Give Your Medicine Cabinet an Overhaul

We use so much medication in our culture that we build special cabinets just to hold it all! Have you checked yours lately?

When was the last time you took a good look into your medicine cabinet? You most likely clean your bathroom with some degree of regularity, so why not your medicine cabinet? If you’re like most of us, there’s probably some stuff that’s been in there for years!

Here are some ways to give your medicine cabinet a makeover:

• Toss out expired medications. Most medications lose 10% of their potency within a year’s time, and 90% may or may not be effective, depending on the drug. Some supplements, such as fish oil, may even become rancid after the expiration date.
• Get rid of makeup products that have been around for a year or two. Unlike medicines, makeup has no expiration date, but the anti-bacterial components usually break down after a year or two. Mascara has the shortest shelf life and should be changed frequently because it may contain bacteria harmful to your eyes.
• Toothbrushes and razor blades tend to grow bacteria and staph relatively quickly and need to be replaced often.

Now, that you’re rid of all the old stuff, let’s talk about things you should have in your medicine cabinet, things like:

• Toothpaste
• Aloe for burns
• Bandages and antiseptics for scrapes and cuts
• Herbs and essential oils such as chamomile, ginger and lavender

In other words, you don’t need much. Taking the time to clean up this one area of your home may have some profound effects on the future of your health!

Dr. Steven Murdoch Chiropractor:

Chiropractor Kitchener Dr. Steven Murdoch is the proud owner of Fairway Chiropractic Centre in Kitchener, Ontario. He offers family chiropractic care at his Chiropractic office.

For more information visit our Website: http://www.fairwaychiropractic.net

Seven Reasons to See a Chiropractor

Seven reasons to visit a chiropractor

Do you know someone we could help? Here are seven reasons to send them our way.

1. Effective. Because the nervous system controls every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body, and the primary focus of chiropractic care is the restoration of nervous system integrity, chiropractic care can be helpful for a wide range of health care problems. 
   
2. Natural. Simply put, chiropractic care doesn’t add chemicals or foreign substances to your body. And chiropractic care doesn’t remove parts or take things out. Instead, chiropractic care seeks to restore proper control and regulation of your body so health can return, naturally. 
   
3. Safe. Chiropractic care is safe. So safe, even newborns get adjusted to correct the spinal trauma from the birth process. Chiropractic care is tailored specifically to each patient’s health problem and individual health goals. 
   
4. Few adverse effects. There are no warning labels required for chiropractic care. In fact, most "effects" of chiropractic care are considered positive effects, such as better balance, more energy, increased vitality, extended endurance and improved coordination. Even the rare instances of muscle stiffness or other reactions are often signs that healthy changes are being made. 
   
5. No obligation. Tour our website or schedule a complimentary consultation to find out if you’re a good candidate for chiropractic care. If you are, we’ll invite you to begin care. If you’re not, we’ll recommend someone we think can help you. 
   
6. Delighted patients. If those critical of chiropractic had any real basis for their objections, chiropractic would have disappeared a 100 years ago. However, it continues to thrive due to high levels of patient satisfaction. It simply works. 
   
7. Smart choice. It makes sense to correct the underlying cause (loss of proper nervous system control of the body) rather than numb the body with drugs. Research shows that those who are more highly educated choose chiropractic care.

If you know someone that you think we could help, please send them our way, or at least share these reasons why chiropractic care makes sense.

Dr. Steven Murdoch:

Chiropractor Kitchener Dr. Steven Murdoch is the proud owner of Fairway Chiropractic Centre in Kitchener, Ontario. He offers family chiropractic care at his Chiropractic office.

For more information visit our Website: http://www.fairwaychiropractic.net

How Does Your Nervous System Work?

The nervous system in your body is made up of two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

Right now, it’s taking care of millions of details to keep you alive.

The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The spinal cord transmits sensory messages to the brain and motor messages from the brain. Sensory nerves carry messages from receptors to the brain. If you touch a hot iron, pain receptors tell your brain to move your hand. Motor nerves send signals from the brain to the muscles in the body. These nerves help us to do things such as walk, kick a ball or pick up an object.

The peripheral nervous system transports the messages between the central nervous system and the body. It consists of cranial and spinal nerves that carry messages to and from every cell in your body.

Part of the peripheral nervous system is called the autonomic nervous system. The actions of the autonomic nervous system are generally involuntary. It controls actions such as breathing, your heartbeat and digestion ~ actions you don’t even have to think about!

The autonomic nervous system is made up of the sympathetic system that alerts the body when there is an emergency or danger. When this happens, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure rises, and your pupils dilate in what is called a “flight or fight” response. The parasympathetic system returns your body to normal once the danger has passed.

Chiropractic care is designed to improve the integrity of the nervous system so that everything works the way it should. That is why it is important to have your spine checked at regular intervals.

Dr. Steven Murdoch:

Chiropractor Kitchener Dr. Steven Murdoch is the proud owner of Fairway Chiropractic Centre in Kitchener, Ontario. He offers family chiropractic care at his Chiropractic office.

For more information visit our Website: http://www.fairwaychiropractic.net

Do Cervical Collars Really Help?

You see them on people all the time – those big stiff collars that keep someone’s head from moving. Usually people wear them after a car accident, a sports injury or a fall, for ‘whiplash” or a soft tissue injury to the neck. They look uncomfortable. More and more of us are questioning whether they should be used at all!

'I’ve been in an accident' but if they’re used for too long they can impede proper healing.

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Many believe that short-term use of a soft cervical collar can be beneficial in the initial acute phase of an injury. However, continued usage causes the muscles in the neck to weaken because the collar is actually taking the place of those muscles. Some studies have even shown that the use of a cervical collar may actually prolong the recovery process.

So how should you treat a neck injury?

• Get in to see us! The sooner proper spinal, muscle and joint function are restored, the better. Waiting lengthens recovery time.
• Try to keep you neck moving in as normal a fashion as possible; this helps keep the muscles from stiffening.
• If you’re inclined to use a cervical collar, limit its use to less than a week.
• Perform stretching exercises that help support the neck muscles/joints.
• Continue with your normal daily routine and activities; don’t “baby” the injury.

Whiplash injuries can also affect the normal curve in the neck. A chiropractic exam can determine the amount of damage. While pain relievers and muscle relaxers may make you feel better, they won’t heal damaged ligaments, muscles and tendons. And a cervical collar can’t return the natural forward curve to the neck.

If you know someone wearing one of these fashion accessories, encourage them to call our office for a consultation. We promise to give them the same high quality care you’ve come to know us for.

Dr. Steven Murdoch Chiropractor:

Chiropractor Kitchener Dr. Steven Murdoch is the proud owner of Fairway Chiropractic Centre in Kitchener, Ontario. He offers family chiropractic care at his Chiropractic office.

For more information visit our Website: http://www.fairwaychiropractic.net