race? Join Dale and Tracy as they discuss what makes a virus work, how they spread from human to human, and why they really are the biggest jerks in nature. 

The opioid epidemic is a significant burden on families, relationships and our health systems. But how did this start? and what exactly are opioids and why are they so dangerous? Join Dale and Tracy as they explain the mechanisms of how opioids cause such significant problems, as well as the beginnings of the opioid epidemic. 

Brief Introduction to our NEW podcast! Join Dale and Tracy every Thursday as we delve into the pharmaceutical landscape to bring you the best and up-to-date information about various pharmacy topics. From how to manage your skin condition, to commentary on the opioid crisis seen in the US and spreading across the world, this podcast is aimed at providing you a better understanding on the happenings in the world of pharmacy