Elephant Pharmacy's Free February Classes Focus on `Love, Life, & Libido'.

Business Editors

BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 2003

Valentine's Day-Themed Classes Are Part of an Unprecedented Health

and Wellness Education Program at Revolutionary New Pharmacy

Elephant Pharmacy is celebrating Valentine's Day with a series of free classes focused on `Love, Life, & Libido' during the month of February. The special classes are part of the new pharmacy's education program, which offers customers free health and wellness classes on a variety of health topics and from diverse healing perspectives on a daily basis. The two-month old store in Berkeley's "Gourmet Ghetto" aims to reinvent pharmacy retailing.

"February is a time when people are starting to think about the spring and they're looking to heat up their romantic realities," said Stuart Skorman, co-founder and CEO of Elephant Pharmacy. "We offer our customers knowledge about diverse healing approaches from around the world."

Among the `Love, Life, & Libido' classes featured in February are:

-- Love in Ayurvedic Medicine: Learn about the Ayurvedic perspective on relationship compatibility, including herbs to enhance romance. (Michael Reid Kreuzer, D.Ayur., is an Ayurvedic herbalist and co-founder of the nonprofit Medicine Buddha Healing Center) Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.

-- Emotional Harmony through Chinese Herbs: Emotions play an essential role in maintaining health in Chinese medicine. The relationship between specific emotions, such as joy, anger, fear, and grief, and their associated organs will be explained, as well as how herbs can be used to achieve balance. (Jackie Sohn, M.S.T.C.M., received her Master's Degree from the American College of Traditional Chinese Herbs) Saturday, Feb. 8 at 12 p.m.

-- Massage as Sacred Intimacy: A discussion about the potential for sharing energy, transforming power, and creating intimacy through massage. (Shoshana Frumkin, C.N.C., C.M.T., owns On the Spot Massage in Berkeley) Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.

-- Do-It-Yourself Sensual Spa: No need to splurge on an expensive spa for two. This hands-on class teaches you how to transform your humble bathroom into a romantic haven. (Taught by Elephant Pharmacy's on-staff aestheticians) Sunday, Feb. 9 at 12 p.m.

-- Aphrodisiac Delights: Learn about the foods that for centuries have been considered aphrodisiacs while also putting together a menu of delectable delights to try on your sweetie. (Fern Leaf is an IET-trained Nutrition Educator) Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

-- Hormones: The Elixirs of Life: Learn about hormonal therapy for men and women, including DHEA, androgen, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. (Analisa Azzopardi, N.D., received a doctor of naturopathic medicines and Bachelor of Science degree from Bastyr College, where she specialized in counseling and midwifery) Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.

-- Herbal Aphrodisiacs & Elixirs: Explores how herbs may awaken your sensuality and support your romantic powers. (Paul Simon, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist) Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.

Other classes in February include "The Naturopathic Approach to Menopause" (Monday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.), "Designing Your Birth Series" (Mondays and Fridays at 9 a.m.), "Prenatal Exercise" (Fridays at 10 a.m.), "Tai Chi" (Saturdays at 1 p.m.), and "Introduction to Homeopathy" (Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.). A complete schedule of classes is available at http://www.elephantpharmacy.com/calendar/index.html.

The `Love, Life, & Libido' class series is the latest in Elephant Pharmacy's extensive program to offer educational services to its customers. In addition to an average of two free classes per day, Elephant Pharmacy provides:

-- Health practitioners on duty every afternoon from 3 to 7 p.m.

daily for free health advice. Among the practitioners

available during the week are a nurse practitioner, a

registered dietitian, a naturopath, and an Ayurvedic

herbalist.

-- Licensed acupuncturists and Chinese medicine herbalists on

duty every day.

-- Highly trained, service-oriented pharmacists who emerge from

behind the prescriptions counter to spend time each day on the

store floor with customers, answering questions and providing

guidance.

-- Helpful, unbiased health information created by a team of

editors and health experts, and evaluated by Elephant

Pharmacy's medical advisory board, which consists of

well-respected Berkeley MDs.

-- A huge selection of health-related books, which are available

in a book store-within-the-store and are also merchandised

within store departments.

About Elephant Pharmacy

Elephant Pharmacy is a new 13,000-square-foot pharmacy in the heart of Berkeley that is transforming the pharmacy industry with its high-service model and its focus on bringing together under one roof an enormous selection of over-the-counter drugs, prescription medicines, and alternative remedies from around the world.

The store, which opened in November 2002, includes the largest selections of vitamins in the East Bay, plus a full-service herb pharmacy with an unprecedented assortment of high-quality Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Western herbs. It offers customers a state-of-the-art one-hour photo lab, a fresh flower store, and a variety of health and wellness products, from yoga products to candles, meditation tapes, and health snacks. The store also specializes in natural cosmetics, toys, stationery, lifestyle products, and an unrivaled selection of greeting cards.