Trust a nation of hypochondriacs to have the best remedies for any ailment. Here's what to stock up on and bring back home on your next trip to my motherland.
They're great! Also, my absolute favourite skincare/haircare brand is Greek: Korres. I use their shampoo, conditioner, body milk, sun cream, aftersun and face oil. Just a little bit obsessed!
Korres is my absolute favourite! It’s much cheaper over there too. I love their shampoos, almond conditioner, olive facial oil, sun cream, after sun, and soaps
Great article! All the remedies to prevent or cure the consequences of the much feared “colpo d’aria” 😃.
What a shock when I moved to Scotland and the pharmacies looked so basic.
When I go back to Italy I stock on Melatonin and I get a well recited menu of all possible variants ( with valerian, tryptophan, vitamins B3, B6,B12 and other synergic compounds) and all the possible forms (pills, liquid, gummies etc). They must have a back store room just for Melatonin!
So fascinating to read about how Italians prevent and cure their ailments. Are the beauty products also as high quality in Italy as they are in France?
Hi Kaila! yes I would say they are! We also stock many of the french beauty products in our pharmacies, but there is a bigger focus on high quality natural/organic products too...
I am going to France in May, and have been obsessing about how to carry reasonable amounts of skin care products with me, but this post helped me see the light! Go there and buy some there! LOL! Thanks!
Oh I love a farmacia ! And an erboristeria as well. I also love that you can put yourself in the hands of the capable farmacista and feel
taken care of.
All the lotions and potions make such good travel mementos.
Many years ago we were traveling and my wife had a persistent cough—we called that trip the tour of farmacie 😆. Every town had a different idea of how to treat her and we ended up with quite a collection. (Later she learned she had asthma!)
Hey Gabrielle! yes you make a very very good point! I always feel like a Farmacista knows what they are talking about, they seem to be almost as qualified as a generic GP here (at least compared to pharmacists here, from my personal experience). Your poor wife! hope you both enjoyed the trip despite the cough!
Last year I told a pharmacist that I was concerned frogs were biting my daughter at night in our Roman apartment rental.
She didn’t even laugh in my face! Just assured me they were mosquito bites and gave me some lotions and repellant. (Rane e ragne will always confound me!🐸🕷️😂 )
Possibly as it resonated with my germaphobe nature! Perhaps I’ve got Italian heritage!
Whole foods pharmacy is where I get my propolis, as it works! Wish we didn’t demean natural remedies as much as we do in the U.K. it’s my first choice for sure! Love that it’s still very much part of Italian culture, very wise!
haha love that for you Rosanne! Welcome to the germophobe family! Yess, propolis has managed to keep a sore throat at bay for weeks now...I have been waking up with a touch of it every morning (possibly a consequence of having to breathe through my mouth at night as my nose was blocked), but a spray of Propolis in the morning kept it from developing into a full-blown sore throat thank goodness.
I didn't know Bianacid but I see it's another Aboca product so must be good! You also reminded me of another classic – the Brioschi effervescent digestive!
Love this 😂 the pharmacies in France are pretty much like the Italian ones! Yesterday I went into one which truly looked like a Waitrose. Even many brands are the same as Italian ones. Got my trusty jar of Tiger balm (though it's actually a chinese friend who introduced me to it). Haven't checked for propoli yet!
Also need to point out the only thing that really and incredibly works for chapped lips, available in both countries and maybe in the UK too: Nuxe's Reve de Miel balm, the one in the actual little jar. Found out about it when I was googling remedies for severely chapped lips and this kept popping up, and did not disappoint.
Ciao Valentina! Yes I knew French pharmacies had many overlaps with Italian ones, and I have to say from what I have seen of Greek ones they were also very well equipped! Maybe it's something in common with Mediterranean countries? Thank you for sharing the Nuxe tip, my husband is in the market for something like that so will give it a try!
If you want a fancier pharmacy in London to explore with curiosity, there is The French Pharnacy in Marylebone plus London’s plushest one, John Bell & Croyden. There are plenty of propolis products on the market which is easy to get in the U.K. - propolis losenges are so good, as is Activist Manila honey to have in the cupboard when a cold wants to set in. Try Leapfrog remedy next time you start getting a cold - it is pretty impressive! And thank you fir sharing so many Italian pharmacy jewels - surprised you didn’t mention any tummy probiotics, Italians make some pretty amazing ones
Ah, I knew West London would have much fancier pharmacies! Thank you for the Leapfrog recommendation Galina, I didn't know that brand but it does look good! And yes, there are quite a few gems I left out because the list would have been endless, so I chose to focus only on the cold/flu ones as I thought it was topical 😅 maybe this calls for other isntallments?
Leapfrog is a relative new brand, harnessing the power of Lactoferrin. They have Immune (very effective) & Sleep (haven’t tested). I think other instalments on the topic would be great, as there are gems that people might not know of, but should .)
So I had to investigate ketoprophen because I had never heard of it. In the US we have ibuprofen which is the same kind of drug only not as strong (paracetamol is acetaminophen so totally different). I go to France fairly often. I’ll have to see if I can get something similar. With regards to French pharmacies, I find that they all smell the same. Is that the case for Italian pharmacies?
Hi Maryse! Huh, do you know, I never noticed the smell...I find them to be pretty odourless! Unless you go to an erboristeria, in which case yes, they smell delicious! I'd be curious to know if you find any Oki/ketoprofene there, let me know!
Loved reading this! I have a little obsession with French and Greek pharmacies, so will be adding Italian ones to my list for my next trip
I did go to a pharmacy in Crete and was positively impressed! Lots of natural remedies there too
They're great! Also, my absolute favourite skincare/haircare brand is Greek: Korres. I use their shampoo, conditioner, body milk, sun cream, aftersun and face oil. Just a little bit obsessed!
Uuuh can you find it in the uk?
They have a UK website — but it’s cheaper in Greece. I stocked up in Duty Free at Athens airport! Sometimes I spot their products in TK Max too!
Can you pls share some Greek pharmacy finds? I’m going in June.
Korres is my absolute favourite! It’s much cheaper over there too. I love their shampoos, almond conditioner, olive facial oil, sun cream, after sun, and soaps
Great piece! Any wonderful sleep 💤 remedies?
Thank you! We’re big fans of Melatonina supplements, which can be found in many forms, from granules to honey…
Great article! All the remedies to prevent or cure the consequences of the much feared “colpo d’aria” 😃.
What a shock when I moved to Scotland and the pharmacies looked so basic.
When I go back to Italy I stock on Melatonin and I get a well recited menu of all possible variants ( with valerian, tryptophan, vitamins B3, B6,B12 and other synergic compounds) and all the possible forms (pills, liquid, gummies etc). They must have a back store room just for Melatonin!
So true Laura! We are obsessed with Valeriana and Melatonina... have you tried it as a honey?
So fascinating to read about how Italians prevent and cure their ailments. Are the beauty products also as high quality in Italy as they are in France?
Hi Kaila! yes I would say they are! We also stock many of the french beauty products in our pharmacies, but there is a bigger focus on high quality natural/organic products too...
That's soooo awesome! I can't wait to check it out for myself!
I am going to France in May, and have been obsessing about how to carry reasonable amounts of skin care products with me, but this post helped me see the light! Go there and buy some there! LOL! Thanks!
haha that's the way! enjoy your trip to France, I'm jealous!
Oh I love a farmacia ! And an erboristeria as well. I also love that you can put yourself in the hands of the capable farmacista and feel
taken care of.
All the lotions and potions make such good travel mementos.
Many years ago we were traveling and my wife had a persistent cough—we called that trip the tour of farmacie 😆. Every town had a different idea of how to treat her and we ended up with quite a collection. (Later she learned she had asthma!)
Hey Gabrielle! yes you make a very very good point! I always feel like a Farmacista knows what they are talking about, they seem to be almost as qualified as a generic GP here (at least compared to pharmacists here, from my personal experience). Your poor wife! hope you both enjoyed the trip despite the cough!
We did, in spite of that part!
Last year I told a pharmacist that I was concerned frogs were biting my daughter at night in our Roman apartment rental.
She didn’t even laugh in my face! Just assured me they were mosquito bites and gave me some lotions and repellant. (Rane e ragne will always confound me!🐸🕷️😂 )
Love this! Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure Ang!
Can I add Streptosil to the list? It’s an antibiotic powder that my Dad used to put on our wounds. Great stuff!
of course you may, I didn't know that one! I have been using Cicatrene to speed up the healing process, sounds similar...
Love this article so much, made me giggle!
Possibly as it resonated with my germaphobe nature! Perhaps I’ve got Italian heritage!
Whole foods pharmacy is where I get my propolis, as it works! Wish we didn’t demean natural remedies as much as we do in the U.K. it’s my first choice for sure! Love that it’s still very much part of Italian culture, very wise!
haha love that for you Rosanne! Welcome to the germophobe family! Yess, propolis has managed to keep a sore throat at bay for weeks now...I have been waking up with a touch of it every morning (possibly a consequence of having to breathe through my mouth at night as my nose was blocked), but a spray of Propolis in the morning kept it from developing into a full-blown sore throat thank goodness.
Ahhh, hope you shake the cold soon! 🥰
There’s nothing like an Italian pharmacy - and so I LOVED this…I too stock up on so many of these - and oki is the very best!
It's life-changing isn't it Jo? Once you try it there is no going back!
I couldn't live without the best indigestion tablets, Bianacid - I take those if fennel tea doesn't work!
I didn't know Bianacid but I see it's another Aboca product so must be good! You also reminded me of another classic – the Brioschi effervescent digestive!
Yes, I had forgotten them!
🤯🫣
😅
My favourite kind of list! Thank you xx
My pleasure Alex!
Love this 😂 the pharmacies in France are pretty much like the Italian ones! Yesterday I went into one which truly looked like a Waitrose. Even many brands are the same as Italian ones. Got my trusty jar of Tiger balm (though it's actually a chinese friend who introduced me to it). Haven't checked for propoli yet!
Also need to point out the only thing that really and incredibly works for chapped lips, available in both countries and maybe in the UK too: Nuxe's Reve de Miel balm, the one in the actual little jar. Found out about it when I was googling remedies for severely chapped lips and this kept popping up, and did not disappoint.
Ciao Valentina! Yes I knew French pharmacies had many overlaps with Italian ones, and I have to say from what I have seen of Greek ones they were also very well equipped! Maybe it's something in common with Mediterranean countries? Thank you for sharing the Nuxe tip, my husband is in the market for something like that so will give it a try!
If you want a fancier pharmacy in London to explore with curiosity, there is The French Pharnacy in Marylebone plus London’s plushest one, John Bell & Croyden. There are plenty of propolis products on the market which is easy to get in the U.K. - propolis losenges are so good, as is Activist Manila honey to have in the cupboard when a cold wants to set in. Try Leapfrog remedy next time you start getting a cold - it is pretty impressive! And thank you fir sharing so many Italian pharmacy jewels - surprised you didn’t mention any tummy probiotics, Italians make some pretty amazing ones
Ah, I knew West London would have much fancier pharmacies! Thank you for the Leapfrog recommendation Galina, I didn't know that brand but it does look good! And yes, there are quite a few gems I left out because the list would have been endless, so I chose to focus only on the cold/flu ones as I thought it was topical 😅 maybe this calls for other isntallments?
Leapfrog is a relative new brand, harnessing the power of Lactoferrin. They have Immune (very effective) & Sleep (haven’t tested). I think other instalments on the topic would be great, as there are gems that people might not know of, but should .)
So I had to investigate ketoprophen because I had never heard of it. In the US we have ibuprofen which is the same kind of drug only not as strong (paracetamol is acetaminophen so totally different). I go to France fairly often. I’ll have to see if I can get something similar. With regards to French pharmacies, I find that they all smell the same. Is that the case for Italian pharmacies?
Hi Maryse! Huh, do you know, I never noticed the smell...I find them to be pretty odourless! Unless you go to an erboristeria, in which case yes, they smell delicious! I'd be curious to know if you find any Oki/ketoprofene there, let me know!
That’s funny. They smell very medicinal to me. I will definitely look into ketoprophen next time I go. 🙂