By Melissa Russell
\nmrussell@wickedlocal.com<\/p>\n
Posted Dec 22, 2017 at 4:03 PM<\/p>\n
Andrew Stein limped into Johnson Compounding and Wellness on a knee so swollen by bursitis, it \u201cmoved like jelly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having taking ibuprofen around the clock with no relief, Stein, a pharmacist by training, sought out a different approach. After a few days on the homeopathic remedy curcumin, which is considered to have anti-inflammatory properties, he was amazed to see that it worked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw and felt results. It was incredible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His college roommate, John Walczyk, is also a pharmacist and the longtime pharmacy manager of Johnson\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m traditional, and when this works it throws you off. It shouldn\u2019t work, but it does. When Andrew came in with his horrible knee, I knew he didn\u2019t believe in it,\u201d Walczyk said.<\/p>\n
Historic pharmacy under new ownership<\/strong><\/p>\n Through twists of fate and a timely retirement, Stein and Walczyk eventually wound up co-owners of the 165 year old business, taking over from owners Stephen and Diane Bernardi.<\/p>\n Under the Bernardi\u2019s ownership, Johnson\u2019s had became known for alternative treatments. When the Bernardis announced their retirement, Walczyk and Stein decided to take the plunge. They are only the fourth owners of the company since its founding in 1852.<\/p>\n Johnson Compounding & Wellness<\/strong> What they offer<\/strong><\/p>\n Standing on the main floor of Johnson\u2019s, Stein said, \u201cI am very proud. To take over a company that was run well, it was a good opportunity for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Walczyk said Johnson\u2019s offers something traditional pharmacies cannot \u2013 customized care and guidance. They have a naturopathic doctor on site, for example.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen a patient comes in, we make recommendations. Everything is customized for them, and we offer a money back guarantee to make people comfortable with trying new things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The pharmacy also offers workshops, daily samples, and Tasting Tuesdays. Most recently, gummy bears flavored with elderberry syrup, which is reputed to help boost the immune system, were featured for tastings. They recently offered a workshop on creating home brewed elixir using cider vinegar, which has the reputation for aiding digestion.<\/p>\n \u201cI drink it in the morning instead of coffee,\u201d Stein said. \u201cIt makes me feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n Why seek alternative therapies?<\/strong><\/p>\n Walczyk said many customers, wary of taking traditional medicines which can wear on the body\u2019s systems, are looking for something gentler.<\/p>\n \u201cIbuprofen is tough on the liver and kidneys and people are trying to stay away from it,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you can use naturopathic remedies and boost immunities, you won\u2019t need the ibuprofen.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Melissa Russell mrussell@wickedlocal.com Posted Dec 22, 2017 at 4:03 PM Andrew Stein limped into Johnson Compounding and Wellness on a knee so swollen by bursitis, it \u201cmoved like jelly.\u201d Having taking ibuprofen around the clock with no relief, Stein, a pharmacist by training, sought out a different approach. After a few days on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69,"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68\/revisions\/69"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p3rx.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nWHAT: Johnson Compounding & Wellness, offering alternative therapies, including nutritional supplments and homeopathic remedies.
\nWHERE: 577 Main St. Waltham
\nWHEN: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sunday
\nINFORMATION: naturalcompounder.com, 781-893-3870<\/p>\n