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Years ago I worked at a busy clinic in Indiana. One day a young mom came in with her baby asleep in a carrier. When the mother lay prone, I noticed a cheerio stuck to her backside.

What is the right thing to do in this sort of situation? Politely say something and risk embarrassing her, or say nothing at all?

I chose the latter. With the movement from adjusting her spine, the cheerio unstuck itself, fell to the floor, and rolled under the table. I chuckled to myself, not at this patient, but at how silly the situation was. I could totally picture this happening to my own mom, or to my older cousin with a daughter, or really any mom. It was just one of those funny, human things we experience that may cost a bit of dignity, but the reward is a bit of levity. Yet by saying nothing, there was no chance for us to connect in this human moment together.

Patients sometimes worry about having a doctor come to their home for a visit. While home visits are a useful service, it’s a change in the traditional dynamics of a doctor visit. Usually patients must conform to the systems and routines of the doctor’s office. There’s an unofficial script to interactions there: check in at the front desk, receive a clipboard for paperwork, wait for your name to be called, and so forth.

I’ve noticed with concierge care that there is more give and take in the routine of each visit. The patients I visit are creating a clinic anew with me in the moment. We greet each other, they show me where to set up, pets wander over to say hello as the patient shares what’s new since the last visit and we get to the adjustment.

Even though I am the doctor, it is borrowed space: I am in service to you in your home. Doctoring can feel paternalistic, but with home visits it lends itself to partnership. And with that partnership comes a bit of vulnerability–something I hadn’t anticipated when I chose to create a concierge practice.

I find comfort in our shared humanity–that sometimes I sweat like crazy while I’m working, and sometimes the family dog will stick his nose in my business, and sometimes a cheerio sticks to your pants–and in our shared humanity, healing happens.

Yours in health,

Announcements

Dr. Phillips will be out of town Thursday 10/3 through Sunday 10/6. Feel free to text or leave a voicemail for any scheduling needs while she is away, and she will get back to you ASAP.
Sequoia Chiropractic’s clinical care hours are MTWF 9am-3pm. If you have a new injury that needs urgent care outside of these hours, call or text 626-346-0977. Feel free to leave a voicemail or text ANY TIME and Dr. Phillips will return contact as soon as possible.
Do you know someone who would benefit from a chiropractic adjustment? Invite them to fill out the contact form. It’s the best way for new patients to get in touch.
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Sequoia Chiropractic now offers an exclusive service for newsletter subscribers. Receive a free 15-minute nutrition consultation with Dr. Phillips via phone or video call. To find out how nutrition can help you, fill out this form.

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Book Recommendations

To find the list of every book featured in the newsletter, head to Sequoia Chiropractic’s bookshop.org storefront.

Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro

I read this book five years ago and I still think about what it’s about and how it made me feel. It’s one of those books that really hits you once you put together what’s going on. Ishiguro’s meandering narration of Kathy reflecting on her life lures you deeper into her past and present and what the future holds for her and the others that grew up at Hailsham.

Just like Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun, there’s a science fiction component to the story, but the novel is not typical science fiction–it’s moreso literary, not plot-oriented the way I find sci-fi can be.

What I love about Ishiguro’s writing is how it approaches our humanity from angles that make the tragedy of hubris feel like a revelation. In our search for longevity (Never Let Me Go), dignity (Remains of the Day), or technological advancement (Klara and the Sun), what do we lose?

Health Affirmation

I recently thought about the resolutions I made at the beginning of the year to both meditate and play piano more often. So far, I have done little of either, but every day is an opportunity to change that.

What is something you keep wishing to do? For your health, for your sanity, for your enjoyment? Whatever it is, you can start today.

Nutrition Spotlight:

Safe Supplementation

Several years ago, I began taking a magnesium supplement for migraine prevention. The tablets were nothing special–I found a brand on Amazon that looked fine and reordered it every couple of months. Then I found results from independent testing that showed this particular brand of magnesium had been found to contain arsenic at above-safe levels.

I was horrified, but could I really be surprised? Nutritional supplements are not regulated in the United States the way that food and prescription drugs are regulated. Nutrition companies do not have to demonstrate that their supplements are effective for certain health problems the way that pharmaceuticals must go through clinical trials to prove effectiveness. Nutrition companies don’t even have to match what’s in the bottle with what’s on the label.

To some people, this is enough reason to write off supplements completely. I, however, think there can be great value in taking supplements. (For example, taking a vitamin B-complex daily has resolved a persistent dull ache at the back of my head.) It all comes down to whether the company who manufactures the supplements can be trusted. Companies build trust through transparency, third-party testing, and clinical results. I sift through the research to find reliable companies so that you don’t have to.

I have a handful of nutrition companies I rely on, and I can recommend any combination of their products to you via Fullscript.

I love Fullscript because it fits perfectly with the concierge model of care at Sequoia Chiropractic. You receive tailored recommendations from a variety of companies that I’ve vetted, available to order in one platform and shipped to your door. It’s a great setup!

If you have questions about how particular nutritional supplements could help you, I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me. The form you fill out is not only for scheduling, but for you to provide preliminary information to help streamline our talk and make the 15 minutes count. Your time is valuable and I want to use it well! Alternatively, if you prefer to ask questions your own way, you can reach out anytime via phone or email.

Ultimately, I want to do whatever I can to help you reach your health goals. I think that nutritional support is an excellent complement to chiropractic, providing you a two-pronged approach for natural healing.

To receive Dr. Phillips’ expert nutritional guidance and personalized recommendations, sign up for a free 15-minute nutrition consultation by tapping the button below.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

One More Thing

It’s apple season! Check out comedian Brian Frange’s website dedicated to reviewing apples good and bad. Explore his reviews of all varieties of apples, and see if you agree with his take on your favorites. I knew he was onto something when I saw his tagline for red delicious: “coffee grinds in a leather glove”. 100% accurate.

I was excited to try Kanzi apples (“The European Party Apple”) after reading Brian’s rave review. My take: It deserves to be the #1 ranked sour apple. Tart, not too sweet, the perfect texture, and delicious with almond butter!

See you in November!