Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy opening in Monterey on Friday, February 22nd
Company brings green pharmacy ”take back” program to the local community


MONTEREY, Calif. (February 12, 2008) – Combining preventative health care with top-notch customer service, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy will open its newest store in Monterey on Friday, February 22nd at 570 Munras Avenue. Pharmaca offers full prescription filling services, over-the-counter and alternative medications, as well as natural beauty products and unique gifts. The 4,000 square feet store will also provide Monterey's residents with a pharmaceutical “take back” program to help prevent common medications from entering local waterways.

To offer the community a variety of activities and special offers, Pharmaca's grand opening weekend will include the following health-oriented events:

  • Complimentary health screenings
  • Makeovers and demonstrations of natural beauty products
  • Complimentary chair massages
  • Numerous free samples
  • Gift with purchase of $50 or more
  • Raffle of wellness gift baskets


As a valuable addition to its everyday environmental initiatives, Pharmaca is partnering with the non-profit Teleosis Institute at the Monterey location to offer a “take back” program. Studies have shown that 80 percent of waterways tested in the U.S. contain traces of common medications. Customers will be able to bring in expired or unused medicine to Pharmaca’s pharmacy for proper disposal. Program participants will also be rewarded with a $1 coupon for every bottle returned.

Not your average pharmacy, Pharmaca differentiates itself by employing certified specialists to provide advice and assistance to shoppers. Naturopathic doctors, licensed estheticians and certified herbalists, homeopaths, nutritionists and pharmacists are consistently available for complimentary consultations.

Natural and organic body care sales grew 13% last year[1]. Answering the expanding demand, Pharmaca stores devote a special section to personal care and natural beauty, including a wide array of safe cosmetics and beauty products with natural and organic ingredients. High-end merchandise and exclusive spa lines fill the shelves. A beauty bar, complete with a sink, mirror and supplies, is also available for customer use.

Pharmaca’s full service pharmacy fills prescriptions from any provider and accepts most insurance plans. The integrative pharmacists provide customer consultations on drug/herb interactions and drug-induced nutrient depletions. Special compounding services are also available for general, pediatric and veterinary prescriptions.

“We are excited to extend our refreshingly customer-focused approach toward health care to the Monterey community,” says Barry Perzow, CEO and founder of Pharmaca. “We look forward to introducing the neighborhood to the benefits of traditional and natural medicine in one location, and to the expertise of our knowledgeable and licensed staff for all their needs,” he added.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine(NCCAM)[2], 36 percent of American adults aged 18 years and over use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Often, however, consumers must fill their prescriptions in different places, and may find it difficult to access customized services such as compounding. Recognizing the strengths of housing traditional medicine and CAM under one roof, Pharmaca has revolutionized the concept of pharmacy in an environment that emphasizes patient advocacy and preventative health care.


About Pharmaca
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Inc., founded in June 2000 and based in Boulder, Colo., is the first chain to combine traditional pharmacy services and over-the-counter medications with natural health and beauty products and expert consultation in nutrition, naturopathic medicine and safe body care. The company owns 19 pharmacies in five states: Boulder, Colo. (3); Berkeley, La Jolla, Irvine, Los Gatos, Mill Valley, Monterey, Napa, Novato, Pacific Palisades, Sonoma and San Francisco, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M.; and Seattle, Wash. (2). For more information, visit www.pharmaca.com


[1] The Natural Foods Merchandiser, January 2008, pg. 46


[2] Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R. CDC Advance Data Report #343. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults: United States, 2002. May 27, 2004.




Contact:
Alexis Speros
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy
303-867-3121
asperos@pharmaca.com

Contact:
Jen Marshall
The Fresh Ideas Group
303-449-2108 ext. 18
jen@freshideasgroup.com





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