Welcome to Summer!

Long ago, Chinese medicine doctors studied the changes of the seasons. These observations of natural phenomena provided a framework for everyday living. Living in harmony with the natural rhythms of change provides one of the secrets of good health and long life. As long as one eats and sleeps in harmony with the seasons, disease Read More

Spring

Element: Wood Climate: Wind Organs: Liver, Gall Bladder Orifices: Eyes Sense organ: Eyes Body Parts/Tissue: Muscles, Sinews Fluid Secretion: Tears Physical Manifestations: Nails, Hands, Feet Emotion: Anger Sound: Shouting Flavor: Sour Color: Green “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” -Goethe If we arrive Read More

3D Printed Shoes

Seattle’s Oliver Brossmann has launched a company called Prevolve, which is offering custom, 3D printed shoes. Each pair of shoes they make is unique. Your feet are scanned, you select the cushion and tread you want, and then Prevolve uses their 3D printer to make your personalized pair of shoes. To learn more about the shoes Read More

Wake Up! Spring Is Here!

As the days become warmer and brighter, nature rouses from her winter slumber and looks ahead to the new growth of spring. Nature, which has been at rest, storing and concentrating her energy under a winter blanket, now bursts forth with new buds, new life piercing the Earth’s crust. The rising energy of spring is Read More

Winter: Walking Fearward

  Element: Water Organs: Kidneys, Bladder In the Body: Affects bones, knees, lower back, genitalia, urethra In the Mind: Brings heightened alertness In the Spirit: Brings resurrection of desire for life Emotion: Fears and Phobias (Emotions are not meant to be static conditions within us.) Technically, fear is an apprehension of a future event, real or Read More

Autumn: Staying Healthy in the Dry, Windy, and Cool Weather

We are now entering Autumn, the time of the Metal Element in Chinese thought and medicine. Autumn usually comes abruptly, and it is easy to see why the ancient Chinese considered this the “fastest-moving” time of the year. Having just moved through the Harvest period, and having received the fruits of her labor, Nature is Read More

Staying in Sync with Late Summer

Are you in sync with the Late Summer phase of Nature’s creative cycle? This Late Summer, the season of harvest, when the time of flowering is over but Nature has not yet started its phase of decline is ruled by the Earth element and its color is YELLOW. It is special among the elements because Read More

The Anthropology of Arch Supports

The Anthropology of Arch Supports By Chris Loper Long before I ever came to see Kandi Burke, podiatrists and orthopedists repeatedly told me I needed more arch support. Naively, I listened. Diligently, I obeyed. I have very high arches, you see, and I was suffering from pain in the ball of my foot. Arch supports, Read More

Choosing and Fitting a Shoe

Italian men’s shoe designer, Olga Berluti, says of feet: “There are NO ugly feet. Feet are spiritual. They enable man to stand up. They free his hands. Now he can look at the stars.” Shoes are theater. Shoes are armor, protecting us from the urban grime of city asphalt. Shoes reveal our vulnerability. The elevation Read More

The Trouble With Flip-Flops

Recent sunny days in Seattle have brought out sandals, flip-flops, crocs, and the like. Two clients arriving back-to-back with bunion pain were caught wearing flip-flops. As I greeted them, they both hid their flip-flops under the coffee table because they know I love to hate them!! If you have come to see me with foot Read More

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