December 2023 Newsletter
Our cat-proof Christmas decorations
A Letter from Dr. Phillips
I’ve been running lately, something in the past I longed to do, but knew would cause a massive migraine. So how is it that I can now run migraine-free?
I got help. I didn’t figure out how to handle chronic migraines all on my own—I benefited from experts: doctors, chiropractors, a physical therapist, a psychologist. Yet I didn’t seek out help right away. Only after I had spent a year in pain did I realize that I had to do something differently instead of simply enduring it.
Since then, what has kept me going is hope. Hope that things can get better. That one day I would be able to get back to doing things I loved to do, as well as things that allowed me to live life the way I wanted to.
It wasn’t just running I couldn’t do. I had a hard time doing a single errand, looking at a computer screen, walking around the block. Those were my three consistent migraine triggers for years. At times I thought that I was destined to be in pain forever, and those were the low points, made worse because I stopped trying to get better. Hope is what compelled me to try again and again, and to reach somewhere better than before. Now, those migraine triggers are mostly gone.
Christmas is about hope and faith. You may believe in Jesus’ birth, in Santa’s gifts, or the love of family, but Christmas–and all the winter holidays, really–are meant to remind us to hope for something more.
What do you hope for, and could chiropractic help?
Yours in health,
Announcements
Sequoia Chiropractic is closed on Monday 12/25/23 (Christmas) and from Monday 1/1/24 through Friday 1/5/24.
Sequoia Chiropractic’s home visit hours are MTWF 9am-2pm. If you have a new injury that needs urgent care outside of these hours, call or text 626-346-0977.
In fact, you can leave a message or text with Sequoia Chiropractic at ANY time, not just during home visit hours, and Dr. Phillips will respond as quickly as possible.
Check out Sequoia Chiropractic on social media!
Sequoia Chiropractic now has a car sign! If you see Pasadena’s concierge chiropractor driving around town, be sure to give her a wave.
Need a health and wellness speaker for your local event? How about a guest article or blog post? You can email me at drphillips@sequoiachiro.com.
Book Recommendations
I love to read, and in each newsletter I recommend a book or two pertaining to health. You can find them at your local library, or to purchase a copy, head to Sequoia Chiropractic’s bookshop.org storefront.
Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas
Alexi Pappas
This is one amazing memoir that, while laced with Pappas’ traumas, is not primarily about overcoming trauma. Pappas describes a childhood without a mother, her decision to become a professional athlete, and how she achieved her dreams to become an olympian, an actor, and a person of integrity. It’s full of wise one-liners such as “Food is a good way to show love to yourself,” and, “Asking for help is a superpower anyone can have but only some people use.” Pappas’ story is inspiring without being gimmicky, reflecting the mental strength of an athlete and the bravery it takes to know and better oneself.
Health Affirmation
A former professor of mine, after dealing with a huge grief, decided to run a marathon. She was not a runner, and with only six months to prepare, she registered for the marathon at Disney World. She admits at the time she had no idea what she was doing–but lo and behold, she finished that marathon, and several more after that.
What do you wish for, big or small, that seems unattainable? What if you instead consider how it COULD be attainable? Whatever seems brave or crazy, consider what it would take to make it happen, and remember to take care of yourself (“sleep like a baby”) as you work toward it!
Nutrition Spotlight: Curalieve
Turmeric is widely known to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is not well-absorbed from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream. The nutritional supplement Curalieve uses cutting-edge technology to put curcumin, the anti-inflammatory compound of turmeric, in its most bioavailable form to date.
Backed by research, Curalieve comes from Integrative Therapeutics, a company that upholds a truth-in-labeling philosophy: what’s on the label is in the bottle, and what’s in the bottle is on the label. Their manufacturing facility is certified by the FDA, even though supplement companies in the US are not required to have such certification.
When would a person take Curalieve? Immediately I think of using it for low back pain flare-ups, any sort of spinal disc-related pain, or sciatica. Curalieve can be taken anytime one would reach for an over-the-counter non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, in place of or in addition to NSAIDs. It can even be taken regularly as a preventative to reduce overall inflammatory load. For any injury, consider Curalieve.
Order Curalieve and more at Sequoia Chiropractic’s Fullscript storefront, where all orders automatically receive a 10% discount and ship directly to you. Curious to shop before you buy? You can make a patient account with no obligation to make a purchase, and you’ll have access to all Dr. Phillips’ favorite supplements in the Fullscript catalog. To receive Dr. Phillips’ expert nutritional guidance, call 626-346-0977.
One More Thing
All right, enough seriousness for one newsletter. Here’s an SNL sketch about the folkloric Christmas Krampus played by Bowen Yang that has kept me giggling for weeks.
Happy Holidays!
May your feet, fingers, and spiced beverages stay toasty this winter.
And may your cats stay out of the Christmas tree in favor of terrorizing the Krampus.
Thank you for reading the newsletter! If you have a friend who would enjoy it, please share it with them. See you in February 2024!
