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 could be held at bay and balance could be maintained, even preventing disease altogether. A quote from the Neijing Su Wen (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine) states, “In the three months of summer there is an abundance of sunshine and rain. The heavenly energy ..read more

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 at Spring having been properly nourished by Winter, it will be easy to lay the foundation and framework (wood) for all that is to come for the rest of the year: the growth of Summer, the harvest of Late Summer, the letting go of Autum ..read more

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 and Brossmann’s story, read this article from GeekWire ..read more

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 the energy of youth and growth: a new beginning, a vision of a whole new cycle. If we have followed nature’s ways and taken a winter rest, we too emerge into spring “raring to go,” with clear vision and a sense of purpose. This is the season to plant seeds for a future harvest, to ..read more

  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 imagined. A simple cure is to bring yourself present. Bring your attention to the moment-to-moment sensations of the body. Reassurance is fear’s antidote. Put known facts under our feet, step by step! Make sure they are legitimate and ..read more

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 letting go of the burden of productivity that She has carried around since the Spring. This is the best time of year for us, as well, to look back on what we have completed, or on what will no longer serve us as we move forward, and to bring some things to a close. The Fall ..read more

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 all other elements derive their source from Mother Earth, being provided with life, support, and nourishment. The Earth element rules the stomach, spleen, and pancreas. The stomach meridian is the ONLY meridian that penetrates ALL the major body organs. The stomach controls digestion and has the role of ..read more

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, the “experts” explained, would take some of the weight off of the front of my foot, providing relief. This made perfect sense to me. So I went down the road of custom insoles and special shoes. I even wore rocker shoes at one point, which dramatically amplified the arch support my ins ..read more

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 of a heel can chart the rise and fall of prosperity (proclaiming what it is you DON’T have to do!) The thickness of a sole can measure social change. They tell us how people are feeling. Shoes turn you into someone else. You can’t be a dominatrix in a sneaker. If you are in a high h ..read more

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 PAIN, please know the following: Flip-flops are bad. Birkenstocks are bad. Crocs are bad. Clogs are bad. These types of footwear don’t strap onto the foot and don’t cup the heel, causing the toes to have to grip the shoe to keep it on the foot. Thus, the toes are forced awa ..read more