My Top Ten French Pharmacy Items

French Culture Exclusive!

While another monthly story about Paris is simmering on the back burner, I’d like to reward you, as a paid subscriber, for your support! Thank you for being here and reading my work.

And if you’re not yet a paid subscriber, won’t you consider becoming one?

It costs a little over 1 (one!) euro per week to gain access to my entire post archive and to monthly stories about life in France, including how I ended up here almost 30 years ago!

You’ll also get a 10% discount on tours for when you’re back in Paris! I hope you’ll join the community.

---

My Top Ten French Pharmacy Items

Even when we try to maintain health through good (French!) eating habits and getting enough exercise, it’s inevitable that aches, pains, and illness occasionally get us down. And if you’re a dedicated Francophile, you already know that France’s health care system has a great reputation.

Over the years, I’ve developed a relation de confiance, or a relationship of trust, with my doctors and my local pharmacists. Even if you don’t have this relationship (yet!), almost all Parisian pharmacies are a treasure trove of information, help, and useful products. So before making an appointment with my general practitioner, my pathway to medical care always begins at the neighborhood pharmacy.

To begin with, a pharmacist will try to help you, but will tell you straight up if you need to see a doctor.

My local pharmacy.

A pharmacist isn’t always trying to sell you something, and they’re generous with advice. But if they do have something I can buy, the remedy comes with the caveat, “If this product doesn’t resolve the problem within a week, you’ll need to see a doctor.” And that’s a real relief when you don’t know what’s wrong with you, especially in a foreign country, which can be a little scary.

So whether you want herbal or conventional medicine, or even just top-notch beauty products, French pharmacies have got you covered. Here’s my list of tried-and-true products.

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, of course. This list is in no way meant to replace proper medical care when needed. The medical information in this newsletter is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

10. Arnica Massage Oil

Herbal remedies are well trusted here in France. In the 1970s, the “pope of plants” – herbalist Maurice Mességué – democratized the use of medicinal plants to heal all sorts of small ills.

And the enduring popularity of phytothérapie and homeopathic remedies is borne out in many current pharmacy items like herbal teas (just below), essential oils, natural cough syrups, and cold prevention (a miracle serum is number one on my list, see below!).

For the little aches and pains of life, my go-to technique is massaging the offending joint or area with Arnica oil before bedtime. According to Mount Sinai Hospital’s online health library, “arnica is used topically for a wide range of conditions, including bruises, sprains, muscle aches, wound healing, superficial phlebitis, joint pain, inflammation from insect bites, and swelling from broken bones. More recent studies suggest it may also be helpful in the treatment of burns.” Yep, that sums all the things we use the massage oil for in my family!

9. Herbal Teas

Shops like the Herboristerie du Palais Royal, open since 1739, will sell you specialized herbal teas, or tisanes, for just about anything you can imagine. The store’s website shows you a plethora of remedy categories, including allergies – a relevant topic at the moment as blooms on trees in Paris are driving people nuts – and digestion, always an important issue in France where rich food can take its toll.

The “Lung number 1” herbal tea – because for coughs and labored breathing during a cold, there are quite few different ones! – contains mullein and mallow flowers, pine buds, Irish moss, juniper, and myrtle leaf. I don’t need to know exactly what all these plants are to know that they work!

For everything from sleep problems to articulations, and from “feminine/masculine comfort” to detox and weight loss, you can always count on a herboristerie or even your local pharmacy in Paris to help you choose an herbal tea that will improve what’s ailing you.