European style offers relief from big pharmacies
Big stores don't have the holistic touch of smaller offering
In North Deering, there is a battle of the big box pharmacies brewing. Within 500 yards of one another, both CVS and Walgreens are building new structures to take on the behemoth RiteAid and Osco Drug that are already there.
They are self-contained universes, offering beer, cigarettes and junk food to create the next wave of customers for the medications and health appliances they sell. You can also buy antifreeze, celebrity magazines and fake tan spray. They are mini WalMarts, more beacons of capitalist consumption than centers of healing.
Apothecary by Design is a radical departure from American pharmacy bloat. Located in the InterMed Building on Marginal Way since November 2008, Apothecary by Design is reminiscent of pharmacies in Europe. The shelves are stocked not with flip flops or motor oil but herbal teas, functional foods and homeopathic remedies. Catherine Cloudman, one of the pharmacy's five owners, said that ABD is "an integrated pharmacy, designed to help people see their whole health and the ways that conventional medicine and alternative therapies can work together and where they might not. We help people with the nutrient depletion that can result from some medications. Antibiotics, for example, can kill not only the bad bacteria but all bacteria, even the good ones so we teach people aboutprobiotics."
Cloudman noted that Apothecary by Design is actually four pharmacies under one roof, each with a specific clientele. In addition to the traditional retail pharmacy, there is a compounding pharmacy where they make customized formulations for individuals, such as bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. They also have a pharmacy that specializes in chronic or acute injectible medications for people who have had transplants or are seeking to overcome infertility. This specialization allows them to serve more than 50 infertility clinics throughout the United States. The fourth, and most apparent when you enter the store, is a pharmacy that focuses on nutrition, health and well-being. While supplements, vitamins and nutraceuticals can be found in most supermarkets these days,
Cloudman says that what distinguishes Apothecary by Design is the clinical support that customers get. They pay particular attention to drug and herbal interactions as well as the nutrient depletion that can come with medication and other supplements. Customers can get a consultation with a pharmacist in a private room to discuss personal questions. There is a nurse on staff for complimentary consultations for those interested in learning more, whether or not they are customers. Cloudman pointed out that Apothecary by Design has another feature that is a throw back to old-fashioned pharmacies- their version of the old soda fountain.Perx -u-Up Specialty Coffee Cafe, which coincidentally features blends from Coffee by Design.
"We're trying to create an ambiance so that people can relax and learn more about their health. We encourage people to explore the place, there's a computer out on the floor where people can do research and we have a lecture series with nationally known specialists on various topics."
"The biggest myth that people should overcome is the notion that we are more expensive. We are just as competitive and offer the service experience that you just can't get in the big box environment," she added.
The vibe is sincere and the coffee is good. It is reassuring to speak to someone with medical knowledge and respect for alternative modalities to ask about the various herbal remedies and supplements that I use. Like many European pharmacies, they keep a schedule that suggests they also know the importance of getting healthy rest: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, closed on Sunday.
(Margo Mallar is a Portland resident and Daily Sun contributor.)
