SOHMA Integrative Medicine

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

Dr. Daniel Hoover

How to Use Tai Chi for Mood Improvement

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Free Tai Chi Classes in Long Beach Ca

Did you know that there exists a martial art that can help with improving your mood? 

Yes, you heard that right, a martial art that can improve your mood. The best part is that it’s low intensity making it perfect for anyone who is willing to give it a chance and as you will later see, completely free.

Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese martial art, can be beneficial in many different aspects of life. Whether it is to get a work out, reduce stress, increase mobility, flexibility or improve your mood. 

In this article we are going to mainly focus on how Tai Chi can be beneficial in improving your mood as well as why it is important for your mental health to not let the stresses of your life affect or dictate your attitude and outlook on life.

What is Tai Chi?

Let us start with some basic questions, what is Tai Chi? Why is it being practiced now?

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art dating back thousands of years, in which practitioners perform different poses while taking in deep breaths.

The practice of Tai Chi in modern times has become a very popular form of low impact exercise for people of any age group or physical fitness. The simple reason being that due to the calming nature of the practice it  is sometimes referred to as meditation in motion

By coordinating mental focus, deep rhythmic breathing and body postures it has been shown that Tai Chi has beneficial effects on both your physical and psychological well being. Such as increased mobility and stamina as well as reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Why is it Important to Improve My Mood?

Improvement in mood is not as shallow as being able to tolerate people you work with or not getting upset at other drivers on the road.

Well it does also mean those things, but more importantly actively improving your mood helps you feel more in control. Because you are taking an active role in your own treatment, you will see improvement in your self esteem as well as your confidence.

Your mood affects your mental health, your mental health affects every part of your life; It affects your physical health, relationships and how you feel about yourself. Poor mental health has been linked with many mood disorders such as:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Bipolar Disorder

 As well as physical issues like:

  • Digestive disorders
  • Lack of energy
  • Heart disease 
  • Headache
  • Stomachache

So why Choose Tai Chi?

It is well documented that exercise of any kind and meditation help improve your mood and mental health as well as your physical health.

But why choose to practice Tai Chi over hitting the gym? Great question! I’m glad you asked.

Tai Chi combines both exercise and meditation making it a very efficient exercise, with many people seeing positive results by practicing as little as one hour a week. Tai Chi also has a very low barrier of entry. No special uniform or equipment is necessary, just some comfortable clothes and shoes with no heels.

Not to mention classes are completely free. We offer free Tai Chi classes for beginners and students of any level. Feel free to ask the staff at SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach CA about our free Tai Chi classes. You are also welcomed to watch one of our free classes at Heartwell Park in Long Beach CA, right around the duck pond.

Ultimately the decision is in your hands to better your mood and mental health. We are here to give you the best options we can offer without the use of pharmaceuticals or other drugs.

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.

Reduce the Stress In Your Life Through the Traditional Martial Art of Tai Chi

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Practicing Tai Chi for Less than 1 Hour Weekly Can Lead to Stress Reduction

You may have seen it at your local park or gyms, a slow moving martial art practiced by students of every age and fitness level.

Why is it so popular? 

What benefits does it have?  

Today we will take a deep dive into the traditional Chinese martial art known as Tai Chi. How Tai Chi can be used to reduce stress, as well as why it is important to minimize stress in your daily life.

How Does Stress Affect You?

Symptoms of stress can be affecting your health without you noticing it. You may be blaming headaches, insomnia, muscle pain, upset stomach or fatigue on an illness, when stress may actually be the cause. These symptoms may cause other effects on your mood and emotional health such as:

  • Anxiety
  • Lack of focus
  • Irritability
  • Depression

It is very important to your health to try to actively manage your stress, as it can spiral into many other negative behaviors in order to cope with it, examples may be:

  • Heavy Drinking
  • Smoking
  • Over/Under Eating
  • Social Withdrawal
  • Anger Issues

Slow and Steady to Manage Stress

When life is stressful we often look for the quick fix. Who can blame us right? We are constantly seeing messages for programs like “6 minute abs” and “1 hour taxes”. It makes sense we like to get things done quickly.

Reducing stress can often be achieved through a slow and steady process. 

Tai Chi may help you find the quiet and calm you may be looking for. Often called meditation in motion because you combine controlled breathing with slow movements. Once you enter a state of mindfulness you begin to relax and reduce some of the built up stress you may be carrying.

A Simple Way to Get Started in Tai Chi…Absolutely FREE

The best way to learn how to practice Tai Chi is by taking a class. Your level of fitness does not matter, and you can always perform the movements within your limits when you start. Seeing a teacher performing the actions and receiving feedback alongside other students are all advantages to learning. We offer free Tai Chi classes for any level of students and we welcome beginners. Feel free to ask the staff at SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach CA about our free Tai Chi classes.

Long Term Benefits of Tai Chi

What are some of the long term benefits of Tai Chi? Many people have reported a significant improvement in their quality of sleep as well as a decrease in anxiety and panic attacks with as little as 2 days of Tai Chi classes a week for a couple months.

It has been expressed that slow mindful breaths, accompanied with the slow movements of Tai Chi have a positive effect on the nervous system and hormones that regulate mood. Which may help you relax and recover from built up muscle tension due to stress.

Tai Chi is also a very safe form of exercise. Because of its slow moving nature, people who suffer from heart disease or are physically limited can get regular physical activity. Consistent Tai Chi practice may help with weight control, increased physical activity and overall life quality improvement.

Is Tai Chi Right for Me?

Tai Chi is an excellent option for everyone. Due to the nature of the martial art practice it is available to anybody, at any age or any fitness level. If you still have any questions on whether or not Tai Chi is the right option to manage your stress, feel free to watch one of our free classes at Heartwell Park in Long Beach CA (by the duck pond). If you feel comfortable you are alway welcome to join our free community Tai Chi class 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.

Acute Muscle Spasms and the Use of the Myer’s cocktail

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Muscle Cramps and Muscles

Have you ever felt a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle? This is most commonly known as a muscle spasm, a charlie horse or a cramp. Most frequently it is a simple muscle cramp which can occasionally be accompanied by a sudden burst of pain. Muscle cramps are usually harmless and end within a few minutes.

Although they are generally harmless, frequent occurrences can definitely be irritating. Due to their sudden nature, they can abruptly interrupt an otherwise relaxing day. In this article we will focus on what causes acute muscle spasms and how Myer’s Cocktail can be used in order to help alleviate and prevent future symptoms

Muscle Spasm

A muscle spasm goes by many names such as a muscle cramp, a witch, or a charlie horse. A very common occurrence, they tend to be very uncomfortable and painful. Many people would agree that if they had the choice, they would rather not have that experience again. Muscle spasms occur for many reasons, most notably:

  • Muscle Pain
  • Muscle Fatigue
  • Muscle Overuse
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Low Electrolytes
  • Pinched Nerve

Though usually muscle spasms only cause discomfort, there are rare occasions when it is recommended visiting your primary medical provider if the pain persists for extended periods of time, have leg swelling, redness or other skin changes. As these can be symptoms of something more serious.

Causes of Muscle Spasms

Many times when you suffer a muscle spasm the cause is an oversight on our part either due to working too hard or working out too hard. Maybe you didn’t take enough breaks during work. Perhaps you forgot to stretch prior to exercising or maybe you went past your limits and this is an unwanted reward for your achievement. It is not uncommon for people to not hydrate enough while at the gym as well.

Other times it can be due to stressing in life or anxiety over events happening in the world or personal life.

What is the Myer’s Cocktail

The Myer’s Cocktail is a blend of vitamins and minerals including: magnesium, calcium, vitamin B complex and vitamin C. These are delivered via an IV drip, Meaning that by bypassing the digestive system you gain the benefits of the nutrients faster and at a more concentrated dose which shows results faster.

How does Myer’s Cocktail Help with Muscle Spasms?

Firstly since the Myers Cocktail is delivered intravenously through an IV drip, it rapidly re-hydrates the body, which can help your muscles loosen up.

Vitamin B complex is made up of multiple sets of B vitamins which the body uses to restore energy levels, promote cellular health and aid with proper nerve function. Vitamin B complex has also been shown to lift your spirits and improve cognitive effectiveness which helps with reducing stress and anxiety.

Vitamin C is a necessary nutrient that the body uses to develop and repair most muscle tissue. This can improve recovery and help with repairing the overused or fatigued muscles.

Is the Myer’s Cocktail the Right Treatment for Me?

Myer’s Cocktail can be the solution to your acute muscle spasm. But for us to be certain it is, we invite you to contact us at SOHMA at Long Beach Ca, so we can schedule a one on one consultation to discuss treatments. Or if you are unsure of anything regarding the Myer’s cocktail.

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.

How Ozone Therapy Can Improve Local Circulation

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Ozone Injection

Ozone Therapy? Ozone as part of a treatment program? You might be thinking what does Ozone, a gas most learned about in elementary science, have to do with a treatment program. We invite you to explore how ozone is used to treat different conditions.

Ozone is a gas most commonly associated with the atmosphere. It is the layer of gas that protects us from some of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Which in excess can cause skin cancer. But did you know that we can also use the power of ozone at ground level to help with healing?

In this article I’m going to share with you how ozone therapy can improve local blood circulation, why it is important and how this benefits your body in the healing process.

Importance of Blood Circulation

The importance of blood circulation can not be understated as it is absolutely necessary to maintain a healthy body. When blood circulation is poor it can cause an accumulation of fluids in certain areas of the body, often occurring in the arms, legs, ankles and feet. This swelling can occur when the heart can not properly supply blood through the body. Other symptoms of poor blood circulation are:

  • Varicose Veins (Spider Veins)
  • Skin Discoloration
  • Swelling of the Legs or Feet (Edema)
  • Split skin (weeping Eczema)
  • Ulcers
  • Aches and Pain in Limbs
  • Numbness and Tingling in Limbs

Poor blood circulation can also cause even minor injuries to take longer to heal. Meaning even a small bruise can become an ulcer and potentially become infected.

Although certain factors such as age, gender and even the weather can impact blood circulation. It is important for your health to have rich, oxygenated blood flowing properly throughout your body.

Varicose Veins

Also known as spider veins, this incredibly common condition which affects over 3 million Americans per year is the result of improper blood flow. This caused discoloration and swelling in the veins. The veins may appear larger than usually, twisted or appear to be in a cluster. They tend to also appear to have a prominent purple or blue color giving them their common name. Usually asymptomatic, some patients have reported to experience swelling, itching and pain in their legs.

Swelling (Edema)

It is common for the legs to experience swelling as a cause of poor blood flow. When blood flow is poor, swelling may be caused by blood pooling around the feet or ankles and forces fluids into surrounding blood vessels. Poor circulation caused by heart problems may cause abdominal swelling. If this is the case it is advised that you contact your primary physician to provide further diagnosis.

Numbness and Tingling

Another common symptom of poor circulation is feeling of numbness or “tingling” in your limbs. Due to the lack of blood flowing though your arms or legs you may feel them become cold or numb. And at some point you may also begin to have the feeling of pins and needles. This is commonly associated with blocked or compressed blood vessels which can interfere with blood circulation to the great.

Ozone Therapy

Ozone therapy is the administration of ozone (O3) for therapeutic treatment either as a standalone treatment or a complementary therapy to other treatments such as Myer’s cocktail IV therapy or Platelet Rich Plasma (prp) injections. Ozone improves blood flow in affected tissue and transports more oxygen to inflamed areas. Delivering more energy and improving the previously affected tissue. By improving blood flow it helps the liver to detoxify, this supports the liver in removing solids from the blood which promotes better circulation.

Feel free to ask the specialist at SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach CA if you are interested in complementary treatment options.

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.

Ozone Therapy, Damaged Cells, & Oxidative Stress

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When you hear ozone, the first thing that may come to mind is the atmospheric layer that acts as a shield to protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet light but there’s more to it than that. It also has therapeutic uses with the ability to repair damaged cells and reduce oxidative stress. Damaged cells make it difficult for the body to naturally detoxify itself. With limited ability to detoxify, your cells begin to suffer from oxidative stress. 

There are many other examples of the benefits of Ozone therapy, these include the following:

  • Pain relief
  • Improved immune system
  • Detoxification
  • Disinfectant
  • Treating arthritis
  • Fighting viral diseases

In this article we are going to focus mainly on the ability for ozone to repair damaged cells, which can aid in healing and recovery, as well as its ability to reduce oxidative stress. In fact, oxidative stress is the main cause for your body to recover slowly. At SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach California it is our mission to help people be relieved of pain and return to balance without the use of drugs or surgery.

Ozone Therapy

Ozone therapy is the therapeutic use of ozone in order to help the body recover and heal. Ozone therapy aids in the removal of antioxidants and other toxins from the body, preventing tissue damage and promoting cell repair. The injections result in higher energy levels and boost the immune system.

Ozone therapy can be used as a solo therapy or as a complementary therapy with a Myer’s Cocktail IV therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma injections or something more relaxing like massage therapy to help reduce stress and eliminate some free radicals. Ask the specialists at SOHMA Integrative Medicine if you are interested in these complementary therapies as well.

Damaged Cells

The cells in your body are constantly being damaged due to a number of factors, some of which are less avoidable like aging, genetics or the weather. Other times cells can be damaged due to chemicals, trauma, viral and bacterial infections, or impaired nutrient supply such as a shortage of glucose or oxygen.

Some cell damage can be reverted once the stress is removed or cells are properly supplied with required nutrients. Full function may return in some cases, though some level of injury may remain. Ozone therapy has been shown to have positive results in treating degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis and cardiovascular diseases. Ozone may also be able to reactivate dormant stem cells into producing new cells, which would lead to better cellular repair adiding shorter recovery times.

Oxidative stress

If you have felt fatigues, noticed wrinkles and gray hairs, have been having abnormal sensitivity to noise or headaches, you may be dealing with oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an irregularity that occurs when there is an imbalance between the production and accumulation of toxins in the cells and tissues of the body, and the ability for your body to detoxify itself. This imbalance is known to produce an excess of free radicals which interact with molecules within your cells resulting in damage causing stress.

To an extent, free radicals can be beneficial to stimulate cell repair, but become a problem when free radicals overwhelm the healing process. This occurs because the oxygen-containing molecules have an uneven number of electrons which allows them to react with other molecules. With regular ozone therapy it is possible to improve overall metabolism which helps the body remove the unnecessary free radicals and return the necessary balance within your body.

 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.