SOHMA Integrative Medicine

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

SOHMA Long Beach

Where can Tai Chi be Practiced?

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Tai Chi is an ancient martial art practiced for thousands of years to help improve inner peace and physical balance. Tai Chi is often called “meditation in motion” as the slow-moving poses and relaxing breathing rhythm helps put your mind into a feeling of calmness. In the medical community, however, it’s now called “medication in motion” because of its numerous researched health benefits.

Some of the physical benefits include:

  • Improves strength
  • Improved Flexibility
  • Improved Mobility
  • Improved Balance
  • Aerobic Conditioning

Though practiced by people of every age and physical fitness, Tai Chi is most often seen being practiced by older adults. One of the greatest benefits of Tai Chi for older adults is improving their balance. Falls are the leading cause of injury among seniors, and by practicing Tai Chi, they can gain a sense of independence and confidence.

Practicing Tai Chi also comes with several benefits to your mental health. When you combine slow movements with calm breathing and get into a state of meditation, your mind begins to relax and release stress. Stress can lead to a variety of mental health issues, some of which include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Loss of Focus

Tai Chi has been shown to improve its practitioner’s mood significantly. Improved mood helps your energy levels, can reduce headaches, and help people get a restful night which can lower blood pressure.

With so many benefits, where and how should you practice Tai Chi? 

The short answer is anywhere you feel comfortable, though some people may have some preferences. Here are a couple to choose from when first starting.

Learning Online

With nearly everyone having access to the internet in the palm of their hands, the barrier of entry to learn Tai Chi is as low as ever. Following an online course such as Tai Chi for Beginners by our very own Dr. Hoover has incredibly detailed lessons for you to practice in the comfort of your living room. Learning through courses allows you to choose when to practice, how long to practice, and when to advance to the higher difficulties. 

There are some drawbacks, such as practicing too long. Though not dangerous, moderation is good practice to have when practicing Tai Chi. Other learning limitations via courses are losing the social aspect of practicing with a class and having a teacher help you with poses and movements.

Join a Class

One of the more common ways Tai Chi is practiced nowadays is by joining a Tai Chi class. You may even see a group practicing Tai Chi at your local park on the weekends. As previously stated, joining a class provided a social aspect. This is good learning because other students can help you when the teacher can’t. You can also give each other motivation to improve. A good teacher can also assist you when you are first learning poses. There may be some limits on how far you can stretch or how well you can balance at first, and a teacher can help you modify the stance and poses to suit your needs, even if you’re using a walker or a wheelchair.

If you want to join our free Tai Chi classes, we practice every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:00 am at Heartwell Park in Long Beach, CA. You’ll see us near the duck pond. You’re welcome to join. Just remember to wear comfortable clothes.

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 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 CTP Injections Good for?

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Cellular tissue product (CTP) is a new form of therapy we provide at SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach CA, that aids the body to repair and heal itself. 

Though the thought of any procedure involving needles can seem unnerving, CTP injections are helping us provide pain relief and a better quality of life to many patients without the need of drugs or surgeries.

Join us as we explore why you should know more about CTP injections and what they are good for.

What are CTP Injections?

CTP injections are used as an aid to support the body in healing damaged tissue caused by infections, trauma, injury or aging. CTP can help you to regrow tissue to be strong and fully functioning. Oftentimes CTP is used to help manage issues in the spine, hips, shoulders and other major joints. Days after treatment, new cells begin to grow and divide forming new tissue and repairing the damaged area.  

What are CTP Injections used for?

Due to the nature of CTP injections, they can be used to help with a variety of conditions including: 

  • Arthritis
  • Chronic Joint Pain
  • Chronic Muscle Pain
  • Inflammation
  • Ligament Tear/Sprain
  • Muscle Tear/Sprain
  • Trauma Caused by Injury

Dealing with long term chronic pain can be difficult for anybody. A common source of pain is usually swelling caused by the condition. CTP injections help prevent further inflammation in the area being treated. They then stimulate your own cells to regenerate, and encourage your body to heal the damaged tissue from the inside out. Damaged cells produce a chemical signal attracting the CTP, it then attaches itself to the local blood vessels rejuvenating, replacing and regenerating the damaged cells.

While there is no effective timeline for when a patient will notice significant improvement of their condition, CTP has been shown to help many chronic conditions. Like many procedures, each patient and condition will have their own individual variables determining the outcome of the treatment. Some patients notice an improvement in their condition within a few weeks while others will take months. There are also other cases where patients may require more than one treatment with CTP injections.

Are CTP Injections Right for You?

While there is nothing we can do about aging, here comes a time where our body can no longer keep up with our lifestyle. Whether it’s due to a sports injury, or a sedentary lifestyle, continual wear on our body can eventually become too much for it to recover from. This will slowly begin to affect muscles, tendons, cartilage and nerves. Furthermore poor lifestyle choices can accelerate the degeneration and cause additional pain to the point of it becoming a chronic condition.

Side effects of CTP injections are minor and extremely rare. Mild discomfort after in the treated area is common and increased nerve sensation can be seen when treating damaged nerves. CTP being delivered through injections will involve some level of pain though it’s usually for only a handful of seconds and are typically no more painful than other forms of joint injections or soft tissue injections. Many patients are choosing CTP injections as treatment over the alternative to masking their pain with pharmaceuticals. It’s also been used to avoid going through invasive surgeries. Although in severe cases surgery may still be required for some patients, CTP can help buy valuable time before surgery is needed.

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 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 To Choose A Tai Chi Class Near You

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Tai Chi has been practiced for thousands of years due to having many benefits. Often called meditation in motion due to the nature of calmness when practicing the poses, Tai Chi has been shown to help improve strength, flexibility, mobility, stability, and balance. Tai Chi has been proven to help improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and improving mood. 

Tai Chi benefits older adults by helping prevent falls, one of the seniors’ most common sources of injury. Additionally, practitioners of Tai Chi have seen notable improvement when dealing with pain caused by arthritis. However, Tai Chi is for everyone, from babies and children to teens and young adults.

Although many of these benefits can be obtained through practice at home by watching classes such as Dr. Hoover’s Tai Chi for Beginners on Youtube, you’ll have more success by joining a class. 

Today, we’ll go over the advantages of taking an in-person Tai Chi class and how to choose the right class for you.

Why Go to a Tai Chi Class?

As previously stated, many benefits can be gained through solo practice at home. However, you’ll miss out on a few critical elements compared to attending an in-person class. 

Only some people can do the poses perfectly at first. Though not expressly tricky, it helps to be guided. There are often physical limitations due to lack of mobility, balance, or pain hindering your movements. Having a teacher present and providing feedback can help you understand how to adapt the Tai Chi poses to your best abilities. A teacher can also help you maintain a sense of calmness and keep your mind meditative.

Another benefit of attending a class is having other like-minded classmates you can bond with. You’ll be able to see their progression and work up to other’s levels while helping newer classmates learn the ropes.

What are the Qualifications of the Teacher?

Many Tai Chi instructors need to have invested time in practicing Tai Chi themselves. Afterward, a course to learn how to teach Tai Chi is required. Typical courses require around 100 hours of training to become a teacher. However, qualifications aren’t the only thing needed to find a great teacher.

A good teacher is necessary to learn Tai Chi correctly and efficiently. A good Tai Chi teacher needs to have a passion and love for teaching Tai Chi. Ideally, they should have good observation skills, communication skills, and amazing attention to detail.

How Much Do Tai Chi Classes Cost?

The price of a Tai Chi class can vary. Some classes charge a per-class cost, while others offer monthly memberships. Typically if a class is going to charge, expect to pay roughly $50 to $150 per month.

Though the cost isn’t very high, many people want to know if they want to invest time and money in practicing Tai Chi. Luckily some teachers want to give the gift of Tai Chi for free. If you feel like trying out Tai Chi for free, stop by Heartwell Park in Long Beach, CA, on Sundays from 9:30 am to 10:30 am near the duck pond. If you join us, remember to wear comfortable clothing to begin your journey back into balance. 

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 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 Long Before Seeing Results with Physical Therapy?

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You should go through physical therapy with your primary care provider when recovering from an injury. Physical therapy is designed with each patient in mind and is typically different for each patient. The goal is to improve your ability to move and manage pain. However, sometimes it may take time, and it seems you’re not improving. 

Many patients are left wondering how long before they begin to see the results of physical therapy.

Unfortunately, while this question may appear simple, the answer is more complicated. Join me as we explore how physical therapy helps patients get back on their feet and enjoy life.

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a form of rehabilitative health that uses various techniques to reduce pain and stiffness. Physical therapy also aids in improving strength, motion, and flexibility. Because the treatment method is designed to help people of all ages and conditions, every patient has a unique program to help their specific condition. Your physical therapist will monitor your progress and offer advice and suggestions on what to do after a physical therapy session.

Although in most recovery processes, some pain is to be expected, and if you continue to experience pain more than two days after a therapy session, you need to inform your therapist. Describe in detail your pain and what triggers it. Ignoring this pain can lead to a longer recovery time or further injury.

When to Expect Results

Because each program is tailored to each individual’s needs, results will vary. Minor, there should be some improvement and pain reduction after every appointment. Soft tissue injuries can take six to eight weeks to heal.

Unfortunately, many patients may not notice improvements right away. If you’re not progressing, inform your therapist about your concerts. If there is no noticeable improvement, perhaps the treatment program needs to be adjusted or reworked.

Do Your Homework

To make a full recovery, go to your physical therapy appointments. Many patients only visit their physical therapists twice during the week. This means a physical therapist will often give you exercise and stretches to do while you’re at home. The success of your recovery depends on how committed you are to the homework exercises.

 Although adding a 10 to 20-minute exercise routine may sound simple, many patients find it difficult to do these workouts as frequently your body is already in pain. Stretching and strengthening these areas of the body can be challenging. If you’re progressing through your program satisfactorily, don’t feel like you need to increase the amount of exercise you do at home. This can lead to regression. Before deciding to do more, ask your therapist if it’s a good idea to increase the number of repetitions you should perform.

Physical therapy is meant to help you recover to your fullest. This takes time and patients. In the end, you’ll be rewarded with pain management, strength, mobility, and flexibility.

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 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 is a Myer’s Cocktail Good For?

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Myer’s Cocktails is an IV Therapy that supplements your body’s natural cellular processes.

The Myer’s cocktail is a form of IV therapy that many athletes and celebrities have popularized in recent years. This form of therapy uses the same IV seen in a medical setting to deliver medicine to patients. Instead of medication Myer’s cocktail IV Therapy is used to deliver nutrients and fluids to the body in a therapeutic environment. 

The benefit of using an IV to deliver nutrients instead of a supplement taken orally is that with an IV your body has the nutrients ready for absorption through the bloodstream immediately and at higher concentrations. Although oral supplementation can suffice for some, there is a noticeable delay and effect compared to the Myer’s Cocktail IV therapy. A Myer’s cocktail is a blend of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, Vitamin B complex, Magnesium, and Calcium.

What is Myer’s cocktail good for? And where can I find a Myer’s cocktail near me?

SOHMA Integrative Medicine of Long Beach, CA, offers the Myer’s IV therapy. As for what it’s good for, join me as we answer that question.

Boosts Immune System

Many nutrients in the Myer’s cocktail provide enhanced cellular function. Vitamin B complex promotes the formation of antibodies to help with this response. Vitamin C often fortifies the immune system by supporting multiple cellular functions.

Improves Blood Circulation

Healthy blood circulation can help reduce fatigue and improve physical performance, which is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Magnesium and Vitamin C in the Myer’s cocktail is often used to promote and enhance cellular health and blood circulation. At the same time, the Vitamin B complex in the Myer’s cocktail improves blood circulation by aiding in the production of red blood cells and iron absorption. 

Mood Enhancer

Serotonin is a naturally occurring hormone that is connected to our mood. Often called the “feel good” hormone, serotonin helps stave off anxiety and depression. Serotonin can also help you feel confident in yourself and raise your self-esteem. An essential resource in the production of serotonin is Vitamin B-12.

Helps with Migraines

Migraines can be debilitating headaches for many adults, often resulting in sensitivity to sound and light. The pain can often result from inflammation and tension built up in the neck muscles and head. The body can take advantage of Vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory properties to help relieve some of that tension which can help reduce the duration of the migraine. 

Regular use of Myer’s Cocktail IV therapy has helped reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. Magnesium can cause blood vessels in the brain to constrict, which can trigger migraines. Calcium is often tied to bone health. It is also required in muscle functions such as contractions and relaxation.

Hydration

Myer’s cocktail IV therapy provides the nutrients through a saline and electrolyte solution. When absorbed by the body, it increases its hydration levels. Due to the fluids being delivered directly to the body without going through the digestive system, the body can hydrate much faster than by drinking a glass of water.

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 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.