SOHMA Integrative Medicine

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

5 Reasons to Consider IV Therapy

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In all likelihood you have heard of the term IV drip, perhaps in a medical drama or at a hospital. But did you know that IV has uses outside of medical use? Yes, IV can be used as therapy for many conditions. Today we’re going to get into 5 reasons why you should consider IV therapy as part of your recovery.

What is IV Therapy

IV Therapy is an efficient way to deliver nutrients directly to the body. Because the nutrients are being delivered through IV, you skip processing the nutrients through the digestive system. The digestive system is not very efficient when absorbing vitamins and minerals, as most are broken down before your body has the opportunity to absorb them. When supplements are administered directly to the bloodstream, the body can make use of the nutrients immediately. At SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach and Lakewood CA, we offer the Myer’s Cocktail which is a blend of Vitamin C, B Complex, Magnesium, and Calcium. This perfectly crafted blend can be used by your body to :

  • Boost Immune System
  • Ease Anxiety
  • Promote Relaxation
  • Hydrate
  • Aid with Migraine Pains
  • Detoxify the Body

This is just a small list of what IV Therapy can help with. If you are interested in learning more about IV Therapy or the Myer’s Cocktail feel free to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA.

Boosts Immune System

Vitamin C is well known for helping fight common infections like the cold. But the body can’t produce it on its own. Through IV Therapy, Vitamin C is not only absorbed faster, the body absorbs a higher concentration than if you were to take a Vitamin C supplement orally. Vitamin C deficiency can lead you to feeling weak, tired and irritable. It can also leave your skin dry, make it more difficult for the body to heal wounds and can even cause joint pain.

Though increasing the amount of foods you eat that contain Vitamin C like fruits and vegetables or Vitamin C supplements can help with deficiency, too much can irritate the stomach. 

Detoxify

While living in major cities can have its upsides, it also comes with disadvantages. You are constantly being exposed to toxins, radiation, and heavy metals from factories, smoke, fires and more. When your body is overloaded with these toxins you may begin to feel sluggish and with a lack of energy. IV Therapy can help flush out free radicals which are created in the body when you break down food or are exposed to the aforementioned toxins. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which protects cells from the damage that can be caused by the free radicals.

The added B Complex will result in a boost in energy, keeping you from reaching out for coffee or an energy drink. Drinks that will only give you a temporary energy boost followed by a crash.

Mental Health

There are many people in the US that only deal with temporary anxiety that won’t interfere with their day to day life. Unfortunately there are also many people who suffer from chronic anxiety which can make it difficult to get work done or interact and socialize with others.

IV Therapy can help reduce some anxiety symptoms and keep your body healthy. Nutrients from IV Therapy can help your brain produce what it may need in order to balance your mood. When your mood improves, coping with your anxiety and its symptoms can be more straightforward.

Relaxation

Too many people are stressed and tense, but it is important to learn to loosen up and IV Therapy can help with that. The Magnesium in the Myer’s Cocktail helps your body in maintaining bone health, nerve function and controlling blood sugar and pressure. More importantly for relaxing, Magnesium helps you keep a healthy balance of gamma-Aminobutyric acid which helps your sleep be more restorative.

Hydration

Of course having an IV drip is going to help with hydrating your body. The average adult is supposed to drink approximately 8 cups of fluids a day. As your body loses water through breathing, perspiring and using the restroom. Though if you’re an athletic type or deal with hot days, your fluid intake should be closer to 11 to15 cups per day.

If you feel that perhaps you have been lacking on your water intake IV Therapy can not only hydrate you, it can do it quickly. Even mild dehydration can leave you drained of energy. Being well hydrated can help you get rid of wastes, keep your body temperature normal and lubricate your joints. We are supposed to be 70% water and we should try our best to keep it that way.

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 and Lakewood, 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 HCTP Injections?

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First off, what does HCTP stand for? HCTP stands for human cellular tissue product and it’s a new approach to healthcare that attempts to help the human body repair itself by reconstructing, replacing or regenerating its own tissues and organs to recover and regain natural function.

Join us as we talk about the benefits of HCTP injections and how they can help you get back on your feet pain free without the need of drugs or surgerys.

Why Would You Need HCTP Injections?

There comes a point in most people’s lives when their body can no longer keep up with their lifestyles, with no fault of their own. Many times due to aging, injury or disease. This wear on the body can slowly begin to affect muscle, tendons, ligaments, nerves and cartilage. Injury, Diseases and poor nutrition can cause this degeneration to accelerate and cause pain to become chronic.

HCTP injections can be used to treat all the major joints; ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. This regenerative medicine can aid in treatment of the following conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Chronic Joint Pain
  • Chronic Muscle Pain
  • Inflammation
  • Ligament Tear/Sprain
  • Muscle Tear/Sprain

Feel free to ask the staff at SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach and Lakewood Ca if HCTP injections are right for your condition.

Often, doctors may recommend surgery or prescribe pharmaceuticals like pain killers. An alternative to those options are HCTP Injections. HCTP naturally targets damaged tissue and begins to repair the damage at the cellular level. These treatments may reduce pain and inflammation and help your body regain its ability to function how it was always meant to.

How HCTP Injections Work

HCTP Injections work by encouraging healing of the damaged tissue. Once the HCTP is injected they prevent further inflammation and stimulate your own tissues and cells to regenerate. When a cell is damaged, it produces a chemical signal which attracts the HCTP.  They then attach themselves to the blood vessels surrounding the affected area. The HCTP then rejuvenates, replaces and regenerates the damaged cells. Over the following days, new cells may grow and divide.. This can form new tissue and aid in healing damaged or injured areas. Healing you from the inside out, while avoiding going through invasive and expensive surgical procedures.

HCTP Treatment

Some patients may wonder about how long HCTP Injections need in order to take effect. That is understandable, though like for many procedures, it depends from patient to patient and condition to condition. Due to your body making new tissue, it may take some patients a few weeks to notice a significant reduction in pain. While others may take a few months before having similar results. This all depends on the condition being treated and how well your body responds to the treatment.

It is possible for some patients to require more than one treatment with HCTP. If you do not see improvement after several months or notice a significant reduction in pain, your primary care provider may recommend repeating the treatment. They can let you know what to expect when you first discuss treatment.

Thanks to HCTP injections you are no longer at the mercy of chronic pain, and you have an alternative to surgerys or pharmaceuticals. With side effects being uncommon, the most common complaint is discomfort or sensitivity at the sight of the injections. HCTP injections can serve to boost 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 and Lakewood, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

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

Can You do Your Own Spinal Decompression at Home?

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Most of our waking hours are spent standing or sitting vertically. This means that your spine is regularly working against the force of gravity in order to keep posture upright. This pressure puts constant strain on your spine and causes it to become compressed. The compression on the vertebrae can put pressure on our spinal cord and its associated muscles. Which can cause discomfort and pain.

Today we’ll go over what spinal decompression is and if you should attempt to decompress your spine at home.

What is Spinal Decompression?

Spinal decompression is a non-surgical procedure that is used to relieve pressure that may be accumulated on the spinal cord. Including pressure that may be compressing nerve roots passing through or exiting from the spinal column. Ideally we would recommend coming into SOHMA of Long Beach and Lakewood CA where we offer Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression using a specialized decompression table called a spinal traction. You are fitted with a harness around your pelvis and abdomen. The Spinal Traction table is used to take pressure off of your spinal cord and vertebrae. It can also reposition those vertebrae naturally. For optimal benefits some patients may require as many as a couple months of treatment.

Can you decompress at home?

Of course there are ways to do spinal decompression at home, though your results may vary. There are exercises and stretches that you can do which work on the concept of spinal decompression to help give your lower back some relief. At SOHMA we recommend consulting with a healthcare professional before beginning any at home exercise routine. If these exercises and stretches are not suitable for you they may end up causing more pain.

At Home Spinal Decompression Stretches

There are many stretches that can be used to decompress your spine, below are 3 examples of simple stretches that can be done at home without the need of special equipment.

Overhead Stretches

A very simple exercise that can be done by most people. 

  1. Stand on even ground with your legs at shoulder’s length apart.
  2. Reach both of your arms over your head and interlock your fingers and straighten your elbows.
  3. While holding this position pretend to reach up and touch the sky.
  4. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds, determined by your comfort level.

Do this as needed throughout the day.

Child Pose

This stretch has provided many people lower back pain relief but it is more advanced. This will be performed on the floor so we recommend a yoga mat to make it more comfortable, though it is not necessary.

  1. Go onto your hands and knees to begin this stretch.
  2. Keep going down until your glutes touch your feet while on your knees.
  3. Bend over at your hips and reach forward with your hands on the floor.
  4. Based on your comfort levels, hold this position for 10 to 30 seconds.
  5. Repeat after a minute of rest between stretches.

The further forward you reach with your hands while stretching the more decompression you will feel.

Using Your Bed or Couch

You can use the edge of your bed or the hand rest of your couch to decompress your lower back.

  1. Using an additional pillow for extra comfort, lay it flat on your bed or couch. Making sure your knees are slightly off the ground.
  2. Your weight should be on your toes in order to relax your back and core muscles.
  3. Tuck your chin towards your chest and straighten your arms at the elbow.
  4. Reach forward with your hands and hold onto the surface of the couch or bed and try to pull yourself forward.
  5. Hold this position for 10 to 30 seconds depending on your comfort levels.
  6. After resting for a minute try to reach further than you did previously.

You’re going to feel a great stretch into your upper back that makes its way down to your tailbone. Also due to your position, you will feel a stretch from your hip to your knees.

There are many other factors that go into decompressing your spine. If you feel that the stretches are not relieving enough pain. You may require the use of a Spinal Traction table for Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression.

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 and Lakewood, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

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

Cupping Therapy and How it Can Help with Back and Neck Pain

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With athletes and celebrities popularizing Cupping Therapy in the mainstream, many people are beginning to ask more about what Cupping Therapy is and whether it can help them with their physical or mental problems. 

Cupping Therapy is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been around for thousands of years. In the west it is seen as a form of alternative medicine in which a cup is placed on the skin and air is pumped out of it. This will cause the soft tissue to get sucked into the cup, stretching the skin, muscle and fascia. Promoting circulation and aiding the recovery process.

You may be wondering how this is beneficial? Today we are going to talk about how this process helps with back pain and neck pain.

Increased Blood Circulation

Many people may not understand how important proper blood circulation is when it comes to recovery. As we need good circulation to remove toxins from our body and sometimes the organs designated to do this job need a little bit of help. Through no fault of our own sometimes our lifestyle will burden the lymphatic system just by living in a big city. Where we are constantly being exposed to smoke, chemicals and heavy metals.

When the soft tissue is being pulled and stretched into the cup the body will respond by increasing blood circulation to the area being treated. The sudden increase in flow will flush out stagnated toxins and attract immune cells. The increase in oxygenated blood can help with cell repair and help form new connective tissues. An additional benefit is the reduction of inflammation which can help with pain management and cut down the time needed for a natural recovery.

Neck Pain

Many people suffer from neck pain, and for most neck pain is mild and often goes away on its own or with simple treatments. For those with chronic neck pain however, you may need something more than just “taking it easy”. 

Neck pain can be caused by a number of reasons, some more serious than others these include:

  • Poor Sleeping Position
  • Whiplash
  • Extended Periods of Time Arching Your Neck
  • Grinding/Gritting Your Teeth
  • Poor Posture
  • Repetitive Motion
  • Muscle Strain

As previously stated, Cupping causes vasodilation which increases flow of blood to the area that is being treated. When the soft tissues become stretched it loosens muscle knots relaxing the neck. The reduction in swelling due to the increased circulation makes Cupping Therapy an effective form of reducing chronic neck pain. 

Back Pain

Much like neck pains, back pain can be caused by a variety of reasons. Most common being Muscle strains and sprains. Back pain caused by sitting for extended periods of time has become more common in recent times.Due to the difference in size it is more common to injure your back doing everyday things like picking up your child. Or in some cases coughing or sneezing. 

Back pain may take longer to heal depending on the severity of the injury. Cupping Therapy is usually done as often as twice per week. Though depending on the color of the mark left by the cup, treatment may be adjusted.

Cupping Therapy can be used to treat pain, reduce scar tissue in muscles, and reduce swelling and muscle knots. We are here to aid you in recovering the natural way. Cupping Therapy is only one of many treatments we offer.

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 and Lakewood, 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?

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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 and Lakewood 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 and Lakewood, 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

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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 and Lakewood 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 and Lakewood, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

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

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