Whether you’re a weekend warrior or you get your exercise walking the dog, chances are that if you’re physically active, at some point you’ve been on the receiving end of an athletic injury.  Believe me, there is nothing worse than to be hobbled by an injury just before your big athletic event, an active vacation, or just as the weather turns warm enough to be able to play outside. I’m writing from experience here.  I’ve blown out my knee on the altar of faulty ski equipment.  I’ve suffered stress fractures from stubbornly refusing to stop running.  And I’ve nursed a shoulder injury...

I have the best job in the world. As an acupuncturist, I have a parade of lovely, interesting people who come through my clinic looking for help and healing. As an acupuncturist, I get to use the tools of an ancient healing tradition called Chinese medicine. These tools include acupuncture, Chinese herbs, body work, food therapy, and healthy lifestyle traditions. One of the best parts of what I do is that I learn a little something from each and every patient who comes in through my door. Some of those lessons are uneventful, but some are profound. Here is a short list of some of the incredible things...

I love the Olympics!  Every two years, we get to watch the best of the best compete for the ultimate prize in the sporting world—Olympic Gold.  I am in awe of these athletes, who have devoted their lives to their sport, and who have trained for years just to be competing at this level. Olympic athletes in any sport are finely tuned machines, trained to perform at their peak during the Games.  Most of us who will never stand at the top of a bobsled run or take to the ice don’t realize is that there is a fine line between peak condition and breaking down.  This breakdown is the stuff of overuse...

Most of us are interested in living a long life and aging  healthfully.  In our search for longevity, we take vitamins, antioxidants, herbs, supplements, and miracle foods to stay as young as possible for as long as possible. In our search for the fountain of youth, the simplest way to age well is often overlooked—possibly because it is so simple, low tech, and not a pill or potion.  That key to longevity is exercise. In Chinese medicine, moderation is one of the tenets of living well, and this is true for exercise.  You don’t need to run a marathon, bench press 200 pounds, or do a triathlon...

Lately, we’ve been seeing a lot of people in our office who are fighting off colds. In fact, a particularly long-lasting cold is making the rounds right now. Some of those people tell us that they seem to get sick all the time and catch several colds each winter. The first thing they want to know is how to boost their immunity.   In Chinese medicine, the idea of immunity is something akin to a protective bubble that wards off potentially harmful pathogens (viruses, bacteria, pollen, etc.) that make you sick. This protective bubble is called Wei Qi, and when it’s strong, it keeps you...