SOHMA: The Path to Tai Chi & Qi Gong Mastery

SOHMA (School of Healing Martial Arts): The Path to Tai Chi & Qi Gong Mastery. Transform your health with expert training. Join our community and start today.

SOHMA Interactive Medicine Pain

How is Spinal Decompression Done?

by

spinal decompression

There are two forms of Spinal Decompression. Surgical and non-surgical, but let’s steer away from any surgical procedures that may leave you bedridden for weeks, and focus more on the non surgical Spinal Decompression which can bring relief to patients without the need of invasive surgeries and long recovery times.

You may have some questions about how the procedure is done. You may also be wondering about what causes spinal compression. Today we’ll be going over some of those questions, and why you should consider non-surgical Spinal Decompression before attempting surgery. Join us as we give you an overview on how and why non-surgical Spinal Decompression is done.

What Causes Spinal Compression?

Spinal compression can be caused by a number of conditions and is caused when excess pressure is put on the spinal cord. Compression can occur through the back, bother cervical spine (neck) and lumbar spine (lower back). Naturally wear and tear of the bones of the spine is the most common cause of spinal compression. Usually you’ll begin to see this develop after 50 years old. The other conditions that can cause compression include:

  • Scoliosis
  • Injury
  • Tumor
  • Arthritis
  • Infection
  • Diseases
  • Posture

Depending on the location and cause of the compression, the symptoms can vary. They can develop suddenly with no warning, or gradually. In severe cases however, emergency surgery may be necessary. 

Spinal Compression Symptoms

As mentioned previously symptoms have no pattern of when they occur. Being vigilant about symptoms can lead to swift treatment and quicker recoveries. Some of the symptoms are:

  • Trouble with Coordination
  • Loss of sensation in the feet
  • Numbness
  • Cramping
  • Weakness in Limbs (arms, hands, legs)
  • Burning pain in arms, thighs, or legs
  • Stiffness in Neck, and Back
  • Pain in Neck, and Back

Symptoms that would require immediate medical attention include loss of control of bowels or bladder. Severe pain and weakness spreading to your leg or both legs causing difficulty walking or standing and extreme numbness between legs, and inner thighs. As these symptoms are known as Cauda Equina Syndrome. 

How is the Decompression Done?

Spinal Decompression is when you slowly and gently pull at either side of the spine in order to release any pressure that may have been built up within the spine. At SOHMA of Long Beach we perform non-surgical Spinal Decompression by securing the patient to a specialized decompression table called a spinal traction. You are fitted with a harness to hold your abdomen and your pelvis. The spinal traction is the ability to stretch and relax intermittently to achieve the right amount of tension for desirable results. When the spine is being decompressed, vertebrae can naturally reposition to their original state. 

The procedure lasts around 30 to 45 minutes, compared to spinal surgery that can take weeks or months to heal. Depending on the severity of the case, some patients may need over 20 decompression sessions. Though you feel more flexible, and notice significantly less pain in your neck and back. 

Other benefits you may notice from non-surgical Spinal Decompression include increased spinal mobility, improved balance which can help prevent new injuries and reduced stress level as some of the pressure has quite literally been lifted.

With non-surgical Spinal Decompression most patients don’t notice or experience major side effects. Most common side effects have been reported to cause a dull soreness for the first few days as the body becomes used to being decompressed.

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

Peripheral Neuropathy and Your Heart

by

Peripheral Neuropathy is common, with about 25% to 30% of Americans will be affected by it at some point in their lives. Older adults ages 60+ however,  are at an increased risk. Most symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy may diminish or go away on its own, but in some cases the damage can be permanent. 

Today we’re going to analyze the link between your heart and peripheral neuropathy.

Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy can develop when the nerves in your limbs, hands and feet become damaged. Symptoms can vary depending on the nerves being affected. Such as sensory nerves that carry messages from your five senses. Motor nerves which carry signals from your brain to your muscles in order to walk for example. The final group of nerves that can be affected by Peripheral Neuropathy are the Autonomic nerves. These are responsible for body functions that you don’t have direct control over like breathing, digestion, heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, and even bladder and bowel control.

When your Autonomic nerves begin to suffer from neuropathy it is called autonomic neuropathy. There are many diseases and conditions that can lead to autonomic neuropathy, as well as side effects of medicine. 

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is the least understood complication of Peripheral Neuropathy. Due to its potential of being fatal, it’s important to ask your primary care provider for a proper diagnosis.

 Primary diseases that can cause autonomic neuropathy include:

  • Parkinson’s Syndrome
  • Shy-Drager Syndrome
  • Riley-Day Syndrome

Other examples of causes of autonomic neuropathy can include:

  • Amyloidosis
  • Diabetes
  • HIV
  • Chemotherapy
  • Trauma
  • Alcoholism
  • Drug abuse

Your Heart and Peripheral Neuropathy

We don’t need to go into detail about the functions of your heart or how important it is to your health and well being. But Peripheral Neuropathy can affect and damage different nerves. Some of the nerve damage can block or interfere with signals between the heart and blood vessels which can lead to serious symptoms like:

  • Palpitations
  • Hypertension
  • Irregular Heartbeat
  • Blurred Vision
  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Chest Pain

Because of the varied symptoms, oftentimes this form of neuropathy can be misdiagnosed, making it more difficult to treat and study.

Managing your Symptoms

With many conditions, learning to manage your symptoms is important in order to recover and heal. Peripheral neuropathy is no different. 

Drinking a cup of water first thing in the morning, even before getting out of bed can help regulate blood pressure and may improve orthostatic intolerance, a condition involving symptoms associated when standing but improve when lying down.

Reduce the number of large meals that can lower your blood pressure during digestion. Instead have more frequent but smaller meals throughout the day.

Reduce consumption of sodas, energy drinks, coffee or other heavily caffeinated drinks as they may increase production of urine and reduce blood volume.

Exercise is a great way to increase blood volume and physical function. You can exercise wherever you feel comfortable whether it be a gym, at home or a local park. Ideal exercises include swimming, yoga, Tai Chi or other low impact exercises that won’t cause orthostatic stress.

Along with leading a proactive lifestyle to help with your condition, you should also avoid the following:

  • Alcohol 
  • Extremely Hot Environments
  • Smoking
  • Standing Quickly from a Lying Position

Don’t forget to take the appropriate steps to prevent, control and recover from Peripheral Neuropathy. At SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach CA we now offer regenerative cellular tissue therapy, which may be covered by Medicare. By administering HCTPs (Human Cellular Tissue Products) in affected areas, the body may be able to repair nerve damage.

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

Is Spinal Decompression Good for Your Spine?

by

What is Spinal Decompression? 

By definition, Spinal decompression is a non-surgical procedure which intends to relieve pressure that may be accumulated on the spinal cord or on compressed nerve roots passing through or exiting from the spinal column. 

What you may be wondering however, is whether or not it is good for your spine? 

Join me as we go over how Spinal Decompression is done and how removing pressure from your spine can help with pain and improve quality of life.

Spinal Cord Compression

Before talking about decompression first we need to talk about why spinal compression is bad. The spinal cord may be compressed by:

  • Bone
  • Hematomas
  • Abscesses
  • Tumors
  • Herniated Disk

Some of the symptoms and conditions that can be caused by spinal cord compression:

  • Back Pain
  • Neck, Back, Lower Back Pain
  • Numbness
  • Cramping
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Poor Hand Coordination
  • Sciatica
  • Herniated Discs
  • Bulging Discs
  • Degenerative Disc Disease

A very common way for people to suffer spinal compression is also sitting for too long. As your spine is being compressed about 30% more by sitting instead of standing. Which puts you at a higher risk of the conditions listed above.

There is a Dangerous condition called Increased Intracranial Pressure which can lead to headache. The pressure can further injure your spinal cord, this kind of headache is considered an emergency and requires immediate medical attention. An immediate response to an Intracranial Pressure headache will increase the likelihood of recovery.

How is Non Surgical Spinal Decompression Done?

For our patients who experience lower back and neck pain we at SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach CA offer non-surgical spinal decompression treatment. This kind of therapy stretches your spine using a device called a spinal traction. This is a specialized decompression table used to take pressure off your spine and discs. It also repositions your vertebrae naturally. People with radiating nerve pain that travels down the legs and arms benefit most from this type of non-invasive treatment.

During the treatment you are fully dressed, the doctor fits you into a harness around your abdomen and pelvis. The treatment is customized to each individual needs of the patient. Treatment only lasts about 30 to 45 minutes, and treatment may vary. Some may require as many as 20 to 30 treatments over a couple of months to see full results.

Benefits of Spinal Decompression

More and more we are finding out that non-surgical Spinal Decompression is an effective treatment which brings relief to patients with a wide variety of back and neck issues. Generally speaking the decompressive pressure from the spinal traction causes your disc protrusions and disc bulges to retract. This can take pressure off of nearby nerves and encourage the flow of blood, and oxygen to the spine in order to promote healing. As a result of this treatment many types of back and neck pains can be relieved with Spinal Decompression therapy. 

Many patients find that choosing a surgical procedure with no guarantees is not as adequate of an option as choosing a simpler yet safer type of therapy. Spinal Decompression surgery has virtually no downtime after treatment. No recovery time and no high risk side effects. Something that cannot be said about invasive spinal surgery. We have seen many patient cases that have proven that non-surgical Spinal Decompression is a safe, effective and alternative option to surgery.

If you have any further questions about Spinal Decompression Therapy feel free to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA. 

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.

5 Questions to Ask Prior to Cupping Therapy

by

What is Cupping Therapy?

This first question is a freebie, Cupping Therapy is a Traditional Chinese therapy in which cups with negative pressure are placed on the skin. The negative pressure causes a suction to occur on the skin which pulls on the skin, muscle and fascia up into the cup. This action brings fresh oxygenated blood into the injured tissue. While at the same time pulling out old toxins and stagnant blood from the soft tissue, it is then recirculated and filtered out of the body.

Now that you are more acquainted with cupping therapy, there are a few questions you may have before going through with Cupping Therapy. Today I’ll be answering 5 of the more commonly asked questions patients ask prior to Cupping Therapy.

Does It Hurt?

Quite possibly the most common question asked before Cupping Therapy is whether it’s painful. No, it doesn’t really hurt. The truth is every patient experiences Cupping differently so it is difficult to give an absolute answer. Some patients feel the pulling of the soft tissue is uncomfortable and not very pleasant. On the other hand there are patients who find the experience soothing and relaxing like getting a massage. Depending on the stagnation of the tissue being treated you may experience some soreness. If for some reason you do feel pain, let the therapist know as they may need to adjust the strength of the suction on the cup in order to make the therapy more comfortable.

What are those Marks?

Once you are done with your Cupping Therapy session you’ll notice round marks left behind from the cups. Some people think they are bruises however, these marks can tell you how stagnated the treated tissue was. With darker marks meaning there was more stagnation. These marks can take one to two weeks to clear up depending on your body’s stagnation as well. Staying well hydrated can shorten the time for the marks to fade.

How do I Prepare for Cupping Therapy?

Firstly you should be hydrated. Cupping works with your lymphatic system to get rid of toxins and cellular waste from your body. In order for this to work properly plenty of water is required. Avoid shaving, exfoliating or anything else that can make your skin sensitive. Having sensitive skin can increase discomfort during a Cupping Therapy session and can cause you to have an overall poor experience. 

Wear comfortable loose fitting clothes as once a Cupping Therapy session ends your skin may feel sensitive.

How Many Sessions do I Need?

It depends on the specific needs and goals of the patient. Cupping Therapy has an immediate effect on patients, and effects can last for days after. If you are just looking to detoxify, a single session every month may be enough. On the other hand an active and athletic person may require more frequent sessions. Feel free to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA if you would benefit from frequent Cupping Therapy sessions.

Is Cupping Therapy Safe?

For the vast majority of patients, yes. It is unusual and rare for Cupping Therapy to cause any serious problems. Side effects are limited to the marks left behind after Cupping Therapy though in extremely rare cases skin infections can occur. Precaution is necessary if you have suffered from recent cardiac arrests, have been fasting for long periods of time or if you are pregnant.

If you still have questions regarding Cupping Therapy be sure to ask your therapist at SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach CA if Cupping Therapy is right for you.

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 Acupuncture Myths That Still Exist Today

by

Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese Medicine that is being used in modern times to help people recover, relax and heal. However, people who still have misconceptions about Acupuncture. Because of this there are many myths about Acupuncture that have some people second guessing themselves when it comes to recovering and healing with a natural treatment like Acupuncture. Today we are going to debunk three of the myths that still exist around Acupuncture therapy. 

What does Acupuncture help with?

Acupuncture has been used to help treat many ailments. And it has been shown to help people recover all over the world. This form of alternative medicine has helped people recover and treat a variety of ailment and pains including:

  • Dental pain
  • Headaches / Migraines
  • Labor Pain
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Nausea
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Insomnia

Myth #1 Acupuncture is Painful

On first thought, the use of needles in Acupuncture does seem like it may be painful. In some people it can send shivers up your spine. The truth is, many people find Acupuncture treatment relaxing, and occasionally patients even fall asleep during a session. The Needles are extremely thin, usually as thin as a human hair. Nothing like  a medical needle or sewing needle. Most patients agree that the most they feel is a small pinch, followed by deep relaxation.

The goal of any Acupuncture practitioner is to make treatment as comfortable as possible. Patients get in a comfortable position, and when the needles are inserted most patients do not even notice when treatment has begun.

Myth #2 Acupuncture has Many Side Effects

A common misconception about Acupuncture is that due to the numerous needles being used, it can cause many side effects or scarring. But Acupuncture has only a few short term side effects. Most risks involving Acupuncture are low and typically include soreness, minor bleeding or bruising where needles were inserted. Some people assume that the needles used in Acupuncture can cause permanent scarring. The tips of the needles are so fine that they do not leave any marks behind when removed.

 The reason for why risks are so low is based on having a certified acupuncture practitioner. And the needles used are always single use and disposable medical grade needles. They come pre packaged in sterile packaging and are immediately discarded after use.

Myth #3 If You do not see Immediate Results, You will not Benefit from Acupuncture

This last myth stems from people assuming that Acupuncture only provides relief while the needles are in place. Acupuncture was originally designed to relieve tension within the body and provide peace and wellbeing. Those feelings of wellness do not disappear the moment the needles are removed from the body.

Many of the disorders that can be treated with Acupuncture may take multiple treatment sessions. For most patients they may begin to see results after 2 or 3 sessions, while others may take longer. Depending on the intensity and type of pain being suffered, a specific treatment plan will be recommended determining the length and frequency of treatment.

There are many more myths out there about Acupuncture. So it is important to learn about what Acupuncture can be helpful with. Hopefully we helped clarify some of these myths and help you make the decision of letting us help you in your path to natural recovery.

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.