The Local Choice Pharmacy Our Village Moms

This Nelson Mandela International Day, we're reminded that meaningful change often starts with simple acts of kindness. 🫶 Whether it's checking in on a neighbour, supporting a local cause, lending a helping hand, or sharing a few words of encouragement, every act of care contributes to a healthier, stronger community.

At The Local Choice Pharmacy, we believe good health goes beyond prescriptions. It's about looking out for one another, building connections, and creating communities where everyone feels supported.

👉 How will you spend your 67 minutes this Mandela Day?

| | | | | | |

Why do hormones affect my mood? 🤔

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They help control everything from your energy levels and sleep to your emotions and mood. They work closely with brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which influence how happy, calm, motivated, or anxious you feel. When hormone levels change, it can affect this balance and leave you feeling more emotional, irritable, anxious, or low than usual.

For women, these changes can happen during puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Hormonal fluctuations during these stages can affect not only mood, but also concentration, motivation, and overall wellbeing.

👉 While occasional mood changes are normal, ongoing or severe mood swings shouldn’t be ignored. If your emotions are starting to affect your daily life, speak to your healthcare provider. They can help determine whether hormones may be playing a role and discuss ways to help you feel more like yourself again.

"𝘈 𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴" 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭.

| | | | | | | |

Do children need vitamin supplements? 🤔

While vitamins can be a helpful addition when recommended by your healthcare professional, they shouldn’t replace a healthy, balanced diet. The best place for children to get their nutrients is from the food they eat every day. Aim for a colourful “rainbow diet” filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables to help support healthy growth and development. 🍇🍎🍊🍌🌽🥑🥦

Every child’s nutritional needs are different, so if you’re considering a vitamin supplement, choose one that is appropriate for your child’s age and speak to your healthcare professional for guidance. Remember: Good nutrition first, supplements second.

"𝘈 𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴" 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭.

| | | | | | |

The Springboks and Scotland are set for an explosive showdown in their Nations Championship 2026 match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. 🇿🇦🏉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Both are proud nations, ready to leave it all on the field. But we know the power of our forwards. 🤫

Good luck, Boks - play hard, play smart, and keep making South Africa proud!

| | | | | |

🤔 Why do I have to pay a co-payment on my medicine?

Having medical aid offers peace of mind and access to quality private healthcare, but it doesn’t always mean every medicine is covered in full. A co-payment is the amount you need to pay when your medical aid doesn’t cover the full cost of your medicine. This can happen when:
🔸 Your medicine costs more than your scheme is willing to pay.
🔸 The medicine isn’t on your medical aid’s preferred medicine list.
🔸 A brand-name medicine is chosen instead of a covered generic alternative.
🔸 Your benefit limits for the month or year have been reached.

In simple terms, your medical aid pays a set amount towards the medicine – and if the medicine costs more than that amount, you pay the difference. Understanding co-payments can help you make informed choices and avoid unexpected costs at the pharmacy counter. Where possible, we're happy to provide information on generic alternatives. Because paying extra for no reason is enough to give anyone a headache!

"𝘈 𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴" 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭.

| | | | | | |

From sore throats and congestion to fatigue, fever, body aches, and low energy, flu season can leave you feeling drained and struggling to get through the day. 🤧

Cold weather, busy schedules, and seasonal changes can place extra pressure on your immune system, making it essential to prioritise your health in winter months. Don’t ignore the signs and wait until you feel worse! The right support and professional healthcare advice can help you manage symptoms, support your recovery, and boost winter wellness. ❄️🛡️ We’re here for you.

𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯-𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘧𝘭𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯.

| | | | |

Strong bones start with the right support. 💪🦴

Berocca® Expert Vit D is a targeted daily supplement that combines three essential nutrients in one convenient triple-layer tablet: Vitamin D₃, Vitamin K₂ and Calcium.

When paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise, Berocca® Expert Vit D helps support:
✅ Bone and teeth development and maintenance
✅ Healthy immune function
✅ Long-term bone health, with potential to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis

Visit your nearest The Local Choice Pharmacy to learn more.

| | |

🦠🛡️ Antibiotics only work against bacteria, not viruses.

Bacteria are tiny living organisms that can survive and multiply on their own. They have their own structures, like a cell wall and systems for making proteins. Antibiotics work by targeting these structures to stop bacteria from growing or to kill them.

Viruses are completely different. They are not full living cells and cannot reproduce by themselves. Instead, they invade your body’s cells and “hijack” them to make more viruses. Because viruses live inside your own cells and don’t have the same structures as bacteria, antibiotics have nothing to target.

If bacteria are like independent factories, antibiotics can shut down the factory's machinery. Viruses, however, are more like hijackers that take over an existing factory (your cells). Since they're using your own machinery, antibiotics can't stop them.
This is why illnesses like the common cold, flu, and most sore throats do not get better with antibiotics.

👉 Feeling under the weather? Trust Sinutab for that fresh, clear feeling you’ll notice instantly. 🌿

"𝘈 𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴" 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭.

| | | | | | | |

Good luck to our boys in green and gold! 🇿🇦🏉

As the Springboks take to the field against England at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, we'll be cheering for every tackle, scrum, and try.

Share your score predictions in the comments section!

| | | | | |

Stuffy noses are a thing of the past with Sinutab Nasal Spray! This gentle, yet effective solution begins to clear a blocked or stuffy nose in as little as 2 minutes, with effects lasting for up to 10 hours, so you can get back to normal! 💪

Trust Sinutab for that fresh, clear feeling you’ll notice instantly. 🌿

| | | |