SOHMA Integrative Medicine

We offer the best of Eastern & Western medicine without using drugs or surgery

Dr. Daniel Hoover

3 Benefits of IV Therapy

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You may have heard of what an IV is at some point, usually used in hospitals to rehydrate and deliver medication but did you know that IVs can be used therapeutically as well? Much like its medical counterpart, IV therapy uses the IV as a delivery method for fluids, minerals, and vitamins in order to make you feel revitalized, reenergized, and overall wellness.

At SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach CA we offer IV therapy featuring the Myer’s Cocktail which is a blend of Vitamin C,B Complex, Magnesium and Calcium. The Myer’s Cocktails uses vary from person to person as depending on your lifestyle you may be looking to supplement your body with different vitamins and minerals. IV therapy is known to have many different benefits such as:

  • Detoxification
  • Rehydration
  • Immune System Support
  • Increased Energy Levels
  • Promotes Cardiovascular Health
  • Promotes Relaxation

Myer’s cocktail has also been used to help treat a number of condition like:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Migraines
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Acute Muscle Spasms
  • Respiratory Problems 

In today’s article we are going to focus on 3 of the benefits of IV therapy and how it can be helpful in your busy day to day life.

Quick Rehydration

In order for your body to function properly you need it to be properly hydrated. as dehydration can lead to loss of strength, stamina and focus. When your body lacks proper hydration for extended periods of time you may notice a change in not only your physical conditioning but you may notice you have become easily irritable.

Long periods of exercise, excessive heat during hot seasons or a night out of drinking can all cause you to exhibit effects of dehydration. IV therapy’s ability to restore fluids and electrolytes by directly delivering saline which is the fluid used in the Myer’s cocktail. And the added B vitamins in the blend gives you a boost in energy while relieving dizziness and nausea.

Detoxification

Living in major cities has its perks, but they also cause us to be exposed to toxins like car pollution, smoke from cigarettes or fires, pesticides, heavy metals and more. Having too many toxins in your system can make you feel sluggish, and leave you with a lack of energy. While it is important to avoid unhealthy choices in our lives, consider using Myer’s cocktail IV therapy as a form of detoxification. 

The added vitamins complex and vitamin c will result in a natural boost in energy and help prevent you from reaching out for coffee or energy drinks caffeine. Drinks that would flood your body with unwanted chemicals and sugars.

Immune System Support

In today’s environment it is more important than ever to make sure your body’s immune system is defending you from infections. One of the most effective methods to support an immune system is through IV therapy.

IV therapy helps your immune system by delivering necessary vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and magnesium which are known to help boost your natural immunities directly into your bloodstream. Why is this so important? When you consume foods or multivitamin tablets they first have to go through your digestive system which can break down some of the nutrients, meaning you are using far less than you were expecting. By going directly through the IV into your bloodstream you receive a more concentrated dose of vitamins, and your body receives them more efficiently which tests your body use them faster.

There are many other benefits to the Myer’s Cocktail and IV therapy that you can read about in our Blog if you are interested. Like how it can aid with respiratory problems or how it can help with migraine.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

3 Reasons To Consider Joint Injections

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There are millions of Americans suffering from joint related pains every day, whether it is caused by tendonitis, arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, perhaps you have a nagging knee, ankle or shoulder injury. If the pain you are suffering is becoming more frequent or more intense you may need to look into getting Joint Injections.

What are Joint Injections?

At SOHMA integrative medicine in Long Beach CA, we use Cellular Regenerative Therapy, as well as Platelet Rich Plasma. This unique approach to repairing the human body aims to regenerate and replace damaged tissue and restore your body’s health and natural functions.

What is Platelet Rich Plasma and Cellular Regenerative Therapy?

Blood is first drawn from the patient, following this the plasma is separated from the red blood cells.This process does not remove platelets leaving a concentrated platelet rich plasma behind to be injected back into the patient joints where the Platelet Rich Plasma can help in reducing pain, inflammation, improve joint function and in some cases halt or slow down the damage to the joint. Cellular Regenerative Therapy is also used as a treatment for repairing and regenerating damaged tissue. Also known as Human Cellular Tissue Products (HCTP), these injections support the body’s healing without the need for surgeries or the use of modern pharmaceuticals.In today’s article I’m going to give 3 reasons as to why you should consider joint injections to aid with your pain and recovery.

Aging

Growing old is normal, but with it comes natural wear and tear. Slowly our bodies begin to break down, we lose muscle mass, our tendons and ligaments become less flexible, loss of bone density, and cartilage within joints wears away. These changes can cause a number of problems for our bodies including arthritis which limits the range of motion of your joints as well as causing swelling, stiffness and pain especially in your hands and feet.

Joint Injections can be used to slow the wearing down done to the cartilage in your joints caused by aging. By reducing the swelling in the affected area Joint Injections can aid in regaining some mobility to your limbs. Depending on the severity, Joint Injections may not be able to reverse all the damage done to the soft tissue, though Platelet Rich Plasma Injections and Cellular Regenerative Therapy have been shown to aid in relieving pain. Do not ignore your symptoms, beginning treatment as soon as possible can help in mitigating long term effects.

Injury

Accidents and injuries can leave long term damage to your body, causing lingering discomfort and pain. Many times these can damage soft tissue. Chronic injuries which are injuries caused by overuse of a joint or muscle group can develop slowly and over time. If these are not treated in a timely manner they can result in pain, inflammation, and discomfort for years or in some cases permanently.

Due to the nature of some injuries, a full recovery may not be possible, especially if the injury is left untreated for an extended period of time. However, Joint Injections can be used to reduce swelling and pain giving you relief. 

For more serious injuries you may require more than just Joint Injections for your recovery. Feel free to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA about complementary treatments such as Chiropractic Care or Massage Therapy which combined with Joint Injections can be used as a more well rounded treatment.

Post Surgery Recovery

Sometimes after all alternative treatments are exhausted you may ultimately require surgery. Not only are surgeries expensive, recovery time from these procedures can be days, weeks or months. Many of us don’t have that kind of luxury.

Joint Injections have been used  to help patients heal from surgeries more swiftly. By increasing the level of Platelets or Human Cellular Tissue Products in the affected area, inflammation can be reduced and tissue can be regrown and repaired. This can greatly reduce the necessary time needed for recovery and shorter recovery periods means getting back to your normal life sooner.

The goal is to return you back to a pain free lifestyle the most natural way possible.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

What are the Benefits of Using Cupping?

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If you are not yet familiar with cupping, allow me to introduce you to this therapy which has been used by celebrities and professional athletes alike. Today we’ll go over a little bit of Cuppings history as well as the benefits cupping therapy provides. 

You may be asking, what is Cupping? How is it beneficial?

Like many alternative wellness practices, Cupping has been around for thousands of years and can be traced back to traditional Chinese medicine. In recent history Cupping has been popularized in the west by Olympic athletes as well as professional football players when reporters noticed circular marks on the back and shoulders of these athletes.

Cupping is known as a form of alternative medicine, in which localized suction is applied to the skin in order to stretch the tissue and increase blood flow. This will draw fresh oxygenated blood to the targeted area. The suction also stretches the fascia which are layers of tissue around the muscles. Many who use Cupping regularly have seen noticeable improvements when suffering from various conditions such as:

  • Fever
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Poor Appetite
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Cramping
  • Knee/Leg Pain
  • Headaches
  • Mental Health

Now that you are a little more familiar with cupping, here are a few of the benefits of using Cupping.

Increased Circulation

Sometimes due to our lifestyle choices our organs designed to remove toxins from our body need some help in order to keep up. 

As stated previously by having the skin and muscle be stretched into the cup, your body will naturally increase blood flow into the treated tissue. The increase in circulation can then flush stagnated toxins as well as attract immune cells. Increased immune cells and blood flow can then assist with cell repair and help new soft tissue to form. The additional blood flow can also help reduce inflammation which has the added benefit of reducing healing time of aches and pains.

Mental Health

Cupping has the ability to help you relax during the treatment, this feeling of relaxation will continue on after the Cupping session is done. This can help insomnia by improving the quality of sleep as well as how long you can remain sleeping through the night. Sleep helps with physical and mental recovery, poor sleep can lead to poor physical recovery. When you are not feeling physically well then it becomes difficult to fall asleep.

Cupping therapy can soothe the parasympathetic nervous system when the therapist slides the cups across your exposed skin, these are the nerves that manage the organs that help cleanse the body of toxins. When the parasympathetic nervous system is engaged it will encourage relaxation, it will then help alleviate stress and eases anxiety.

Pain Management 

Many athletes use Cupping as a form of pain relief for chronic pain. This is not exclusively for elite athletes who push their bodies to the limit of human capabilities though. Shoulder pain and lower back pain can affect anybody regardless of whether you are an office worker or representing your country at the olympics.

When using Cupping to mitigate pain the stretching of the muscle in the cup soothes can soothe the overactive muscles causing pain. As Cupping promotes blood circulation this can bring with it endorphins which are a naturally occurring pain reliever your own body creates. Resulting in pain reduction and an elevated mood.

Scar Tissue and Varicose Veins

The final benefit I want to talk about is Cupping has the ability to reduce scar tissue, stretch marks and varicose veins. The increased blood flow aids your body in flushing out toxins and helps remove excess fluid. It can also help break down scar tissue adhesion, this helps reduce the appearance of scarring even when the cup isn’t being applied directly over the scarred tissue.

Varicose veins look like swollen and bruised veins just under your skin, usually appearing on your feet and legs. They occur when the valves within the vein do not work properly which leads blood to congest within them and the vein itself to swell. Cupping’s ability to bring an increased flow of fresh oxygenated blood into the problem areas, you may notice the the varicose vein begin to lose their color after only one session, though for longer lasting results you may need multiple sessions.

Feel free to ask us any questions you may have about Cupping therapy, our helpful staff is always willing to help with any concerns you may have about cupping therapy. Our goal is to provide healing and wellness in the most natural way possible.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

What does Peripheral Neuropathy feel like?

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First off, what is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is an umbrella term used to describe the condition of nerve damage and the symptoms caused by the damage done to those nerves. The term peripheral, means extremities such as the muscles and senses in your arms, hands, legs and feet.

Peripheral Neuropathy can be caused by a variety of reasons including but not limited to viral, bacterial, fungal infection,diabetes, injury and exposure to toxins. Though rarely fatal, some of the symptoms caused by Peripheral neuropathy can be life altering and debilitating.

What does Peripheral Neuropathy feel like?

The symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy are as varied as the causes, today we are going to talk about what Peripheral Neuropathy feels like. If you think you may be suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy we urge you to see your primary care provider as an early diagnosis can be extremely helpful in managing symptoms and even repairing the damaged nerves.

Numbness and tingling

One of the more common symptoms caused by Peripheral Neuropathy is numbness of your hands and feet. Granted this can also happen during long periods of sitting causing tingling sensation in your legs. And sleeping on your side can also cause numbness on the arm you were lying on. Always keep in mind the frequency of the numbness or tingling. If it becomes a frequent occurrence it’s a sign that you may be dealing with Peripheral Neuropathy.

The tingling sensation of your hands and feet can sometimes be accompanied by the feeling of pins and needles as well as an uncomfortable burning sensation. Patients suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy tend to have more frequent symptoms in the evenings but they can develop to occur even during the day.

Pain

Pain is usually not seen as one of the more common symptoms but it usually occurs in the hands and feet. Additionally, pain in neck, back and face can also be part of the symptoms.

When pain is present as a symptom it tends to be unusually extreme and Intense. This pain is among the most debilitating symptoms for patients, and oftentimes the neurological origin of the pain can be misdiagnosed. This results in delayed or inadequate treatment of underlying conditions leaving the patient dealing with unnecessary pain from the damaged nerves.

Muscular

Many different muscular symptoms can be caused by Peripheral Neuropathy. These include weakness or loss of strength in your arms and legs, as well as your muscles feeling heavy or sluggish. Muscle cramps may also follow the aforementioned symptoms causing pain and difficulty moving.

Problems with hand to eye coordination may be experienced as well as a loss of balance causing potentially dangerous situations as a person can fall and injure themselves. Reaction time and slowed reflexes are additional symptoms as nerves become damaged.

When Peripheral Nerves are damaged it can also lead to muscle atrophy and a loss of muscle mass.

If you have been feeling any of the symptoms mentioned in this article for an extended period of time you may be suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy. As previously mentioned there are many underlying causes of Peripheral Neuropathy, and making sure you are properly diagnosed can be the difference between long term nerve damage and the path to recovery. 

At SOHMA integrative medicine in Long Beach CA we now offer regenerative cellular tissue repair therapy that can help repair the damaged nerves, and may be covered by Medicare. 

If you have any questions about Peripheral Neuropathy or Regenerative Cellular Tissue Repair Therapy feel free to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA Integrative Medicine for any further information.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

Tai Chi for Senior Citizens

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As you get older many activities that would normally be simple and easy become difficult and  sometimes even dangerous. There isn’t much that we can do to stop the aging process but we can make ourselves feel younger and stronger. A great way to do this is by exercising and staying in shape. I’m not suggesting something unreasonable, quite the opposite.

My suggestion is to take up our free Tai Chi class.

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art that combines meditation and spiritual focus with low impact movements which allow 99% of the population to practice including many senior citizens. This is because the movements are very gentle and the martial art focuses on muscle control, flexibility, balance, stability, and meditation.

It has been well documented that practicing Tai Chi improves mobility and balance in older people. Regular practice can also help reduce pain from osteoarthritis and other joints as well as significantly reducing the risk of falling among older adults. In this article we will take a look at debilitating conditions that can be managed with as little as a couple of months of continuously practicing Tai Chi.

Arthritis and Various Pains

For seniors, it is difficult for your body to respond the way it used to and unfortunately physical problems begin to manifest through no fault of your own. Joints begin to lose their cartilage which causes several forms of arthritis, that if left unchecked, can lead to the loss of mobility in your hands and legs due to the pain it causes when trying to move.

Tai Chi has been known to be as effective as physical therapy in reducing pain in the knees caused by arthritis and joint pain, although ideally combining both would yield the best results. The reason Tai Chi is so effective is because the movements used help joints retain their range of motion so that they don’t become stiff. Many other forms of exercise may cause too much pain in people suffering from arthritis but due to the low impact, gentle and slow movements in Tai Chi it doesn’t cause unnecessary pain.

Balance and Lowering the Risk of Falling 

Falling is one the most common forms of injury for senior citizens. In many cases the lack of mobility is the problem, but not the sole reason. Your ability to shift focus and tend to different tasks becomes affected as you become older as well. This is the reason why you may lack the reaction time to prevent yourself from losing your balance.

Tai Chi helps to train you to be more aware of your surroundings. As well as noticing your breathing rhythm, your mental processes and your movements all at the same time.

Finally, there is evidence to show that exercising and remaining active improves bone density, so in the event that you do fall, you are less likely to suffer major injuries.

Cardiovascular Health and Recovery

As an exercise, Tai Chi may not seem like it is an intense form of aerobic exercise, but this martial art has been shown to improve your cardiovascular system and as an aid in recovering from strokes. 

With a focus on breathing and relaxing, Tai Chi helps with high blood pressure, which puts less stress on your heart while exercising and strengthening it.

Many stroke survivors show weakness in parts of their body as well as a loss of balance. This is where Tai Chi can retrain your body to regain strength and balance safely. While using a new found presence of mind to become fully aware and have a better sense of control.

Mental Health

For seniors, taking care of mental health is incredibly important. Practitioners of Tai Chi have found that it not only helps them sleep without the use of sleep aids that may leave you groggy and at risk of falling, but also reduces stress, anxiety, depression and self-esteem. all of which reduce the risk of accidents and help you become more independent.

If you feel like you want to make a change in your life for the better and regain some of what may have been lost to time, we invite you to join us at Heartwell Park in Long Beach CA, we practice by the duck pond, where we have completely free Tai Chi classes for beginners.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.