WP_Query Object
(
[query] => Array
(
[category__in] => Array
(
[0] => 21
[1] => 1
)
[post__not_in] => Array
(
[0] => 2336
)
[posts_per_page] => 50
[ignore_sticky_posts] => 1
[orderby] => desc
[_shuffle_and_pick] => 3
)
[query_vars] => Array
(
[category__in] => Array
(
[0] => 21
[1] => 1
)
[post__not_in] => Array
(
[0] => 2336
)
[posts_per_page] => 50
[ignore_sticky_posts] => 1
[orderby] => desc
[_shuffle_and_pick] => 3
[error] =>
[m] =>
[p] => 0
[post_parent] =>
[subpost] =>
[subpost_id] =>
[attachment] =>
[attachment_id] => 0
[name] =>
[pagename] =>
[page_id] => 0
[second] =>
[minute] =>
[hour] =>
[day] => 0
[monthnum] => 0
[year] => 0
[w] => 0
[category_name] => skincare
[tag] =>
[cat] => 21
[tag_id] =>
[author] =>
[author_name] =>
[feed] =>
[tb] =>
[paged] => 0
[meta_key] =>
[meta_value] =>
[preview] =>
[s] =>
[sentence] =>
[title] =>
[fields] =>
[menu_order] =>
[embed] =>
[category__not_in] => Array
(
)
[category__and] => Array
(
)
[post__in] => Array
(
)
[post_name__in] => Array
(
)
[tag__in] => Array
(
)
[tag__not_in] => Array
(
)
[tag__and] => Array
(
)
[tag_slug__in] => Array
(
)
[tag_slug__and] => Array
(
)
[post_parent__in] => Array
(
)
[post_parent__not_in] => Array
(
)
[author__in] => Array
(
)
[author__not_in] => Array
(
)
[search_columns] => Array
(
)
[suppress_filters] =>
[cache_results] => 1
[update_post_term_cache] => 1
[update_menu_item_cache] =>
[lazy_load_term_meta] => 1
[update_post_meta_cache] => 1
[post_type] =>
[nopaging] =>
[comments_per_page] => 50
[no_found_rows] =>
[order] => DESC
)
[tax_query] => WP_Tax_Query Object
(
[queries] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[taxonomy] => category
[terms] => Array
(
[0] => 21
[1] => 1
)
[field] => term_id
[operator] => IN
[include_children] =>
)
)
[relation] => AND
[table_aliases:protected] => Array
(
[0] => wp_term_relationships
)
[queried_terms] => Array
(
[category] => Array
(
[terms] => Array
(
[0] => 21
[1] => 1
)
[field] => term_id
)
)
[primary_table] => wp_posts
[primary_id_column] => ID
)
[meta_query] => WP_Meta_Query Object
(
[queries] => Array
(
)
[relation] =>
[meta_table] =>
[meta_id_column] =>
[primary_table] =>
[primary_id_column] =>
[table_aliases:protected] => Array
(
)
[clauses:protected] => Array
(
)
[has_or_relation:protected] =>
)
[date_query] =>
[request] =>
SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS wp_posts.ID
FROM wp_posts LEFT JOIN wp_term_relationships ON (wp_posts.ID = wp_term_relationships.object_id)
WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.ID NOT IN (2336) AND (
wp_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id IN (1,21)
) AND ((wp_posts.post_type = 'post' AND (wp_posts.post_status = 'publish' OR wp_posts.post_status = 'acf-disabled')))
AND ID NOT IN
(SELECT `post_id` FROM wp_postmeta
WHERE `meta_key` = '_pilotpress_level'
AND `meta_value` IN ('','employee')
AND `post_id` NOT IN
(SELECT `post_id` FROM wp_postmeta
WHERE `meta_key` = '_pilotpress_level'
AND `meta_value` IN ('' )))
GROUP BY wp_posts.ID
ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC
LIMIT 0, 50
[posts] => Array
(
[0] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 4010
[post_author] => 3
[post_date] => 2014-04-29 05:10:49
[post_date_gmt] => 2014-04-29 12:10:49
[post_content] =>
The human microbiome is the total collection of organisms that live on and in your body, and there’s a growing recognition among scientists that they have quite a lot to do with our health. Different organisms live in the armpit versus the toe creases. In fact, every part of the body – the ears, the mouth, the elbow crease, the navel, the forehead, the groin, the chest, etc. – has its own bacterial culture, each with different species that tend to live there. The emerging field that studies these microbes and how they affect us – microbial ecology – is poised to dramatically change medicine.
One of the most vital functions of these organisms is to help maintain the health and integrity of our epithelium. Epithelium, or epithelial tissue, forms the surfaces of structures throughout the body, as well as the linings of cavities. The skin, the respiratory tract, the digestive tract, the mouth, nostrils, genitalia, and other mucous membranes are all composed of different kinds of epithelium. And through the intelligence of the microbiome – and what’s now being called the gut-brain-skin axis – they are all connected.
Emerging research links health issues as diverse as depression, anxiety, acne, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, fibromyalgia, and autism (to mention just a few) to a disruption of our microbiota (the microorganisms that constitute our microbiome). We’re beginning to understand that this is especially true of epithelial problems – respiratory problems, digestive problems, skin problems, etc. And most often, the disruption begins with the intestines.
This isn’t exactly new science. Two dermatologists, John Stokes and Donald Pillsbury, started proposing the gut-brain-skin connection in the early 1900s. But the medical institution can be a slow moving machine. Traditional medical systems, such as those of China and India, even without understanding the microbiome concept, have long viewed the digestive system as central to the health of the skin and the whole body/mind.
There are now numerous studies supporting the role of intestinal health in skin health. In particular, inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema tend to occur in people with gut inflammation and imbalance of intestinal flora (microorganisms). And they almost always respond positively to administration of probiotics (beneficial microorganisms used to bolster those in the gut) and other nutritional measures for intestinal repair. When the gut is inflamed, unhealthy bacterial excretions can leak into the blood stream, causing inflammation elsewhere. Probiotics can reestablish a strong population of healthy bacteria that keep the unhealthy strains in check, and they also serve to stimulate repair of the intestinal lining.
Historically, people didn’t have capsules of bacteria to take for this purpose; they just ate cultured foods. Cultured foods should be a part of everyone’s diet. Some cultured foods include yogurt, crème fraiche, and kefir (“keh-FEER” – a sort of drinkable yogurt), pickled vegetables (cucumber, carrots, ginger, mushrooms, peppers, beets, cauliflower, tomatoes, eggplant, sauerkraut, kimchee, etc.), fizzy drinks such as jun and kombucha, miso, and tempeh.
If you buy these foods premade, be sure that they aren’t in jars that have a lid that “pops” when you open it. This means they’ve been heat-sealed, which likely killed the beneficial flora in there. By the same token, you shouldn’t cook these foods, since that, too, would kill them. Also, look for vinegar on the labels of pickled foods – it shouldn’t be there. Things pickled in vinegar generally don’t contain probiotics. Traditional fermentation is done in just water or vegetable juice (such as cabbage or celery) or the juice of the material that’s being fermented, plus some kind of starter culture or naturally occurring microbes.
Get some cultured foods, or better yet, make your own, and then incorporate a little bit with each meal. Sometimes a probiotic supplement can be of great help, especially when you are really out of balance. They’re available in liquid, power, and capsule form. When purchasing a probiotic, I recommend choosing one with a wide array of microorganisms, since not every strain “takes” well in every person’s gut. One of my favorites is Proflora Concentrate, made by Integrative Therapeutics. We carry it at our spas. Another good one is called Primal Defense.
Recently, skin care companies have started making topical probiotic preparations, which can be beneficial in inflammatory skin conditions. We carry some in the Epicuren line that are worth trying. However, they’re not a substitute for also getting your gut healed. In addition to using probiotics and/or cultured foods, if you have health concerns that you think might be gut-related, I encourage you to see a naturally-oriented healthcare practitioner who can help you identify foods or drugs that may be contributing to gut inflammation and recommend a more comprehensive gut healing plan.
Wishing you well, inside and out,
Dr. Peter Borten
[post_title] => You’re Not Alone: Heal Your Skin With Help From Some Friends
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => closed
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => youre-alone-heal-skin-help-friends
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2020-08-03 19:25:29
[post_modified_gmt] => 2020-08-03 19:25:29
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => http://www.thedragontree.com/?p=4010
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[webinar_id] => 0
)
[1] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 4682
[post_author] => 3
[post_date] => 2015-01-20 08:13:57
[post_date_gmt] => 2015-01-20 16:13:57
[post_content] =>
In light of the risks of suppressing skin problems, which I discussed in last week's article, I present to you some healthy alternatives to steroid creams and topical antibiotics.
1. Baking Soda: Baking soda is one of the cheapest and easiest things to try for itchy skin. I've prescribed it many times to people with hives and bug bites and it almost always helps in a big way. For overall itchiness, you can pour an entire box of baking soda into your bath (best to add to hot water and then add cooler water after it's dissolved) and hang out in it for a while. (It's also a good idea to keep the bath a bit on the cool side.) For spot treatment, you can make a paste with baking soda and water. Baking soda is also nice in a home foot bath for sore and/or stinky feet. Some people swear by baking soda as a treatment for acne, but the reviews are mixed. It can be highly drying, so if you use it, it's recommended to keep the treatment brief – like 30 seconds of baking soda paste applied to pimples – and then wash off and apply an appropriate toner to restore your skin's optimal pH.
2. Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender is excellent for soothing a wide array of skin irritations. Research has shown that it calms allergic skin reactions; it reduces redness after an episiotomy; it promotes wound healing; it reduces pain; and it inhibits numerous bacteria and fungi that cause skin problems. One study suggested that regular use of lavender oil may protect against the damaging (aging) effects of sun exposure. I regularly recommend it for rashes, sunburn and other burns, insect bites and stings, pimples and boils, and wounds.
Although it can be applied undiluted to most people's skin, there's rarely a need to use it in such a concentrated way. I find that essential oils are often overused. Most of the studies on lavender oil have utilized it in concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 10%. You can dilute it in a bit of olive oil, coconut oil, water, or whatever else you wish.
3. Calendula: Calendula is an orange flower in the marigold family. I used to love seeing it bloom throughout the winter in Portland. It is anti-inflammatory and promotes wound healing. One great thing about calendula is how gentle it is. I don't hesitate to use it on babies with sore, raw, or itchy skin. It's great for cuts, scrapes, chapping, skin ulcers, burns, bed sores, rashes, bruises, hemorrhoids, sometimes acne, and it may even help with varicose veins. Depending on your preference, you can get calendula in an oil base (such as olive oil), a cream, or a gel. For chapped and cracked skin, it's best in a moisturizing base.
4. Ching Wan Hung: This Chinese herbal ointment belongs in every home. It is the most excellent burn remedy I've ever found. I don't see it becoming popular in hospitals because it looks and smells a bit weird for Westerners, but honestly, it should be. I have applied this stuff to first and second degree burns dozens of times and it always leads to a quick resolution of the damage. Of course, in second degree burns there is considerable damage, so I recommend getting medical care, but on the way, put some of this on it.
Ching Wan Hung also works well for about half the rashes I've prescribed it for, and it's usually helpful for bug bites and stings, too. It smells strongly of sesame oil, so that part can take a bit of getting used to, but if you use it immediately after getting a burn, you'll be sold. I've used it on all kinds of burns, from steam to fire, to chemicals, to sunburns, to radiation burns. I had a patient with severe skin damage from radiation treatments for breast cancer, and after applying this ointment for a couple months, the skin was completely back to normal.
This is the one item on this list that's not widely available in stores, but it's easy to find online, or we can order it for you at The Dragontree.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has some very zealous supporters. I usually shy away from zealotry and fads, but in the case of ACV, much of the praise is well deserved. First, to be clear, I'm not talking about just any apple cider vinegar, but specifically Bragg ACV, which you can find in most grocery stores. Like the other items in this list, ACV is useful for many kinds of skin issues (and, internally, for some non-skin issues, too).
First, you can use diluted ACV on the skin for acne, or just as a good skin toner, acid exfoliant, and restorer of the skin's optimal pH. Mix one part ACV with 2 to 3 parts water or tea (chamomile or rooibos teas are good), and apply to the face with a cotton ball. You don't need to wash it off unless it causes irritation. I recommend for facial application that you start with a rather weak ACV solution and only work up to a less diluted mixture if your skin can handle it.
The same can be applied to eczema, yeast infections, fungal skin infections, and other rashes. Again, while there may be a little tingling, we don't want burning. Vinegar is a strong acid and it can harm the skin if used too much or too concentrated.
Apple cider vinegar is also great for the hair and scalp. Most cases of dandruff will benefit or resolve completely with several applications of ACV. Mix 1 part ACV with 2 or 3 parts water. It's best to put it in a squeeze bottle with a pointed tip so that it can be squirted directly onto the scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse. It can be used in the same dilution as a hair rinse to remove the residue of hair care products.
At the more hardcore end of the spectrum, I know people who have used ACV undiluted to remove warts, and skin tags. In these cases, we're relying on its strength as an acid, and there is risk of collateral skin burns, so please proceed with caution and proper guidance in this arena.
Natural remedies aren’t always better or safer than the alternatives, but I believe the items on this list are pretty special. And I believe they can provide relief and/or promote healing without being suppressive. Give them a try and share your experience with us in the comments section. Have other home remedies for skin that you love? We want to hear about those, too!
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
[post_title] => Five Valuable Skin Remedies to Keep In Your Medicine Cabinet
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => closed
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => five-valuable-skin-remedies-keep-medicine-cabinet
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2020-08-03 19:11:51
[post_modified_gmt] => 2020-08-03 19:11:51
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => http://www.thedragontree.com/?p=4682
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 1
[filter] => raw
[webinar_id] => 0
)
[2] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 6637
[post_author] => 5
[post_date] => 2017-04-04 16:46:55
[post_date_gmt] => 2017-04-04 16:46:55
[post_content] =>
"Self-care isn't selfish. In fact, you have to care for yourself in order to care for anyone else."
What will do for your own self-care today? Leave a comment below and let us know.
[post_title] => Conversations with Briana: Self-Care (Video)
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => conversations-briana-self-care-video
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2017-04-04 16:49:59
[post_modified_gmt] => 2017-04-04 16:49:59
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => http://www.thedragontree.com/?p=6637
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 8
[filter] => raw
[webinar_id] => 0
)
)
[post_count] => 3
[current_post] => -1
[before_loop] => 1
[in_the_loop] =>
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 4010
[post_author] => 3
[post_date] => 2014-04-29 05:10:49
[post_date_gmt] => 2014-04-29 12:10:49
[post_content] =>
The human microbiome is the total collection of organisms that live on and in your body, and there’s a growing recognition among scientists that they have quite a lot to do with our health. Different organisms live in the armpit versus the toe creases. In fact, every part of the body – the ears, the mouth, the elbow crease, the navel, the forehead, the groin, the chest, etc. – has its own bacterial culture, each with different species that tend to live there. The emerging field that studies these microbes and how they affect us – microbial ecology – is poised to dramatically change medicine.
One of the most vital functions of these organisms is to help maintain the health and integrity of our epithelium. Epithelium, or epithelial tissue, forms the surfaces of structures throughout the body, as well as the linings of cavities. The skin, the respiratory tract, the digestive tract, the mouth, nostrils, genitalia, and other mucous membranes are all composed of different kinds of epithelium. And through the intelligence of the microbiome – and what’s now being called the gut-brain-skin axis – they are all connected.
Emerging research links health issues as diverse as depression, anxiety, acne, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, fibromyalgia, and autism (to mention just a few) to a disruption of our microbiota (the microorganisms that constitute our microbiome). We’re beginning to understand that this is especially true of epithelial problems – respiratory problems, digestive problems, skin problems, etc. And most often, the disruption begins with the intestines.
This isn’t exactly new science. Two dermatologists, John Stokes and Donald Pillsbury, started proposing the gut-brain-skin connection in the early 1900s. But the medical institution can be a slow moving machine. Traditional medical systems, such as those of China and India, even without understanding the microbiome concept, have long viewed the digestive system as central to the health of the skin and the whole body/mind.
There are now numerous studies supporting the role of intestinal health in skin health. In particular, inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema tend to occur in people with gut inflammation and imbalance of intestinal flora (microorganisms). And they almost always respond positively to administration of probiotics (beneficial microorganisms used to bolster those in the gut) and other nutritional measures for intestinal repair. When the gut is inflamed, unhealthy bacterial excretions can leak into the blood stream, causing inflammation elsewhere. Probiotics can reestablish a strong population of healthy bacteria that keep the unhealthy strains in check, and they also serve to stimulate repair of the intestinal lining.
Historically, people didn’t have capsules of bacteria to take for this purpose; they just ate cultured foods. Cultured foods should be a part of everyone’s diet. Some cultured foods include yogurt, crème fraiche, and kefir (“keh-FEER” – a sort of drinkable yogurt), pickled vegetables (cucumber, carrots, ginger, mushrooms, peppers, beets, cauliflower, tomatoes, eggplant, sauerkraut, kimchee, etc.), fizzy drinks such as jun and kombucha, miso, and tempeh.
If you buy these foods premade, be sure that they aren’t in jars that have a lid that “pops” when you open it. This means they’ve been heat-sealed, which likely killed the beneficial flora in there. By the same token, you shouldn’t cook these foods, since that, too, would kill them. Also, look for vinegar on the labels of pickled foods – it shouldn’t be there. Things pickled in vinegar generally don’t contain probiotics. Traditional fermentation is done in just water or vegetable juice (such as cabbage or celery) or the juice of the material that’s being fermented, plus some kind of starter culture or naturally occurring microbes.
Get some cultured foods, or better yet, make your own, and then incorporate a little bit with each meal. Sometimes a probiotic supplement can be of great help, especially when you are really out of balance. They’re available in liquid, power, and capsule form. When purchasing a probiotic, I recommend choosing one with a wide array of microorganisms, since not every strain “takes” well in every person’s gut. One of my favorites is Proflora Concentrate, made by Integrative Therapeutics. We carry it at our spas. Another good one is called Primal Defense.
Recently, skin care companies have started making topical probiotic preparations, which can be beneficial in inflammatory skin conditions. We carry some in the Epicuren line that are worth trying. However, they’re not a substitute for also getting your gut healed. In addition to using probiotics and/or cultured foods, if you have health concerns that you think might be gut-related, I encourage you to see a naturally-oriented healthcare practitioner who can help you identify foods or drugs that may be contributing to gut inflammation and recommend a more comprehensive gut healing plan.
Wishing you well, inside and out,
Dr. Peter Borten
[post_title] => You’re Not Alone: Heal Your Skin With Help From Some Friends
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => closed
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => youre-alone-heal-skin-help-friends
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2020-08-03 19:25:29
[post_modified_gmt] => 2020-08-03 19:25:29
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => http://www.thedragontree.com/?p=4010
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[webinar_id] => 0
)
[comment_count] => 0
[current_comment] => -1
[found_posts] => 243
[max_num_pages] => 5
[max_num_comment_pages] => 0
[is_single] =>
[is_preview] =>
[is_page] =>
[is_archive] => 1
[is_date] =>
[is_year] =>
[is_month] =>
[is_day] =>
[is_time] =>
[is_author] =>
[is_category] => 1
[is_tag] =>
[is_tax] =>
[is_search] =>
[is_feed] =>
[is_comment_feed] =>
[is_trackback] =>
[is_home] =>
[is_privacy_policy] =>
[is_404] =>
[is_embed] =>
[is_paged] =>
[is_admin] =>
[is_attachment] =>
[is_singular] =>
[is_robots] =>
[is_favicon] =>
[is_posts_page] =>
[is_post_type_archive] =>
[query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => af5f8929ae9b5801854b837c81c8d570
[query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] =>
[thumbnails_cached] =>
[allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] =>
[stopwords:WP_Query:private] =>
[compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array
(
[0] => query_vars_hash
[1] => query_vars_changed
)
[compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array
(
[0] => init_query_flags
[1] => parse_tax_query
)
)