Community Pharmacy and Herbal Medicines

Essential Drugs & Community Pharmacy

• Botika ng Barangay/ Botika ng Bayan: government-run pharmacies providing low-priced generic medicines, over-the-counter drugs, and selected prescription antibiotics.
• RA 6675: Generics Act of 1988: promotes affordable and accessible medicines.
• Oplan Walang Reseta Program: enables nurses to prescribe generic medicines when doctors are unavailable.
• Walong Wastong Gamot Program: provides a list of essential generic medications.
• Dr. Alfredo Bengzon: considered the "Father of the Generics Act" for advocating for accessible and affordable drugs in the Philippines.

Herbal Medicines

• LUBBY SANTA: a mnemonic to remember commonly used herbal medicines.
• Lagundi: alleviates respiratory issues.
• Ulasimang Bato: for uric acid.
• Bawang: used for hypertension and toothache.
• Bayabas: helps clean wounds.
• Yerba Buena: for bites and bleeding.
• Sambong: for urinary issues.
• Ampalaya: helps manage diabetes.
• Niyogniyogan: used to treat roundworms and pinworms.

Medicinal Plant Preparation

• Decoction: boiling plant material in water for 20 minutes.
• Infusion: soaking plant material in hot water for 10-15 minutes.
• Poultice: applying plant material directly to the affected area, typically used for bruises, wounds, and rashes.
• Tincture: mixing plant material in alcohol.

Nutrition

• Food as a Basic Need: Food is essential for a healthy family.
• Malnutrition as a Problem: Malnutrition is a significant concern in the country.
• Macronutrient Malnutrition: lack of essential food groups in large quantities.
• Marasmus: deficiency in carbohydrates and proteins.
  • Manifestations: thin, wrinkled skin; prominent ribs, “old man” face.
• Kwashiorkor: deficiency in proteins while having sufficient carbohydrates.
  • Manifestations: thin extremities, edema, moon face, ascites, thin sparse hair.
• Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF): peanut butter with added nutrients used for treatment.
• Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC): used to assess malnutrition in children under five years old.
• Junk Foods: low in nutrients and contribute to malnutrition.
• Food Fortification Program: adding essential nutrients to commercial foods to address nutritional deficiencies.
  • RA 8976: Food Fortification Law: mandates the fortification of commercial foods with micronutrients.
• Sangkap Pinoy: a program promoting food fortification, including salt iodization, and mandatory fortification of staple foods.
• Supplements:
  • Vitamin A (Retinol): commonly administered to children for deficiency prevention.
  • Iron Deficiency Anemia: treated with iron supplements for children under five years old.
• Iodine Deficiency Disease:
  • Target Age Group: 0-59 months.
  • Treatment: 1 capsule (200mg) of potassium iodate oil administered once a year.
  • Consequences: mental retardation, growth retardation (cretinism pedia) and dwarfism.
  • RA 8172: Asin Law (Salt Iodization): mandates the use of iodized salt.
  • "PATAK" sa ASIN: a program where DOH workers check markets for iodine in salt through a reagent that changes color to blue-violet if iodized.
  • RA 832: Rice Fortification: FVR (Fortified Vitamin Rice).

Communicable Diseases

• Tuberculosis:
  • Causative Agent: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium bovis.
  • Mode of Transmission: airborne, droplets, or contact.
  • Incubation Period: 4 to 6 weeks (adults), 2 to 10 weeks (children).
  • Pathognomonic Sign: Hemoptysis (blood-tinged sputum).
  • Treatment: Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS).
  • Intensive Phase (2 months): Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide.
  • Maintenance Phase (4 months): Isoniazid, Rifampicin.
  • Extrapulmonary TB Management (EPTB): for children.
  • Intensive Phase (2 months): Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Streptomycin.
  • Maintenance Phase (10 months): Isoniazid, Rifampicin.
  • Prevention: BCG vaccination, health education, improved social conditions, examination facilities, public health outreach services, home supervision of patients.

Environmental Health

• Definition: study of preventing illness by managing the environment and changing behavior to reduce exposure to disease-causing agents.
• Environmental Sanitation: examining factors in the physical environment that impact health and survival.
• EOHO (Environment and Occupational Health Office): responsible for policies on:
  • Approved Types of Water Supply Facilities:
    • Level 1: Point Source: outlet, no pipe distribution, 40-140 L/minute, serves 15-25 households, within 250 meters.
• RA 9275: Clean Water Act of 2004: underscores the importance of safe water.