Italian Medicines For Common Ailments

[Sally Donaldson]

I'm wondering if this could be made a sticky eventually. Following on from Gala's Australian Flu thread and her advice to get yourself a vaccination against the awful virus, http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/hea...flu-italy.html I wonder if we could all get together and draw up a list of medicines for common ailments that newcomers to Italy could ask for by name in the chemist's

I can think of one very important one for too much activity in the intense summer heat and the subsequent need to replenish one's mineral reserves and hopefully prevent cramping, and that is Polase. You can buy it either in liquid form or as tablets.

[katier]

Good idea - for this season, off the top of my head - TACHIPIRINA - paracetamol (but bring in bulk from the UK, much cheaper!) and TACHIFLU DEC which is pretty much the same thing as lemsip.
TANTUM VERDE is a spray for sore throats.
OK, off to have a look in my medicine cabinet, have a mental block...

[Gala Placidia]

I already gave this information in another thread; however, it is worth repeating it:
"Gocce occulari Care for You", excellent eye drops made by Bouty S.p.a. from Milan and available at supermarkets. They contain distilled thyme and chamomille water. Very refreshing.
It is also very important to have at home a full first aid kit available from chemists and even supermarkets.

[juliancoll]

Originally Posted by Sally Donaldson

I can think of one very important one for too much activity in the intense summer heat and the subsequent need to replenish one's mineral reserves and hopefully prevent cramping, and that is Polase. You can buy it either in liquid form or as tablets.

You keep singing the praises of Polase and I keep telling you that Polase has high magnesium and potassium content and is used for the treatment of neuroses and psychoorganic syndromes which are progressive diseases similar to presenile dementia!

Polase is also used as an anti-fatigue stimulent, so if this really is the effect you want, then you should probably try something called "Supradyn" instead, or even a spoonful of sugar. (always helps the medicine go down)

Mind you, I supose you know best how to self medicate your ailments.

[Sally Donaldson]

Polase was recommended to me for cramping J+C which I suffer terribly from occasionally. Yes of course it will contain high amounts of magnesium and potassium but I am not taking it day in day out. In moderation, and it helps.

[Gala Placidia]

An excellent disinfectant for cuts, wounds, etc. widely sold in Italy is "Amukine Med"
A word of warning regarding other products. Talk to your chemist before buying anything and give him/her a list of the medication you are currently taking. Avoid nasty side effects.

[Carole B]

Originally Posted by Gala Placidia

An excellent disinfectant for cuts, wounds, etc. widely sold in Italy is "Amukine Med"
A word of warning regarding other products. Talk to your chemist before buying anything and give him/her a list of the medication you are currently taking. Avoid nasty side effects.

Brava Gala - that's about the most sensible piece of advice so far on what could be an absolute minefield of expensive, unprescribed medicines!

[Gala Placidia]

This is not a commercial medication sold over the counter, but it is an excellent totally natural cough syrup which will not cause any harm to anyone. Many times, people with heart conditions cannot take commercial cough syrups because they contain some products which will be dangerous used in conjunction with your normal medication. Here is the recipe:

COUGH SYRUP TO TREAT BRONCHITIS AND OTHER RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS

INGREDIENTS:

1 cooking apple whole and cut into 8 pieces
15 dried figs previously opened
250 grams thyme honey

Boil the apple pieces with the figs and the honey for 10 minutes.
Remove from the stove and allow to cool down.
Strain and put the mixture into a glass bottle.

POSOLOGY:

Take 2 teaspoons previously mixed with some hot water 4 times a day.

Figs have been known since ancient times for their expectorant and emolient properties.

[Nielo]

Perhaps it would be better to learn how to describe symptoms in Italian rather than request medicines. I know that pharmacists are well qualified and If I go to one and say I have a sore throat (mal di gola) they will usually recommend something.

[Gala Placidia]

Good idea, Nielo. Perhaps we could start one of those word games using health vocabulary as a topic. I do not think it has been done before..... Correct me if I'm wrong.