By Bryan McMahon, L.Ac The Wandering Cloud Ancient Chinese Medicine The alarm is going off and all you want to do is stay in bed. Daily chores are just too much effort and at the center of all of it, you just don’t feel like yourself. The doctors have diagnosed you with hypothyroidism, or […]
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc. Last week, I sat down with D.A. Wiley, LAc at Kwan Yin Healing Arts. She told me about how the ancient practice of sound healing can reach deeply into the heart in a way that no other form of healing can, how obsidian stones can help us to ground, and
D.A. Wiley on the Ancient Practice of Sound Healing Read More »
By D.A. Wiley, LAc When you start to feel as though your life is crumbling right before your eyes, it may seems as though you are in a deep, dark chasm. Combine depression and anxiety with body pain that won’t improve, and that is a recipe for suffering. You may stay close to tears, want
DEPRESSION with BODY PAIN – Treated with SOUND HEALING and ORIENTAL MEDICINE Read More »
by DA Wiley, L.Ac. If you know someone who would benefit from this article, pass it on! I remember some years ago, before I found Chinese Medicine, scheduling my life around my menstrual cycle. I dreaded the day I would wake up in the middle of the night and know that the next 24 hours
Menstrual Cramps Got You Down? A Personal Story of Hope! Read More »
What if there was a super simple, inexpensive–perhaps delightful–trick to feel better with lasting results? There is such a trick, of course, and you’ve probably heard about it before. It’s water. Plenty of water. Maybe you’re thinking this is old news. It may not be new, but it’s important! Stick around to be convinced and
The Easiest Health Hack for Feeling Better Read More »
Perhaps you’ve heard the recommendations to chew your food a certain number of times. Why is this number so important? It’s not. The number isn’t important, but the act of chewing is super important–so important that people with your best interest in mind are trying any trick (including making up numbers) to help you get
Here’s why you shouldn’t worry about chewing the right number of times Read More »
Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night? If so, you’re not alone; it’s one of the most common reasons people seek medical help. Today, we offer a little life hack for giving yourself the best chance at falling off to a lovely sleep, quickly and effortlessly. Are you ready? Here it is:
Life Hack: How to Get Better Sleep Read More »
Of all of the places you’ve enjoyed being outdoors, imagine your favorite. Is it a quiet garden with dappled sunlight? A crisp, fall morning with colorful leaves crunching underfoot? Silent snow falling all around you? Ocean waves crashing on a sandy beach? Whatever you favorite outdoor place—even if you don’t love the outdoors—chances are it’s
Nature is for More Than Just “Nature Lovers” Read More »
By Dr. Chloe Scheel ND, LAc Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy with the poor air quality we are facing in Portland, OR. Avoid exercising outdoors. Wear a mask to avoid breathing in large ash particles. A mask is not enough to keep you completely safe, but it can be helpful
Stay Safe in This Smoke! Read More »
By Sarah Clark, LAc InnerDialogue is a healing form that allows us to use body symptoms—our joint pain, our insomnia, our digestive distress, our anxiety–to access a deeper understanding about where we are out of balance. The practitioner and patient use the ancient, non-verbal language of mudras and kinesiology to explore what is truly at
What is InnerDialogue? Read More »
By Dr. Chloe Scheel, ND, LAc There are 4 main signs that are important when tracking fertility. These are listed below. Ideally, after 3-4 months, you will have enough data gathered to really understand your cycle, predict ovulation, and predict your fertility window. This data can be tracked in an app on your phone or
Tracking Your Fertility Read More »
By Dr. Lindsay Wilkinson, ND, LAc Yesterday, an article published in Medscape reviewed a recent cohort study linking IBD (Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis) to a significantly increased risk for “arterial events” including cardiovascular ischemia (heart attack and angina), cerebrovascular disease (stroke and TIA), and peripheral arterial disease. The study compared the frequency of
Interview with Sarah Clark, LAc, by Lindsay Wilkinson, ND, LAc Lindsay: Winter can be a tough season for a lot of people. Can you speak to that from a Five Element perspective? Sarah: Winter is the most yin time of the year. We’ve gone through the deathing season of fall, and now everything is in
The Water Element and the Power of Surrender: An Interview With Sarah Clark, LAc Read More »
By Sarah Clark, LAc In Classical Chinese medicine, the element associated with fall is metal. Think of the sensual experience of metal: hard, cold, sometimes sharp, often heavy. The heaviness of the metal season can leave us feeling bereft. The leaves fall with abandon, the rain keeps coming. The sun seems to have walked
The Metal Element: Inspiration for the Darker Season Read More »
Recipe from Lauren Chandler, Chef Instructor, MSW We’re coming into steelhead and salmon season, and living in the Northwest, we’re lucky to have these delicious fish right in our backyard. They are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which benefit brain and heart health and offer protection to joints and connective tissues. The recipe
Sticky Brown Rice Crusted Salmon Read More »
Lauren Chandler My clients often hire me to inspire their cooking. Day in and day out they’ve found themselves cooking the same old dishes, or resorting to take out because they just aren’t inspired to cook. They know cooking from scratch is healthier than buying processed food or going out for dinner, but they’re in
Winter Cooking Inspiration Read More »
Image by Leela Longson 2016 Pain and the Heart as Compass Addressing the Emotional Component of Health Are you aware that there is an emotional component to your pain or illness, but you don’t quite know what to do about it? For me it’s frustration. I know frustration is linked to my tight shoulders
Pain and the Heart as Compass – the Emotional Component of Health Read More »
With Sarah Clark MFA, MAc, LAc Thursdays 2/18, 2/25, 3/3, 3/10 5:3o to 7 PM Cost: $125 for the series Class Size Limited to Nine Participants Register Now by calling 503-701-8766 Ext: 2 For more information: sarahc.acupuncture@gmail.com
Exlore the Curative potential of movement and SOUND Read More »
Interview by Kellyn Adams Kellyn: How did you make your way to practicing acupuncture? Sarah: My first introduction to acupuncture was through being a patient and experiencing a profound opening through receiving it. Kellyn: And you taught writing before you became an acupuncturist, right? Sarah: Yes, I was a writing teacher at the time, working
Photo: Moonrise in the Himalayas, Leela Longson Relax and Nourish with Better Sleep (How Your Body is Like a Smartphone App) When you think about it, your body is just like one of those apps – you know, the ones that come
Relax and Nourish with Better Sleep Read More »
From Lauren Chandler, Chef Instructor, MSW When persimmons ripen, my sadness that fig season is over vanishes upon first bite. If you aren’t already eating them, perhaps you have noticed those orange, squat-tomato-looking fruit in
Recipe provided by Lauren Chandler, Chef Instructor, MSW Leading up to the holidays, I am frequently asked, “What gravy do I serve the vegans and gluten-free guests when traditional gravy includes meat drippings and flour?” This mushroom gravy recipe is the answer. It’s rich, creamy, and if there are leftovers, it can be thinned out
Crowd Pleasing Many Mushroom Gravy Read More »
Five Simple Ways Acupuncture can Boost your Mental Health What does it take to go from walking to bicycling or dancing, from tapping your fingers to painting or playing the piano? There is a whole symphony of coordination among muscles and joints, senses and reflexes, tendons and ligaments. There’s also endurance, tenacity, curiosity, and
Five Simple Ways Acupuncture can Boost your Mental Health Read More »
By Lauren Chandler When it’s cold outside, don’t you want to stay warm and cozy and fill your home up with wonderful aromas? I know I do. Once I’m home at the end of a long day, and it’s dark and cold out, the last thing I want to do is head out again
Preparing for Cooler Months: It’s–Cold-Outside-I-Don’t-Wanna-Go-Out-In-It-Soup Read More »
Recently I sat down with naturopathic doctor Candida Schwartz. She told me about how she strikes a balance between offering traditional nature cure, running labs, and working with blocks to consciousness through energy work for her patients. Here is what she had to say. Sarah: Tell me about your journey to becoming a healer.
We are All One Heartbeat: an Interview with Dr. Candida Schwartz Read More »
Recently I had time to sit down with Dr. Rebecca Principe and discuss the way she practices Classical Homeopathy to create profound changes for her patients. Here is what she had to say. Sarah: When did you decide to become a homeopath? Rebecca: Homeopathy is something that was important to me before I
Dr. Rebecca Principe on Classical Homeopathy Read More »
I recently had an opportunity to sit down with Stephen Higgins, L.Ac. He spoke about the importance of maintaining inclusive awareness with patients, how herbs can be our teachers, and of his study and practice of the richly precise and complex Shen Hammer pulse diagnosis system. Here is what he had to say. Sarah:
I recently had an opportunity to sit down with with Dr. Amalia Treadwell, ND, LAc, to discuss her holistic medical practice. She talked about the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, seeing the patient as an individual, and helping patients make lifestyle changes that deeply affect their health. Here is what she had to say.
by Sarah Clark, LAc Developed by psychologist and bodyworker David Berceli, TRE®, or Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises, is a series of simple and easily accessible exercises that activate the body’s natural vibrational healing. When we experience stress or trauma our bodies tend toward contraction. Most of us live in a state of relative nervous system hyperarousal
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc Recently I had an opportunity to sit down with Dr. Whitney Hayes, who specializes in treating gastrointestinal disorders. She talked about the causes and the mechanism of small intestine bacterial overgrowth, healing the gut through antimicrobials and dietary changes, and the reality of how gut dysbiosis affects our mood. Here
SIBO and the Gut-Brain Connection: A Conversation with Dr. Whitney Hayes Read More »
Recently I sat down with Muir Ferdun, LAc, to talk about nonlinearity in the healing process–how the body is not bound by the linear narrative of the mind. We talked about this in the context of her deep healing work with children and families. Here is what she has to say. Sarah: Talk to
By Lauren Chandler, Chef Instructor, MSW We are fortunate to live in a part of the country where greens grow year round, but they are especially abundant this time of year. With the weather heating up, our bodies start to crave more raw and cooling foods, so now is the perfect time to experiment with
By Lauren Chandler, Chef Instructor, MSW It is indeed possible, that some Portlanders are over kale. Kale has certainly made the rounds on restaurant menus, in recipes and potluck dishes, but I, for one, am not over it. And I implore you not to give it up either. You can believe the hype: It truly
A New Taste for Kale Read More »
by Lauren Chandler, Chef Instructor, MSW These bars take all of 10 minutes to make, and will fuel you throughout the week. After tasting these and seeing how quick it is to prepare them, you will be less likely to buy store bought bars. Kids and adults (and Kwan Yin practitioners! have given this recipe
The Last Energy Bar Recipe You Will Ever Need Read More »
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc Recently, I had an opportunity to sit down with Joanna Present Wolfe, LAc, at Kwan-Yin Healing Arts Center. She told me about the joy she takes in the creative process of being a healer, about the way she perceives and moves blocks in the meridians, and about the fulfillment she
Acupuncture as a Conversation With the Body: An Interview With Joanna Present Wolfe, LAc Read More »
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc. Last week, I sat down with D.A. Wiley, LAc at Kwan Yin Healing Arts. She told me about how the ancient practice of sound healing can reach deeply into the heart in a way that no other form of healing can, how obsidian stones can help us to ground, and
D.A. Wiley on the Ancient Practice of Sound Healing Read More »
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc Recently, I had an opportunity to sit down with Classical Five Element acupuncturist Kimberly Klingele at Kwan Yin Healing Arts. She told me about how her own healing journey led her to become an acupuncturist, how she uses Five Element acupuncture to restore balance and health within her patients, and how to live in
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc Last week I spent some time with Dr. Meghan Larivee, ND, LAc, at Kwan Yin Healing Arts. We talked about the body as landscape, how honey bee venom therapy and neural therapy can help to re-establish balance within that landscape, and the importance of doctor patient rapport. Here is what
Dr. Meghan Larivee on Healing the Ecosystem of the Body Read More »
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc. Justin Levy is a shamanic healer and acupuncturist at Kwan Yin Healing Arts. I had a chance to sit down and talk with him recently about his own initiation into shamanic healing, the deep healing power of clearing energetic blocks, and the grace spirit brings to his patients. Here is
Justin Levy, LAc on Shamanic Healing Read More »
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc I had an opportunity to sit down last week and talk with Dr. Chang about his passion for treating chronic pain, and the ways in which he supports athletes to reach their full potential. This is what he had so say: Sarah: Tell me about how you work with
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with Melissa Kuser, ND, LAc at Kwan Yin Healing Arts. We talked about her experience of “docere”, or doctor as teacher, and how she teaches her patients about the heart. Here is what she had to say. Sarah: How did
What Brings Your Heart Into Resonance: An Interview With Melissa Kuser, ND, LAc Read More »
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Helen Henry, MD, LAc, to talk about her journey to become both an MD and an acupuncturist, and to understand how she combines these approaches in her healing work. Here is what she had to say. Sarah: Tell me about
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc Dr. Sara Hopkins is an ND, LAc at Kwan Yin Healing Arts West. Recently I had the opportunity to talk with her about her background in social work and how it informs her practice. Here is what she had to say. Sarah: Tell me about your background
Healing the Whole Person: An Interview with Dr. Sara Hopkins, ND, LAc Read More »
Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center congratulates our Top Docs from Portland Monthly’s 2014 survey of the finest in their fields. We honor these excellent healers! From Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center West: David Berkshire, LAc Xiaoli Chen, LAc David Perham, DC Stefanie Hayes, ND, LAc Jennifer Karon-Flores, ND Gibran Ramos, ND, LAc From Kwan Yin
Portland Monthly’s 2014 survey of Top Docs features Kwan Yin Providers! Read More »
Interview by Sarah Clark, LAc Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Gibran Ramos, ND, LAc about how autoimmune disease originates in the body and about the way the body can heal from it. This is what he had to say. Sarah: Gibran, how did you decide to become a
Autoimmune Disease: An Interview with Dr. Gibran Ramos Read More »
If you are incredibly sleep deprived, there are some researchers in southern Australia that would be willing to help you – by waking you up 50 times in one night. They are studying a cutting edge, controversial and yet promising insomnia treatment called Intensive Sleep Retraining (ISR). ISR participants are hooked up to an electroencephalogram
Sleep Deprivation for the Sleep Deprived?? Read More »
By D.A. Wiley, LAc When you start to feel as though your life is crumbling right before your eyes, it may seems as though you are in a deep, dark chasm. Combine depression and anxiety with body pain that won’t improve, and that is a recipe for suffering. You may stay close to tears, want
DEPRESSION with BODY PAIN – Treated with SOUND HEALING and ORIENTAL MEDICINE Read More »
By Melissa Kuser, ND, LAc Piggy-backing on the high visibility of Valentine’s Day red heart-shaped boxes, February has been declared National Heart Health Awareness Month. It seems only reasonable to discuss the heart health topic from a naturopathic perspective and to dispel a few common misunderstandings. In my practice, one of the most common questions
Heart Health 101: Stress, Inflammation, and Inertia Read More »
by Joanna Present Wolfe, LAc WELCOME YEAR OF THE HORSE! The classical Chinese New Year begins on the first new moon of the calendar year, which is coming up on January 30, 2014. The lunar cycle of 12 animal years corresponds to the cycle of the seasons, the hours of the day, and the organs
by Dr. Jennifer Karon-Flores, ND Well, it’s happened. I have not had the flu in years, but guess what? Last week was my week to get sick. I had a fever and chills, cough, and generally felt quite sorry for myself (though I'm on the mend). If you had an appointment with me earlier this week,
It’s the Flu, What to Do? Read More »
by Dr. Jennifer Karon-Flores, ND I get questions every day about individual health insurance plans, whether naturopathic care will be covered under the new plans, and whether someone should stick with their current healthcare company or switch. Note that all individual subscribers must choose a new plan before December 2013, and coverage begins January 1st 2014. If you
Health Insurance Changes Read More »
by Dr. Jon Luchs, ND/LAc Some diseases are more prevalent among a particular people or in a particular part of the world. Though malaria can be found on several continents, over 90% of malarial cases are found in Africa. While malaria is particularly deadly in sub-Saharan Africa, diet is the bane of many Americans. In
You Are How You Eat Read More »
By Dr. Dave Allderdice, ND, FABNO Currently one in three of us will deal with cancer at some point in our lives. Science has discovered some of the genetic links that trigger cancer and in doing so, we’ve also learned that the vast majority of cancer is caused by the way we live our
Four Pillars of Cancer Prevention Read More »
By David Berkshire, LAc AUTOIMMUNITY-YIKES! THE CHINESE VIEWPOINT Autoimmune disease–a term none of us want to hear, though many of us have encountered it sitting in the doctor's office. Perhaps your friends or family have been the ones to bear the news of autoimmune disease: An immune response by the body against
Autoimmunity – Where Is Your Fire in the Belly? Read More »
In the exploration of the health implications of radioactive material from the Japanese nuclear crisis, I have come across a few things that I thought worth sharing! Thus far, there have not been significantly measurable changes in the radioactivity on the west coast from the incidence in Japan. However, there have been measurable changes, particularly
What is Exfoliation? Exfoliation is a skin care therapy in which the outer layers of dead skin cells are gently sloughed off. Any area of the skin can be exfoliated, but it is important to exfoliate your face using products intended for your skin type. Why Should I Exfoliate? Exfoliation speeds up the skin’s natural
Tips on Exfoliation by Kwan-Yin’s Holistic Aesthetician Read More »
With all the hard work people are doing to live healthier lives and make the best choices for their families, it can easily feel like the obstacles in our environment are increasingly working against us. Great effort is being made to create healthier diets; buying locally produced foods, reduce processed foods and embrace
The Basic Needs – Clean Water! Read More »
By Dr. Ilana Gurevich ND, LAc For years you've known that something with your gut just isn’t right. For as long as you can remember, digestion has been more painful than easy. You suffer from gas,bloating, diarrhea or constipation. At times it even seems like one minute your bowels are totally loose, and the next
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Diagnosis That Leaves You in Limbo… Read More »
by Dr. Sarah Wylie, N.D. October 21, 2009 Dear Friends and Family, The purpose of this letter is to balance the information we are receiving from the media regarding swine flu and the vaccine. I also want to give you a plan for preventing the flu, or successfully fighting the flu, if you should get
Flu Season Preparedness: A Letter From Dr. Wylie Read More »
by David Berkshire, L.Ac. I was just asked to give a presentation to a group of State Farm Insurance agents about Chinese medicine. More and more people are discovering that when they have pain after a car accident, their motor vehicle accident insurance will actually pay for their treatment. With all the talk right now about making health care
Car Accidents: A Pain in Your Neck! Read More »
by Dr. Sarah Wylie, N.D., Naturopathic Physician and Midwife A 17-month-old child was draped over her mother's shoulder after the struggle from her ear exam was over. The mother writhed as she stated, "the worst thing for me about parenting is this vaccination issue. I feel I may be harming her with the shots, and
Vaccinations: Yes or No? Read More »
by Muir Ferdun, L.Ac. Lots of children get ear infections. No, really, LOTS of children. It's the most common reason for non-routine doctor visits in the under-4-years-old set. So, here's the drill. You see your child start getting grumpy, pulling at her ear, rubbing a cheek, running a fever without much nasal congestion, or not
Ear Infections Hurt! Read More »
by Dr. Sara Hart, ND, LAc, LMT The noise of rumbling and grumbling guts can be quite a disconcerting experience. Was it something I ate? Montezuma's revenge? Or is it normal? These are all questions pondered while trying to pretend it's really the dog's belly that everyone is uncomfortably hearing. Our bodies are made up
Tending the Flora Within Read More »
by Dr. Ilana Gurevich ND, LAc "You have cancer." You hear these words and your heart goes cold. All of a sudden your whole life feels like it is over and you think that you have a death sentence and there is nothing you can do to get out of it. After the "C"
by David Berkshire, L.Ac. My father-in-law brought home the USA Today last weekend, and the front page declared "The deadliest flu season ever, half the US population may be infected!" I checked the NY Times and it was a little calmer about it, declaring we don't know what will come of this season. Every year
THE SWINE FLU EPIDEMIC! Read More »
by DA Wiley, L.Ac. If you know someone who would benefit from this article, pass it on! I remember some years ago, before I found Chinese Medicine, scheduling my life around my menstrual cycle. I dreaded the day I would wake up in the middle of the night and know that the next 24 hours
Menstrual Cramps Got You Down? A Personal Story of Hope! Read More »
By David Berkshire, L.Ac. If you have struggled with chronic illness, you know the feeling: "Will I ever have my life back?" Maybe you haven't said it, but you've thought it: "I'll never get better." The hopelessness that accompanies chronic illness can be overwhelming. Often, a feeling of defeat is the first thing I hear
Finding Hope in the Struggle With Chronic Illness Read More »
by David Berkshire, L.Ac. Over this past holiday, I had the pleasure of napping with my one and a half year old daughter for two days in a row; what a treat. However, her naps are much longer than my own. So for two days in a row I woke after a wonderful hour of
by Dr. Stefani Kovacovsky Hayes, ND Do you want to get pregnant in 2011 or 2012? Is "have a baby" going to be on your list of New Year's resolutions? Would you like to improve your chances for success once you start? If so, then consider fertility optimization with Naturopathic and Chinese medicine. In
Fertility Optimization: Preparing Your Body For Your Future Baby Read More »
We all want to trust that our bodies will keep up with our desire for activity and adventure in life. But when diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, the strength of our bones becomes questionable. Along with many other conditions that are considered parts of aging, there is a great deal of prevention we can do
Keeping Strong Healthy Bones for a Long Active Life Read More »