SOHMA Integrative Medicine

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

Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine

5 Questions to Ask Your Medical Professional About Acupuncture

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Acupuncture has been known to help people manage discomfort and pain. Though many people are unsure of whether or not they should go through with treatment out of fear of needles. Or perhaps are generally unsure of how acupuncture works.

Many people know about Acupuncture as the traditional Chinese method that uses needles throughout the body but feel like they need a little bit more information. Today we are going to go through 5 questions you should ask a medical professional about acupuncture if you are unsure about receiving treatment.

What Conditions are Treated Using Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been used primarily to relieve pain and irritation caused by a variety of diseases and conditions. As an example acupuncture can help with reducing nausea caused by chemotherapy or surgical anesthesia. Acupuncture has also been used in treating the following:

  • Oral/Dental Pain
  • Headaches and Migraines
  • Neck Pain
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Injuries
  • Tendonitis

Many people know how painful these ailments can be. Identifying if your condition can be treated by acupuncture  is an important question to ask, as a proper diagnosis is necessary in order to mitigate discomfort.

Do The Needles Hurt?

This may be the #1 concern of every patient prior to their first acupuncture appointment. People ask about the pain involved with having Acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin. The needles are no thicker than a human hair. Most people report feeling little to no pain when the needles are placed. Once the treatment session is over, patients tend to feel energized or relaxed. However, the needles can cause temporary soreness.

How Long Before I See Results?

This question has a varied answer depending on each individual patient. Usually it takes about 2-4 days to feel the therapeutic benefits. Though often a single session is not enough as a treatment and the majority of patients begin to feel long term results after about 3 treatment sessions while others may require as many as 6. 

Normally a single treatment session per week is advised for most people in order to manage their symptoms and lessen their pain. Though depending on the amount of pain being dealt with 2 sessions per week can be managed. Based on the progression of the condition, treatment can be reduced to a single session per week. After the patient’s condition has been cleared they could decide to end acupuncture treatment.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

Acupuncture treatment in modern days has become an extremely safe and reliable treatment. With the use of single-use disposable needles being standard practice, the risk of infection is minimal. 

There are a few exceptions, for example if you are suffering from a bleeding disorder or are taking blood thinners, this can increase the risk of bleeding from the needles. Having a pacemaker can also cause complications as some acupuncture therapy involves applying a small electrical pulse through the needles which can hinder the operations of a pacemaker. Most common side effects are:

  • Soreness
  • Minor Bleeding
  • Bruising

While current information indicates that acupuncture is safe for most pregnancies, it is generally  recommended to avoid the practice during the first trimester of pregnancy.

How Should I Prepare for Acupuncture

The first thing you should do is find a reliable Acupuncture practitioner. At SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach CA an experienced and licensed Acupuncture practitioner will be performing the treatments that last 20 minutes on average.

Avoid drinking coffee, sodas, or energy drinks containing caffeine for at least 2 hours prior to treatment. As caffeine can cause your body to increase its fight or flight response which can make inserting the needles difficult.

Wear comfortable loose fitting clothes so the practitioner can have easy access to your arms, legs and back.

Acupuncture on its own is a natural way for the body to begin recovery, though combining Acupuncture with other treatment options can increase results.

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 Benefits of Acupuncture

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3 Benefits of Acupuncture

The thought of having needles poking you sounds terrifying on paper, but acupuncture needles are very small and as thin as a human hair. This traditional chinese therapy has many mental and physical benefits. Once the needles reach their intended depth you may feel a slight tingling sensation and the feelings of warmth may arise from the acupuncture points.

By stimulating specific pressure zones in your body, it is said to balance your energy, what would be referred to as qi (pronounced chi) by Chinese medicine practitioners. This in turn causes the chemicals in your body to release into your muscles, spinal cord, and brain and these changes may promote physical and emotional well-being by stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities. This results based therapy has been making a difference in the lives of many of its patients.

The short and long term benefits of acupuncture have been seen time and time again. Research suggests that it can relieve pain, and it is also used for a wide range of other ailments, like:

  • Headaches
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Sprains

So much so that many insurance providers now cover acupuncture therapy and saving yourself potentially hundreds if not thousands of dollars. All without the need of invasive surgeries or drugs.

At SOHMA Integrative Medicine, our acupuncture specialists are trained in this traditional alternative medicine. Our SOHMA specialists assist the body by unlocking its natural healing abilities, relaxing the muscles, and alleviating tensions from repetitive motions from your day-to-day life.

Let’s explore the top three benefits you may enjoy after starting your acupuncture therapy.

Benefit # 1 Reduction of Back and Joint Pain

Whether it’s because of work, sports, or an accident, this traditional acupuncture can be beneficial in the recovery process by targeting the points meant to release tension in your neck, and along your back.

This relaxes the muscles which helps alleviate some pain that would otherwise hold back your recovery process. If you’re suffering from stiffness, swelling or joint pain, acupuncture can be a beneficial medicine to reduce these conditions without the need for conventional medicines or drugs.

Acupuncture can sometimes be so beneficial it may prevent invasive surgeries.

Benefit # 2 Sleep quality and headaches

A good night’s sleep and overall rest is incredibly important when it comes to recovery. Nearly 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder, insomnia being the most common. By focusing on specific pressure points, usually around nerves, the needles can stimulate said nerves to release hormones like endorphins which is the body’s natural pain killer. This in turn helps with relaxing the mind and maintaining a more consistent sleeping experience, a very important part of the recovery process.

Benefit #3 Carpal tunnel syndrome

In this current day and age people of all ages are in front of a computer for longer periods of time. It could be that you are going to school online from home or maybe you have been playing too many video games out of boredom.

Perhaps you are clocking in extra hours from your new home office. Carpal tunnel syndrome may be far more common than we are willing to admit. Over 8 million people are affected with carpal tunnel syndrome each year. Acupuncture has been shown to improve sensory and motor functions, as well as aiding in the repair of nerves that are often damaged due to repetitive motion. Acupuncture helps with the symptoms related to carpal tunnel like numbness, pain, and tingling sensations.

Take the next step in improving your health by contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine. Our trained Acupuncture specialists want to help you recover in the most natural way possible. Remember that sometimes your body needs a little push in order to begin healing.

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us if we are right for you. Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from Long Beach as well as neighboring cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health and 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 if we are right for you. Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from Long Beach and the surrounding cities.

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

Migraine Treatment with the Myer’s Cocktail

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IV Therapy Administered

Migraine Treatment with the Myer’s Cocktail

Before we get too deep into things today let’s get a couple of points out very quickly:

  1. The Myer’s cocktail is not something you are going to order at a bar (we will go over it today in detail)
  2. Migraines are difficult and range in severity and our goal is to help our patients get back to their lives

With those two items out of the way let’s dig into our topics for today. Our goal is to help you decide if the Myer’s cocktail could help you with your migraines.

As a note the Myer’s cocktail can help with more than just migraines. We cover that in our post on 5 Benefits of IV Therapy.

What is the Myer’s Cocktail & More Importantly How it Can Help

The Myer’s cocktail is a mix of different ingredients that is delivered via IV. In other words it’s delivered via a drip. It was developed by Dr. John Myer who used it to treat different ailments such as asthma, chronic fatigue and you guessed it, migraines.

The drip itself is made up of several components which we will outline below:

  • Magnesium Chloride is used to treat or help prevent a deficiency of magnesium in the body. The body needs magnesium and if it doesn’t have the right amount well then problems can occur.
  • Calcium Gluconate has several different applications. Technically it is classified as calcium salt. It is used as medication to treat multiple issues such as hypocalcemia.
  • Vitamin B Complex which is made up of multiple sets of vitamins. The body uses vitamin B in multiple functions of the body and is part of a healthy body.
  • Vitamin C is a needed component of the body to grow and used in the repair of body tissues.

A common question we are asked is why should this happen via drip when I can take some of this orally?

The cocktail being delivered via a trip means it is going straight to work in the body. It doesn’t have to go through your body’s digestive process. This makes the delivery more potent and quicker.

This is one of the main reasons why the cocktail is so effective.

How does any of this help with Migraines?

Let’s be clear there are multiple causes of migraines, theories, and methods for treatment. The best treatment for migraines is the one that works best for you and has been thoroughly discussed with your medical team.

There are a couple of reasons that lead to migraines. Without going into an exhaustive thesis on migraine theory here are a couple:

  • A deficiency of magnesium has proven to lead to migraines for those who are prone to them
  • Stress is one of the biggest culprits of migraines and is a known trigger in almost 70% of those who suffer from them

The Myer’s cocktail has been proven effective in the treatment of migraine headaches. Part of this is directly related to the magnesium chloride that makes up a component of the cocktail. The added vitamins also aid in providing additional material for the body to make repairs and help in overall health.

For those suffering from migraines who have not found a proven solution or are looking for one that is more suited to their needs we believe looking at the myer’s cocktail is in their best interest.

Is the Myer’s Cocktail Right for My Migraine Situation?

This is a very personal question that we would have to answer one on one. We would invite you to fill out our contact form and let us know that you suffer from migraines and you have a question about the Myers 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 if we are right for you. Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from Long Beach and the surrounding cities.

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

5 Reasons to Find a Chiropractor In Long Beach

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Chiropractor Consultation

You might be thinking “Great, some Chiropractor telling me I need to use them!” Rest assured the #1 concern we have here at SHOMA Integrative medicine is your health. Whether you use us or another qualified medical professional isn’t the issue. Our concern is to raise the level of health in our fine city of Long Beach, CA.

Before we dig into the details, allow me to share with you a story of a client who visited me years ago (you just might relate).

“I thought all chiropractors did was crack a few necks, weren’t real doctors, and really didn’t do much”.

I wish I could tell you that this was the first time I heard this type of messaging however it was not. If that is how you feel it’s ok. Discover how chiropractic care might benefit you. What you will discover is that at SOHMA Integrative Medicine we are more than just Chiropractic care, however for today let’s dig into a few reasons you might want to consider starting a chiropractic regime.

You Have Regular Back and Neck Pain and Want to Avoid Taking Pills to Handle the Pain

We aren’t against modern medicine however many of our patients come to us being tired of filling prescriptions. They want a different way of life. They are searching for a way that they aren’t dependent on pills to take away their pain.

Many of our patients come to us after having tried multiple doctors or even other chiropractors to handle their neck and back pain.

Oddly enough it’s not just car accidents (which is what many think) can cause neck and back pain. Here at our office we have seen folks develop back and neck pain from:

  • Sleeping wrong on a consistent basis (one of our clients routinely falls asleep sitting straight up in a chair and it led to neck pain)
  • Weekend warriors who push their bodies to the limit and don’t have the same mobility that they used to when they were 20 years younger
  • Lifting heavy objects on a routine basis with the incorrect form either at work or at home

If you are experiencing neck or back pain on a regular basis and your current treatment isn’t working as you desired it might be worth looking into alternative treatment options.

Stress is Causing You Issues and Your Current Treatment Methods are Not Reducing Your Stress Levels

Many of us have had the vision that we just want to disappear to an island where stress doesn’t exist. It’s a pretty sweet dream! Before you sell all of your belongings and disappear to an island we would invite you to discover how to manage your stress.

How does chiropractic care help with stress?

Part of chiropractic care is management of pain throughout the body. Pain in the body causes stress. When you can move without less pain or even no pain you will discover how your level of stress goes down. The body doesn’t want to manage consistent pain. One of the best methods is to discover how to reduce the pain so the body can focus on other items.

You Are An Athlete Who Wants to Improve Your Performance

We have yet to meet an athlete at our Long Beach, CA location who didn’t want to improve their performance. We have runners, triathletes, cyclists, gymnasts, football, soccer, track and more who come to our location.

One of the reasons they come to us is they are seeking an edge in performance. One particular triathlete had shoulder pain when he was down in his drops on the bike. This is a problem for racing and training.

What he discovered after a few sessions:

  • We were able to help him increase his mobility that reduced the pain
  • The bike was not quite fit to his specific body type and some adjustments to the bike also help reduce his pain
  • We provided him with additional exercises to help the muscles that could help support his body during racing and training

One of the benefits of our staff and chiropractors is they are individuals who have a wide variety of interests. Many are dedicated athletes who continue to train for events and they bring that passion to helping our patients.

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 if we are right for you. Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from Long Beach and the surrounding cities.

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

Visit SOHMA for an Olympic Experience

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With the Olympics in full swing this month, it is nearly impossible to miss the strange, purple spots on the athletes’ backs, shoulders, and legs (including US swimmer and 23-time Gold medalist, Michael Phelps). These marks are often a result of cupping treatment, which comes from an ancient Chinese practice that is used by many practitioners in the Eastern world.
The benefits of cupping are extensive, including stimulating blood flow in the area, reducing soreness, and speeding up recovery. It is intended to remove toxins and stimulate healing by increasing blood to the focus area. While it may look painful, it is actually very therapeutic, and many patients have reported feeling a completely painless experience. Traditionally, cupping is used to treat back and neck pain, high blood pressure, anxiety, fatigue, and even respiratory problems.
At SOHMA Integrative Health Center, we offer a traditional form of cupping treatment, known as fire cupping. Our acupuncturist uses fire to create a vacuum seal along specific points of the body. It creates heat and suction to that specific area, and the cups stay on for usually 5-10 minutes.
If it’s good enough for Olympic athletes, it is good for you. Book your appointment at SOHMA Integrative Health Center so you can get your Olympic therapy treatment today.