Change is never easy. “Old habits die hard” isn’t a cliché, it’s a basic truth.
It’s always interesting when watching U.S. television to see a commercial for a prescription medication. The U.S. is one of only a few countries that allow direct-to-consumer advertising for pharmaceuticals that require a prescription from a Doctor.
But this comes with a caveat from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These ads must disclose all the potential side effects of said medication. That usually takes up most of the commercial’s run time. By the end, you sometimes wonder “who in their right mind would pop these pills?”
No medication comes without potential side effects, even if those side effects are exceedingly rare and likely to be mild.
Take a common medication like an anti-depressant. The side effects range from something as minor as dry mouth, to suicidal thoughts that risk prompting users to take their own life.
Chiropractors Are Not Against Medication – At Least, We Aren’t
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a medication, given the right circumstances. There is a perception that Chiropractors are against prescription medications. That’s not true … at least not for all Chiropractors.
We believe there is a time and a place for everything. First, let’s see how you can improve your mental, physical, and spiritual health without having to turn to pharmaceuticals.
How? Through better nutrition, exercise, and stress management, in addition to whatever we may be able to do for you as Chiropractors. This may mean we refer you to another healthcare practitioner, such as a Massage Therapist, Physiotherapist, Acupuncturist, Nutritionist, even a Personal Trainer.
Our personal philosophy at this clinic is to approach health in the most natural and holistic way possible. If this still leaves you with a complaint or medical problem, then it may be time to see your family Doctor for an appropriate medication.
Don’t Just Mask A Symptom
As we’ve said before, it’s important to look past a symptom like back pain, stiffness, or headaches, and get to the root cause of the complaint. It’s a slippery slope to rely on medications as your go-to solution for a problem if you haven’t taken appropriate steps to identify and understand its root cause.
If you mask the symptom and ignore the cause, odds are, your condition will only worsen. We see this all the time, with patients who suffer from chronic pain that’s become increasingly difficult to manage. They’ve grown dependent on an increasingly powerful cocktail of pain medications that carry a proportionately greater risk of harmful side effects.
Make Healthy Changes In Your Life
Change is never easy. “Old habits die hard” isn’t a cliché, it’s a basic truth.
More often than not, patients who walk (or hobble) through our door suffer as they do because of lifestyle habits they can change. The choice is theirs. If they are truly committed to living a healthier quality life, we can help. But you have to take action before your complaint leads to permanent and irreversible damage to your body.
The first step is to understand the difference between symptom and cause, and the appropriate role that medications should play in addressing either.
Maybe you do have a chronic condition that can only be treated with a prescription medication. Lifestyle changes alone are not enough. That’s fair – you’ve done all you can. But we should avoid regarding medication as the first and last choice. It just isn’t healthy. Always inform yourself about the potential side effects of a medication and consider more natural ways to address your issue.