About Us
Welcome to the Sklar Center for Restorative Medicine
Dr. Danielle Langston is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor with a passion for holistic health and wellness. Dr. Langston has been a vital part of the Sklar Center team for many years and will continue to uphold the high standards established by the founder, Dr. Susan Sklar. With her exceptional care and patient-focused approach, Dr. Langston is well-positioned to carry forward the center’s mission.
We invite you to explore the services we offer and learn more about how our commitment to restorative medicine can support your journey to health and wellness. Dr. Sklar’s story is a testament to the power of personal transformation and the impact of a holistic approach to medicine.
Thank you for considering joining our community. We look forward to supporting you on your journey to health and wellness.
Our Founder: Dr. Susan Sklar
A Trailblazer in Restorative Medicine
Our founder, Dr. Susan Sklar, has dedicated her career to revolutionizing patient care through functional medicine. Her journey from traditional obstetrics and gynecology to pioneering restorative practices is a story of resilience and innovation.
A Transformative Journey
Dr. Sklar’s career began in obstetrics and gynecology, where she served with distinction for 25 years. Faced with burnout and seeking a more holistic approach, she founded the Sklar Center for Women’s Wellness in 2005. As her patients’ needs evolved, so did the center, which expanded to include functional and restorative medicine and was renamed the Sklar Center for Restorative Medicine.
Personal Experience Inspires Change
Dr. Sklar’s shift to functional medicine was fueled by her own health challenges. After battling autoimmune diseases like thyroiditis, psoriasis, and ulcerative colitis, she discovered that dietary changes significantly improved her symptoms. This personal journey led her to embrace functional medicine, focusing on bioidentical hormones, diet, natural supplements, and lifestyle changes to enhance patient health.
A Legacy of Excellence
Dr. Sklar has built a legacy of excellence at the Sklar Center, integrating natural medicine and advancing treatments for conditions like burning mouth syndrome. Her vision and leadership have set new standards in patient care.
Looking Forward
As Dr. Sklar embarks on her next stage in life, focusing on research and treatments for burning mouth syndrome and personal pursuits, she leaves behind a legacy of innovation, compassion, and excellence.
Danielle Langston, ND
Restorative Medicine at the Sklar Center
The Sklar Center for Restorative Medicine was established to meet the needs of individuals seeking a natural approach to health care. At the center, we focus on helping patients achieve optimal health by identifying and treating the underlying causes of disease.
Restorative medicine is a new way of being healthy. It is a scientifically based field of medicine which uses innovative technology as well as ancient wisdom to restore your body to optimum health.
While traditional medicine waits for diseases to occur, restorative medicine prevents disease. Where traditional medicine is a band-aid approach to health, restorative medicine fixes the root cause of disease for a permanent solution. Therefore, at the Sklar Center, we see ourselves as detectives in search of the real causes of your illness.
More Than Hormones
At the Sklar Center, we restore healthy, youthful function with bioidentical hormones, but we do so much more. We evaluate and treat the causes of underlying disease and aging.
Some of these include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Toxic exposures, such as heavy metals and mold
- Gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel and colitis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Weight loss and nutrition
- Cognitive decline prevention
- Anxiety and depression
Your Best Advocate
You have an advocate and partner in health care at the Sklar Center. Dr. Langston looks at your overall health, reviews recommendations from other health providers, and guides you to the best solutions for your health care needs.
This is a unique experience for new patients and begins the partnership between doctor and patient—a partnership dedicated to your best wellbeing.
“It’s like coming home.” –Sklar Center patient
The Sklar Center is Different from Your Regular Doctor
Dr. Langston looks at the whole person, rather than dividing the body up into separate systems. Traditional medical practice divides you into mind and body. Then traditional medicine divides your body into cardiac, nervous, skin, endocrine, reproductive, and gastrointestinal systems.
All these systems including your mind are intimately connected. By taking an integrated view we can diagnose and cure many seemingly incurable problems.
Why Doesn’t My Doctor Know About This?
Patients often ask, “Why doesn’t my doctor know about this?” The answer is that it requires a significant shift for Western-trained doctors to embrace this new perspective on medicine. Many doctors are deeply entrenched in their conventional ways of thinking, making it difficult for them to consider integrative and naturopathic approaches.
Those in the field of naturopathic medicine recognize the potential of this holistic approach, which offers new ways to promote health and well-being.
FAQ for New Consults
1) How do I know if the Sklar Center is right for me?
If you are looking to feel your best and want to reach optimal health, the Sklar Center is right for you. If you are ready to make a personal and financial commitment to solving your biggest health problems, the Sklar Center is right for you.
2) Will you be able to help me with my health problems?
We have answers to many problems that have been labeled as unsolvable. Our evaluation and assessment processes are the first steps toward knowing if we can help you. The Sklar Center Diagnostic Assessment contains questions that will help us understand your health problems and whether we have a solution for you.
3) Do you treat men as well as women?
Yes, we treat men and women. Dr. Sklar is a restorative medicine expert who understands the hormonal and other health needs of men as well as women.
4) Whom do I contact to become a patient at the Sklar Center?
You will contact our New Patient Intake Coordinator at 562-596-5196 to begin the process of evaluation. The Coordinator will take you through the necessary steps including arranging an appointment, completing paperwork and answering your questions.
5) It is difficult for me to come into the office. Can I have phone appointments?
Yes, we communicate in a variety of ways for your convenience. We have in-office appointments, phone appointments, Skype appointments and secure e-mail for communication.
6) What credit cards do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards.
7) Do you work with my other doctors?
The Sklar Center Programs provide you with an introductory letter to your other doctors in order to facilitate your best care. We want to coordinate with your other doctors so that you feel well taken care of. Too often patients are running back and forth coordinating their own care between their physicians.
8) Where are you located?
We are located at 5000 East Spring Street in Long Beach at the intersection of Spring Street and Clark Avenue. We share a business park with the Marriott Hotel, AAA, and Boeing. We are near the Long Beach Municipal Airport. There is plenty of parking at our facility.
9) I do not live in the area. Is there anything I can do?
Some Sklar Center patients live outside the Los Angeles area.
Patients come to the Sklar Center to solve their health problems from across the United States and other parts of the world. Whether you live outside the Los Angeles area or in another state, the Sklar Center will accommodate you with follow-up care in your home location.
Where possible your initial medical consultation will be done at the Sklar Center with Dr. Sklar. Follow-up appointments can then be arranged by phone or Skype or in the office. If you are unable to come to the Sklar Center in person for an initial appointment special arrangements can be made to accommodate you. Contact our Patient Care Coordinator at (562) 596-5196 to discuss the right type of arrangement for you.
10) What to bring to your appointment
Prior to your appointment please send the following forms and medical information to the Sklar Center:
Copies of any recent test results.
Bring the supplements or medications you are currently taking to your initial appointment.
Dr. Sklar also recommends involving your partner in the process where possible. If dietary or other lifestyle changes are required to benefit your health it is often helpful to involve other family members in the process.
11) Travel information for patients outside our area
The Sklar Center is conveniently located just minutes from the Long Beach Municipal Airport. We recommend the use of this airport for patients flying in. It is a small airport with minimal time spent boarding or collecting baggage so you have more time to spend at the Sklar Center or relaxing in your hotel.
Long Beach Airport
4100 Donald Douglas Dr., Long Beach, CA 90808. (562) 570-2600
Just 6 minutes by car from the Sklar Center.
http://www.lgb.org/
Los Angeles International Airport
1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (310) 646-5252
30 to 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic, from the Sklar Center.
http://www.lawa.org/welcomeLAX.aspx
John Wayne Airport
18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707 (949) 252-5200
25 minutes by car from the Sklar Center.
http://www.ocair.com/
Hotels
There are many hotels in the Long Beach area. We recommend the Marriott Hotel Long Beach – a 4 minute walk from the Sklar Center. The Marriott will also provide transportation from the Long Beach Airport.
Long Beach Marriott
4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 425-5210
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lgblb-long-beach-marriott/
Things to Do in Long Beach
Long Beach is at the heart of Southern California’s attractions. From the legendary Queen Mary to the Disneyland Resort and many more in between, you can extend your stay and take in the fun.
http://www.visitlongbeach.com/attractions/
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Can you help me with fatigue or exhaustion?
Fatigue and exhaustion can have multiple causes. The most common ones I see are hormone deficiencies and adrenal fatigue.
We have a number of effective and safe treatments that include hormone restoration and use of plant-based supplements for healing.
2) Can anything be done about my decreased sex drive?
The most common reason we see decreased libido or sex drive in midlife is to hormone deficiencies. Men usually experience this from low levels of testosterone. Women may have deficiencies in both testosterone and DHEA.
3) I’m worried because I have decreased memory?
There are a lot of alternatives for memory enhancement. Of course, the first thing people think of is Alzheimer’s disease but the overwhelming majority of people have decreased memory due to dietary deficiencies or hormonal deficiencies.
There are effective ways to help using hormone restoration and nutritional supplementation.
4) Insomnia is getting me down. Can you help me?
Insomnia can have a number of causes but the most common one I see is hormone deficiency, both in melatonin and progesterone levels. These are replenished the majority of people will start to get deeper and more continuous sleep.
5) What can I do about my weight gain?
Increased weight has a number of factors. We see increased body fat in midlife due to depletions in hormones such as thyroid, DHEA, and testosterone.
Other reasons for increased weight are adrenal dysfunction, high toxic load, and neurotransmitter imbalances. These are all treatable conditions with safe natural remedies.
6) Hot flashes are making me miserable. Can you help?
Hot flashes are one of the hallmark signs of the menopausal transition. They are due to declining levels of estrogen as well as neurotransmitter imbalances. These are easily treatable and most women with a combination of hormone balancing and nutritional supplements.
7) Painful sex is ruining my relationship with my partner. There anything that can help?
Painful sex in midlife is usually due to low levels of estrogen with subsequent changes in the vaginal lining tissues. Estrogen supplementation, especially when applied directly to these tissues, results in restoration of elasticity, lubrication, and resolution of pain.
8) Can you help with my mood changes, depression and anxiety?
I don’t want to go on medications or my medication isn’t helping. A lot of the emotional changes that people experience in midlife are due to hormone depletion and brain chemical imbalance.
We know that lowered levels of estrogen and progesterone in menopausal women contributes to depression and anxiety. We also know that these symptoms are due to imbalances in the important chemicals such as serotonin and GABA in the brain, which are called neurotransmitters.
By restoring the balance in brain neurotransmitters and with hormonal restoration, we are able to help our patients with depression and anxiety and decrease or eliminate the use of pharmaceutical agents.
9) What are bio identical hormones?
Bio identical hormones are products which are derived from plants like soy and yam. They are then chemically changed in a laboratory into the exact molecular structure of our own human hormones.
It is important to use the bio identical form of hormones because of greater effectiveness and reduced long-term risks when compared with the synthetic and non-bio identical hormones.
10) Is there anything I can do to prevent Alzheimer’s?
The Sklar Center believes that the majority of Alzheimer’s cases can be prevented through lifestyle, hormone restoration, toxin removal, and reduction of inflammation. Treatments include proper nutrition, exercise, supplementation, and stress reduction.