There is a company that I used to order from regularly (but when I quit working, could no longer afford). http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/main?shopId=PAR All of the things they sell are made from all natural botanical ingredients, and are mildly scented so they don't do nasty things to my sinuses. I love everything they make. My particular favorites are the organic oats soap and hand cream, and the repair lotion and balm. They go on super smooth and absorb instantly.
I'll make my own solid lotions but I haven't tried to make my own balms or ointments.
Yet.
Do you have any recipes or links to instructions for this? I have always wanted to try making salves, soaps, oils, etc… I think it would be fun and soothing to try.
Sunny said:
I’ll make my own solid lotions but I haven’t tried to make my own balms or ointments.
Yet.
I don’t know how many people know about this, but you can actually negotiate with your pharmacist. I have gone to several different pharmacies did price comparison, and when I find a pharmacy that has a cheaper price I simply asked the pharmacist if they will match the price of the opposing pharmacy. This is work for me several times and has saved me running from the pharmacy to pharmacy to get my prescriptions. This works best when you’re working with mom-and-pop style pharmacies, but I have also managed to work this deal at CVS. I originally discovered this from an article on NPR and have been using this method ever since.
tmbrwolf329 said:
Just a note: for US members the Walmart $4 prescription program does not include the Voltaren gel, however it does include: (these are the ones I thought most of us have been on or will be on at one point or another)
Cyclobenzaprine 5mg tab
Cyclobenzaprine 10mg tab
Dexamethasone 0.5mg tab
Dexamethasone 0.75mg tab
Dexamethasone 4mg tab
Diclofenac DR 75mg tab*Naproxen 375mg tab*
Naproxen 500mg tab*Promethazine 25mg tab*
Promethazine plain syrup*Amitriptyline 10mg tab
Amitriptyline 25mg tabAmitriptyline 50mg tab
Amitriptyline 75mg tabAmitriptyline 100mg tab
Prednisone 2.5mg tab*
Prednisone 5mg tab*Folic Acid 1mg tab
You can find a complete list at http://i.walmartimages.com/i/if/hmp/fusion/customer_list.pdf
I also found a local mom and pop pharmacy that is scads cheaper on MTX. Most of the big name places run about 75-120 per month, while the mom and pop place runs 37.00. Just thought I’d throw that out there. I found them by calling every single pharmacy in a 25 mile radius of my house.
I think that the problem with ordering from an international online pharmacy is that you’re not really sure about the regulations for that pharmacy. You have no way of verifying the quality control in that country. Also another problem is making sure that the medication that you’re ordering is actually contains the exact medication that you’re ordering and that there aren’t any harmful fillers. As far as the legality of it, I don’t have any information about that. I guess those would be my main concerns.
However, I have heard in news stories about seniors or people with no insurance going to Canada to get their medication filled because that is the only way that they can afford their medications. So I know that there are some people who do that.
tmbrwolf329 said:
Does anyone know the legalities of ordering the Voltaren gel online from a Canadian pharmacy and having it shipped here? I found a place online https://www.northwestpharmacy.com/productsearch.aspx?s=voltaren%20gel that sells it…and its CHEAP (in comparison to buying it via Rx here), but it says you need a RX to get it. Hmm…I wonder who I know who lives near Canada…
Aroma Crystals -Salt Spring Island-Gardeners Dream Cream. My sister gifted me a jar about 6 years ago and I have been using it daily since then. I apply it every night to my shoulders, elbows, knees and feet. Not only is it great smelling(soothing scent), great for sore joints, but also great for the skin. I have sensitive skin and have to watch some of the stronger creams like the strong tiger balm (burns my skin). I can't buy it locally so I have to order it online or when I'm out of town.
Oh sure! It's super easy.
You want one part solid fat such as shea butter or coconut oil.
One part liquid fat such as grapeseed oil or sesame oil
and one part shredded beeswax or beeswax flakes.
Melt everything but don't boil! Add any fragrance, essential oil, or honey if desired. Stir very well. Let cool slightly then pour into molds or lined cupcake tins and let solidify.
It's great to try this in small batches, so 1 oz solid fat, 1 oz liquid, and 1 oz beeswax.
You can heat in the microwave or on the stove. It's super easy.
GrumpyCat said:
Do you have any recipes or links to instructions for this? I have always wanted to try making salves, soaps, oils, etc.. I think it would be fun and soothing to try.
Sunny said:I'll make my own solid lotions but I haven't tried to make my own balms or ointments.
Yet.
Thanks!
Sunny said:
Oh sure! It’s super easy.
You want one part solid fat such as shea butter or coconut oil.
One part liquid fat such as grapeseed oil or sesame oil
and one part shredded beeswax or beeswax flakes.
Melt everything but don’t boil! Add any fragrance, essential oil, or honey if desired. Stir very well. Let cool slightly then pour into molds or lined cupcake tins and let solidify.
It’s great to try this in small batches, so 1 oz solid fat, 1 oz liquid, and 1 oz beeswax.
You can heat in the microwave or on the stove. It’s super easy.
GrumpyCat said:Do you have any recipes or links to instructions for this? I have always wanted to try making salves, soaps, oils, etc… I think it would be fun and soothing to try.
Sunny said:I’ll make my own solid lotions but I haven’t tried to make my own balms or ointments.
Yet.
Found a great website with recipes and supplies for purchase.
http://www.rachelssupply.com/bwax.htm
Looks like I'm going on a virtual shopping trip!
I also tend to use Coconut oil on my elbow when it gets too dry. I live in Europe and
it is a bit harder to find things.
I love products with shea butter 
the one I’ve used longest is from body shop, their Strawberry Body Butter…I smell good enough to eat 
I used to use with great success Psoriaway but unfortunately it's no longer available. Now I get my local chemist to make me a tar based cream.
As I said, for localized pain, I use Voltaren gel. For dry and irritated skin, the best product I’ve found is CeraVe cream. It’s not expensive, and I buy it at WalMart in the US. I haven’t seen it in Canada.
I also use organic coconut oil sometimes.
Two Old Goats lotion available at the Co-op is a natural, herbal lotion that really helps my knees.
I go through one of these every 6 weeks! Love them<3
Karen said:
This is the body butter that we use at our house. Lauren thinks this works best to hydrate her skin.
I was told by my doctor that I couldn't use Voltaren while taking Celebrex. I guess it varies from doctor to doctor?
GrumpyCat said:
Stoney,
I think that you an still use the Voltaren even with a systemic NSAID, because they are absorbed differently. If you find it helpful for your tender hands it's worth asking about - the worst they can say is no. :-)
Stoney said:Yes, I totally forgot about Voltaren. I used that on my hands for a while. I knew that it worked, because I knew when it was time to use it again. I stopped using it because I had to go back to using a systemic NSAID.
Ok here is my list of skin saviours that I have discovered so far:-
For my feet: CCS Foot Care Cream or CCS Heel Balm. Both contain urea which helps soften hard skin and then regular use (I do daily in the morning after my shower) helps stop it developing again. I also bought a Scholl Express Pedi so once a week quickly whizz over my feet with that and slather with CCS. Both have saved me a fortune in seeing a chiropodist regularly.
For dry body skin/rashes: For the strange rashes I get which itch like crazy, or just bits of skin which itch like crazy for no obvious reason my doctor gave me a prescription for Balneum Plus Cream which is recommended for eczema and psoriasis. It is available otc but expensive. I wasn't all that impressed at first but I've come back to it time and time again and it does work. Ok to use on your face as well. Tub says it contains lauromacrogols which relieve the itching and it contains urea which apparently is often reduced in the skin of eczema and psoriasis sufferers.
A very rich and effective cream I sometimes use as a rescue treatment for regular dry and rough skin is Weleda Skin Food.
Specific eczema/psoriasis patches: Betnovate ointment (betamethasone valerate). Derm recommended that for persistent/problematic areas to apply thin layer of Betnovate, a good dollop of Epaderm then cover with cling film and secure with Micropore tape overnight for no more than a week. Great idea and effective on knees, elbows, hands, feet but not possible in ear canals, navel and other dark southerly places where I currently have inverse psoriasis .....
All over moisturisers: I like BioOil for my face and also on any areas where I've scarred from eczema or psoriasis. As a daily regular I use Aveeno containing colloidal oatmeal which is a recognised dry skin soother.
Sore painful joints: Any NSAID gel for pain relief eg. Voltarol (diclofenac) or Cuprofen (ibuprofen). Flexall Topical Coolant Gel is excellent and I find the cooling effect lasts longer than Biofreeze.
Headache: 4Head levomenthol cooling stick. This is also excellent for night-time hot flushes. I see they also do stick on strips/patches for migraines so also planning on getting some of these in case I get another migraine. Will need to look out for the adhesive as I am highly reactive to most plaster adhesives so it may be these won't be suitable for me.
What I haven't yet found the perfect product for is a soap free and ph neutral shower gel ..... but then I haven't had loads of time to look online as I'm sure there must be something out there!
One other balm I use is Mederma scar gel, over the counter. Its about 20 bucks at CVS for a little tube but it lasts a long time.I have a surgical scar on the side of my foot and it kept getting a really hard dry callus over it which would hurt like crazy when my foot would swell. My podiatrist trimmed it down and told me to use mederma twice daily to keep it soft and its working very well.
You can make a shower "gel" by mixing one part baking soda and one part vinegar in the palm of your hand and as it foams it is a wonderful shampoo and body wash that leaves no imbalance because the chemical combo balances itself out. It takes all of the other chemicals out of your hair as well and leaves you soft and shiny and fragrance free. I use this almost all of the time. I got so used to it when I was pustular that I fell in love with it. It is safe for everyone including babies. I always follow it with a good slather of Vaseline creamy lotion on my skin for softness and durablity ( tender red head skin).
Thanks, that sounds brilliant. I'll buy some this weekend and give it a go. Assume you use a white spirit vinegar rather than brown malt which stinks?
crazylady said:
You can make a shower "gel" by mixing one part baking soda and one part vinegar in the palm of your hand and as it foams it is a wonderful shampoo and body wash that leaves no imbalance because the chemical combo balances itself out. It takes all of the other chemicals out of your hair as well and leaves you soft and shiny and fragrance free. I use this almost all of the time. I got so used to it when I was pustular that I fell in love with it. It is safe for everyone including babies. I always follow it with a good slather of Vaseline creamy lotion on my skin for softness and durablity ( tender red head skin).