Arbor Vitae Wellness Center

Whatever other healing you’re looking to do at Arbor Vitae, do not leave the center without getting a life-​altering massage by Anasa. This magical lady is both intuitive and highly skilled, and she will heal you from the outside in and the inside out. Some massages feel wonderful but don’t have much of a lasting effect, and others are of the teeth-​gritting variety from which you have to recover. Neither of these is what you’ll get from Anasa. She’ll soothe your muscles and your nerves, and I always feel so much better immediately afterwards as well as in days to follow. Her specialty is definitely female-​focused, with attention to body-​mind/​spirit connection. I’ve been her client for years, and it’s lovely to now see her at Arbor Vitae. The street parking is easy, the desk staff warm and efficient, and the space inviting in a very feng shui kind of way.

After my car accident, I cringed at the idea of needing physical therapy from a chiropractor. I worried that many of them were insufficiently skilled and in health care primarily for money. Dr. Guirguis at Arbor Vitae is highly skilled and cares A LOT about my health. He listens to me and my body, does aggressive or mild adjustments as needed, and basically helped restore me from the mess I was months ago to the moderate athlete I was before my accident. He is kind, courteous, punctual, and his staff is the same. I never wait more than 5 minutes to get in. I’d recommend this place to anyone who got messed up in an accident or otherwise needs physical therapy, especially if you, like me, are not sold on the idea of chiropractic medicine in general. I’m now a believer. Thanks, Dr. G!

I’ve seen Dr. Magdy Guirguis for several years at Arbor Vitae and he’s the only chiropractor that I trust to do my spinal adjustments. I had a few car accidents over the years (where I was not at fault) that left me with whiplash in my neck and also low-​back pain. Dr. Guirguis excels because he puts you back in the best spinal alignment without aggressive adjustments.
I’ve seen several physical therapists and also other chiropractors and Dr. Guirguis is one of the few who could adjust my low back properly.
I’ve very active with sports and he is also practices yoga and does sports, so he understands what his active patients are doing.
He also provides important education about the best positions to sleep and move, as you are healing, so that you don’t aggravate an injury you’re healing.
His staff is always professional and warm. For these reasons, I give Dr. Guirguis my highest recommendation, and if I could, I’d give him 10 stars.
Update: 1÷18÷16: On a follow-​up visit for chiropractic, I had a massage booked before my chiropractic appointment. Anasa is one of the massage therapists here at Arbor Vitae and she will turn you into putty! Sensitive to what you request, she is able to work on your muscles intelligently, as she did with me, working on a muscular knots in my upper back. Book Anasa if you want to receive a therapeutic massage that will leave you feeling like new!

I rarely write reviews, but more than happy to for MAGDY aka «Dr. G» and his staff at the Arbor VItae/​Advanced CHiro Care. I have been a patient for several years. I had extremely bad back pain and tried PT, acupuncture, and finally a epidural. He was key in the process of when to adjust and help guide me through the process. He treats when it’s necessary and always has your best interest, which is so refreshing. He just recently helped get me back to the gym after a back flair up.
His energy and enthusiasm makes it evident how much he enjoys his work. I feel very confident referring him to my friends.

I’d had neck pain for years but just thought that was part of being an active, high stress person. It finally got to the point where I was having neck spasms at least every other week — being unable to turn my head to one side for a few days. That’s when I started going to see Dr. Guirguis. The adjustments, ultra-​sound and other work have been HUGELY beneficial. Dr. G also showed me that my posture is what’s causing the pain. I’m not a hunched over or slouching person — no one has ever told me that I had «bad» posture. But slight things cause all of this pain. I shouldn’t have waited so long to go, I could have started being better years and years ago. Had I waited longer, I could have really done permanent harm to my body, beyond just being in pain. Super happy with the experience. Everyone on staff is incredibly positive, sociable and knowledgeable. The «body work» (aka massage) is truly outstanding. Highly recommend.

Everyone in the front office is very friendly the office has a very warm and inviting décor, the doctors are caring and concerned about your healthVanessa T

A few years ago I could barely walk due to pain in my hip and found Arbor Vitae and Dr. Guirguis through Unilocal.After several visits to Dr. G, along with following his steady advice, I was back to normal and continue to keep his advice in mind when doing my favorite activities: yoga, pilates, running.
A year ago I saw a man struggling to walk up a set of stairs. It turned out it was my Dad. I knew he had back problems but was shocked at how bad it had become. I referred him to Dr. G and saw his quality of life improve first hand.
I’m now back to seeing Dr. G because of an acute shoulder injury and am on my way to recovery. I’m so grateful for Dr. G and his staff. I can’t recommend their services enough!

Never made it into the office to have one of these chiropractors work on me because they called me ½ hour before my appointment to let me know they couldnt verify my insurance and I would have to pay full price. They are on my company’s provider list. I was certainly taken back and frustrated as I made the appointment 3 hours prior. They should have handled this differently as I had to rush around to try and get another doctor to see me which certainly isnt fun with a pinched nerve in your back. The only reason I didnt not give them a 1 on the rating is one of the doctor’s called me a while later asking if I found another doctor. If I hadnt he would see me regardless. I wish they would have simply done this from the start.

Dr. Emily Dashiell: I first was introduced to Dr. Emily by my primary healthcare physician at a clinic in San Diego. Since the first consultation, I was so impressed with her that she became my healthcare provider of choice until she moved her practice to Los Angeles county. I live in Orange County but since I have found her again, it is very much worth the drive to go see her for my health needs.
I am an older gentleman and have been cared for by many MDs throughout California and Massachusetts in my sixty plus years. With all sincerity I will say that Dr. Dashiell is he best Healthcare provider that I have ever had. She is an excellent active listener, very thorough in her exams and diagnoses, has an excellent doctor/​patient demeanor; but most important — she knows her stuff.
I see her for health maintenance, however if I am ill, the natural remedies that she prescribes work better for me than prescription drugs. I actually heal faster.
Tony E.

I have been a patient of Dr. Guirguis’ for at least 6 years. I have practiced yoga for over 10 years and had a shoulder injury for a long time before I got proper treatment. A yoga instructor of mine referred me to Dr. G after my injury prevented me from doing certain yoga poses. I am so glad I went to see him.
He helped my shoulder and since he’s a yogi too, can provide excellent advice on poses that I should /​shouldn’t be doing, give modifications on poses, and even recommend yoga teachers in the area. I still see Dr. G a couple of times a month for maintenance.
He really cares about his patients health and wellness. I would highly recommend going to see Dr. G. for your chiropractic care.
Also, the staff Arbor Vitae Wellness Center is awesome. They are very accommodating and helpful!
Tip: Dr. G works Mon, Wed, Fri. Also, there is paid parking lot for the building, but it can be expensive, but you can usually find street parking around the building.

Outstanding doctor! When I moved to Santa Monica from the Midwest, I worried about finding a good chiropractor because I had seen an outstanding doctor for more than 10 years. It was a huge blessing to find Dr. Guirguis. He is not only an excellent doctor, but a compassionate caregiver. He is thorough, encouraging, positive and wise. I feel like I’ve known him for years even though it’s only been a short time. The staff is friendly, helpful and efficient, too. I’m very grateful to have found Dr G and the folks at Arbor Vitae!

It sucks getting old, mostly because stuff starts to break and hurt. Got out of bed and couldn’t move my neck… was recommended by my dad to go get it checked out. Magdy is the best, keeps u relaxed even though he’s about To crack you and when he was done I felt better almost instantly! I go now about once every two months for maintenance and wouldn’t go anywhere else. Thanks dr. G

I’ve been seeing Dr Dashiell at Arbor Vitae for several months now and have really appreciated her input on some long standing health issues (mostly chronic headaches and low energy). She is so comprehensive and takes her time asking all kinds of questions to get to the bottom of the problem.
She also suggested several lab tests I take and the results were very informative – I was surprised they hadn’t been recommended to me by any of the traditional MD’s I’ve seen over the years.
After a comprehensive discussion, she comes up with a treatment plan that includes things like dietary changes or herbal supplements. I also see her for B Complex injections. I would highly recommend her services and have enjoyed the process of getting healthier with her help!

I want to thank Magdy and his staff at Arbor Vitae for their great work and help. Here’s my recent story: I was traveling abroad and suffering from two herniated discs, with severe-​did I say SEVERE severe sciatic radicular pain and it was difficult and sometimes impossible for me to walk. On arrival back in LA, I went into the office on Friday Oct. 26^th. I walked in on crutches and bent over with pain. had a treatment and when it was done I could not even get up off the table alone and needed the help of Magdy and his intern to stand-​up. I had an epidural cortisone shot booked for that Monday October 29^th at 9 am. But things improved slowly but surely over the weekend and by Monday morning, I drove over to the Surgery Center in Beverly Hills, and walked upstairs. no crutches… I was walking so straight and nearly pain free that it seemed absurd that I was even at a Surgery Center. Still, I signed in… but then I went to the bathroom and phoned Magdy. I told him that I felt so much better after his treatment that the epidural seemed unnecessary. We spoke about the pros and cons and he urged me to make my own decision. My decision was to leave the surgery center and drive right back over to his office for another treatment. Now, one week and three more treatments later, my pain is further drastically reduced, my walking is practically normal, and Im getting ready to go out tonight to see a movie. MUCHAS GRACIAS!
Highy Recommended!

Best chiro on the west side. He helped me through an injury and I have referred many friends to him who he has helped. He is patient and kind and honest about what you need. If you’re looking for a chiro practice with a holistic approach, he’s your guy. His reception desk has been beyond accomodating to my changing shedule and they always have a smile on their face. His team has the best energy and disposition. Naoko and Cali… thank you so much for being so understanding.
I completely disagree with the reviewer below who gave Dr. G a 1star. I had to laugh, he clearly doesnt know how chiropractic care works in general. My father is a doctor and there is no such thing as a one time cure. Especially not if you want long term healing (There’s obviously a reason he went back to look for care again). Dr. G is very honest about your recovery process as long as you communicate with him and explain your concerns. He is always compassionate and accommodating. Let the other reviews speak for themselves. 5 stars all around. Dr. G is the best.

I was skeptical when a yoga friend suggested I see Dr. Guirguis for the torn meniscus in my right knee. The year before I had torn the meniscus in my left knee and my orthopedic surgeon told me surgery was my only option, if I wished to remain active. I did not want to undergo surgery again, yet my problem was not my neck or back, so I did not understand how Dr. Guirguis might be able to help me.
I don’t know the full definition of a chiropractor, I always thought it was someone who adjusts your spine, but Dr. Guirguis does a whole lot more than that. He is a healer. I started seeing Dr. G. at the end of November of 2011, at which time I had difficulty walking up and down stairs and had to completely modify my yoga practice. My knee was so inflamed I could not even get all the way down in child’s pose! Dr. G told me at the very beginning that he could not promise me anything and that we would be able to tell within the first couple of weeks whether my knee was responding to treatment. I saw him twice a week for the first month and I started to feel improvement the first week. Also, because Dr. G. knows yoga, he was able to tell me which poses to modify and what movements to avoid to help my knee heal. He encouraged icing to reduce inflammation and explained that we needed to reduce the inflammation in order to allow the knee to heal.
At the end of December I went back to see my orthopedic surgeon and he would not even order an MRI for me. He said «your knee is healing; you don’t need an MRI because I wouldn’t perform surgery on you». I was really amazed to hear this out of the mouth of a surgeon!
It is now 8 weeks since I first went to see Dr. G. My yoga practice is back to where it was before I injured myself and I have no pain. At the time it seemed like it was taking forever, but now I look back and cannot believe how quickly I have healed. I am so grateful to Dr. Guirguis for his compassion, his honesty and his healing hands!

I was not impressed. I hurt my back exercising. This has happened before and the last guy I went to fixed me in one session and my back felt great for a year afterwards until I did something else stupid to my back. Guirguis just gave me an adjustment like everyone else then tried to get me to continually come back twice a week with no plan of finishing treatment. I went three times until I noticed the pattern and didn’t come back. I don’t appreciate being manipulated like that when my health and well-​being are on the line.

40+ years ago I suffered a back injury as a result of a mid-​air collision with another parachutist in a military mass equipment jump. The result was a damaged disc that caused constant pain for decades. About 8 years ago, I found Dr. Guirguis, and he managed to reduce the pain to the point where there were many days when I finally began to remember what it was like to be pain-​free. He also sent me to practice yoga with some of LA’s best yoga instructors – that alone changed my life for the better. Over the years, I have come back to him for various issues, all of which were a result of my overenthusiastic physical activity. He has always gotten me back up and into the action within a week or two. Ten days ago, in a moment of inattention, I reinjured my back in the same place – I had forgotten how badly I had injured myself earlier and it was a sharp reminder of why I had come to him in the first place. It felt like I was back to square one. It took about 5 or 6 visits, some strong counseling from him about giving it time to heal, and maybe 12 days but I am back in the mix and feeling great again. I know so many people who have been helped by Dr. Guirguis and they all swear by him. When you come in, the odds are that he will look at you and know what is wrong before you get the words out of your mouth – I think he’s a genius at what he does. If you’ve got physical pain, come see Dr. Guirguis – he’ll take great care of you. If you have something that’s not in his specialty, he’ll send you to someone who can. You’ll never meet a more competent and nicer man.

Couldn’t agree more with Nicki H.‘s review. Dr. Guirguis and his whole office are exceptional. He really is a partner in one’s overall health. I brought my 3 year old to him after getting an amazing referral off of a parent’s listserve and I was blown away by his knowledge, skill and caring. He spent time and energy thinking about our issue even when we weren’t in the office and went above and beyond the normal call of duty to help. He is one in a million. I will definitely go to see him again for adult issues as well.
This is a follow up to my outstanding experience bringing my son to Dr. Guirguis last year. I have had a cough for the last 6 weeks and the other day I actually damaged my coccyx and perineum by coughing so much and so hard (yes, this can really happen!). The pain was so intense I couldn’t sit down, not even on my soft bed, nor could I even lie down or sleep. I didn’t know what to do and remembered Dr. Guirguis. They kindly squeezed me in for an emergency appointment the next morning. Seriously, the guy is amazing. He quickly and expertly did a bunch of different treatments on me and not only did the pain all but go away after that first visit, he also drained my sinuses and helped my cough. He is an amazing combination of skilled practitioner with a really caring and intuitive healer. He is exceptional. Oh, and the vibe in the office is still as friendly and professional as when I brought my son a year ago.

Dr G is simply amazing.
I’ve been seeing him for every kind of ache or pain since 2005. He’s successfully treated everything from my high mileage running injuries, to stress-​induced muscle spasms and acute pain.
He adjusts very confidently — he knows exactly where he wants things to go — and genuinely cares for his patients. What I like most about him is that he’s never tried to sell me a program of visits. He also consistently devises solutions to problems that other practitioners miss.
His office staff, Naoko in particular, are equally outstanding — you never wait.
I would not trust my body to any other chiropractor.