Pomegranate is one of several foods rich in polyphenols—plant compounds that act as antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols help protect the body from oxidative stress and chronic disease. They may support heart and brain health and contribute to better blood sugar control. Some chronic diseases linked to oxidative stress include cancer, autoimmune diseases, and heart disease. Aging skin is also partly caused by oxidative stress.
Polyphenols work by supporting the microbiome, regulating inflammation, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting brain health. Through these processes, they help train the body to become more resilient.
This is why we now carry Pomegranate Extract by Life Extension in the office. All of us experience oxidative stress as part of living in a stressful world with exposure to environmental toxins. Our bodies can manage some of that stress, but we also benefit from support. Supplementing with pomegranate extract can make it easier to incorporate these beneficial compounds into our daily lives.
Akkermanisa has a very important role in the health of the lining of your gut, which serves to regulate what gets absorbed into your bloodstream, and what leaves as waste.
Akkermansia muciniphila strengthens the gut barrier (the mucosal lining of the intestines) by keeping it in balance, which reduces inflammation, improves metabolism, and supports blood sugar control. It breaks down excess and poor quality mucus. Imbalanced levels of Akkermansia can lead to body-wide chronic inflammation and increased intestinal permeability – aka leaky gut – which, due to a breakdown in the intestinal lining, allows toxins and pathogen to pass into the bloodstream and cause problems.
Low levels of Akkermansia can cause systemic inflammation; digestive symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, abdominal pain, and food sensitivities; metabolic issues (insulin resistance and diabetes); and is suspected of being the main cause of osteoarthritis. I have also read about a link between low levels of Akkermansia and cancer.
High levels of Akkermansia (specifically when out of balance with other beneficial gut microbes) leave the gut lining in bad shape because the Akkermansia eat too much of the mucus barrier so there is not enough protection for the intestinal lining. This exposes the delicate intestinal cells and triggers the dendritic cells that serve as sentinels for the immune system. This can also lead to increased inflammation, can create abdominal rawness, appetite issues and discomfort, can aggravate colitis symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea) and worsened outcomes in colorectal cancers.
High levels of Akkermansia are less common than cases of low levels of Akkermansia, but testing before supplementing (using a test such as the BiomeFX stool test) is important to ensure proper support. Akkermansia is currently the subject of much research, and one of the ways to support the microbiome is to eat a diet rich in a variety of plant foods. This helps bring the body back into balance, regardless of high or low levels of Akkermansia. Polyphenols, compounds found in berries, pomegranate, green tea, apples, and nuts, has been found to be particularly helpful in increasing levels of Akkermansia.
Pomegranate extract is an easy way to get these polyphenols and is often recommended for those experiencing low levels of Akkermansia. We carry Pomegranate Extract from Life Extension in the office for those who would benefit!
In Chinese medicine, the fire element is generally associated with the Heart, but there are actually 4 organs/channels associated with the fire element. All the other elements – earth, metal, water and wood – have two channels, one yin and one yang, but in the fire element it is doubled.
Heart is yin fire and is paired with Small Intestine, yang fire.
Pericardium is yin fire and is paired with San Jiao (Triple Burner), yang fire.
So far this horse year I have been drawn to doing quite a few Korean style acupuncture yang fire treatments, Small Intestine and San Jiao channel, which have been well received. Responses have included deep relaxation, relief of pain.
Small intestine is associated with dynamic motion – hot and cold, fire and water. When this is deficient qi and blood can get stuck – pain, especially sacrum and neck pain, muscles spasms or stiffness, visible varicose or spider veins and non-physical stuck stuff. Small intestine channel treatments can have results that include moving qi and blood stasis, unblocking stuckness, less pain and letting go of some layers of old trauma.
San Jiao (Triple Burner) is associated with brightness, attention to external detail and openness. Treating this channel can help lighten and brighten up your qi. The image of this channel is the high desert – bright, sunny, dry, warm. It can balance cold dark Vermont days.
If you’ve been in the office recently, you may have noticed this new product on the shelf. ReDermaVive Nourishing Skin Moisturizing Body Butter is from one of the Chinese herbal medicine companies that I for classical herbal formulas, Blue Poppy. I absolutely love the fresh floral rose and sweet orange scent.
Healthy skin is an important part of overall wellness. Just like acupuncture works to restore balance within the body, the products we use on our skin can support nourishment, hydration, and self-care. One product we love for daily skin support is the ReDermaVive Nourishing Skin Moisturizing Body Butter.
This rich body butter is designed to deeply moisturize and replenish dry or tired skin. Made with naturally derived ingredients such as cupuaçu butter, peach kernel oil, and avocado oil, it provides intense hydration while helping the skin feel soft, smooth, and healthy.
Why Body Butter?
Body butters contain concentrated plant butters and oils that help restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier. These ingredients are especially helpful for dry areas like elbows, hands, knees, and feet. Unlike lighter lotions, body butters create longer-lasting hydration and support smoother, more supple skin.
Herbal Ingredients with Skin Benefits
This formula also incorporates traditional herbs such as Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, and Fang Feng, along with soothing botanicals like chamomile. These ingredients are combined with essential oils including rose, rose geranium, and sweet orange for a light, uplifting scent and calming self-care experience.
Rose essential oil
Rose soothes both the skin and the heart. I love rose and it makes me happy to use this product every day. Velvety lovely sweetness.
Rose soothes skin damage, calms irritation and balances hydration. It’s great for sensitive skin and amazing for winter dry skin.
Are you up for an adventure this year? It’s the year of the yang fire horse… the Wild Stallion. Are you ready for a ride? Will you enjoy being in the saddle? Where are you headed?
Two years ago was another type of ride, the rollercoaster of the baby dragon (yang wood) – expansive, bright, inquisitive and definitely mischievous. Last year was the baby green snake (yin wood) – quiet, inwardly focused, darker and deeper.
This yang fire horse year is very yang – outward, active, expansive and, with all the fire, potentially explosive.
Horses symbolize freedom, strength and happiness and are intuitive, creative, dynamic, expressive, and curious. We’ve got plenty to work with this year.
We can channel the powerful creative yang energy in a wonderful way – harness it and go in the direction of your choosing. Think about slow burning embers rather than wildfire. Stay centered and grounded to prevent scattered energy, and persevere. Step by step.
CHANGE
Due to the fiery nature of the year, our shen (spirit) is emphasized, giving us a stronger ability to connect with source/God/universe/Dao/the field, making it easier to tune into our abundance and feel whole.
Be fully presently, face things head on and feel what you are feeling. You can let go of that which doesn’t serve you. Move on from regrets, grief, anger. Let go and you will be lighter. Don’t try too hard – it is not about perfection.
Fire is ever changing and flowing. Be prepared to change this year, gradually. Connect inward and express outward. Become more yourself, your authentic self – become the ultimate you. You can’t do it wrong.
Be yourself, your true self = be in the flow. That’s where life is.
LOVE
The horse is passionate and sociable. Enjoy your friends and family. Have fun. Experience joy. Romance your partner. Flirt. Be playful. Be thoughtful. Meet the love of your life.
Love yourself, love others, love your life. Love it!
Feel love in your heart for no reason at all. Feel it!
2026 is a time for inspiration and innovation. For love and joy. For wild adventures. For creative ideas. Deeply connect to yourself, your intuition, your gut. You know the way. We are always creating and becoming the present and future. Be you. Be inspired.
Last summer we posted a couple articles about the microbiome and Biome Rx, a stool test offered by Microbiome Labs. Stool tests can be useful for evaluating the state of our individual gut microbiome, and the Biome Rx stool test specifically analyzes:
Keystone species
Dysbiosis ratios and pathogens
Bile salts (bile acids)
Keystone Species
A Keystone species is a species that exerts a large, stabilizing influence throughout an ecological community, despite its relatively small numerical abundance.
In the context of the microbiome, keystone species are those that play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and health of the gut ecosystem. These key microbes help regulate microbial diversity, support gut barrier function, and contribute to important metabolic processes, which are essential for overall health. When out of balance, important digestive functions are compromised and inflammatory conditions result.
Dysbiosis Ratios
A diverse microbiome is a healthy microbiome and includes bacteria, protists, and fungi. Many things can negatively impact the diversity of our microbiome, the most common being antibiotic usage, poor diet (especially those high in ultra-processed foods and low in fruits and vegetables), lack of sleep, high stress levels, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Dysbiosis ratios refer to the balance of different types of microorganisms in the gut microbiome. An imbalance, indicated by a higher ratio of harmful bacteria (pathogens) to beneficial ones, can lead to various health issues, including digestive problems and inflammation, the root of a whole host of chronic illnesses.
Bile Salts
Measuring bile salts (acids) is essential for assessing gut microbiome function, diagnosing digestive disorders, and evaluating metabolic health. They act as crucial signaling molecules that regulate metabolism, control gut microbial composition, and influence gut motility, with high levels often indicating diarrhea and low levels indicating constipation.
In our next article, we’ll talk about leaky gut and its connection to the microbiome and our health, and my personal experience with Biome Fx.
If you are interested in some research about this topic, you can check out these two articles:
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What is more fun than feeling vital life force moving through your bones? How does the skeleton relate to the deepest flow of energy and information in the body? What happens in a patient’s life when they become grounded in the feeling of their unique embodied essence and and begin to live life with presence, ease, and grace? How do tension patterns in the body form filters trough which people relate to themselves and others? What are the mechanisms of held trauma and how is it released from the body? How can skilled, conscious touch reach all levels of a person; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual? How does transformative touch contribute to the evolution of humanity? Join this joyful, creative, theoretically expansive, and clinically essential class and set things in serious motion in your personal and professional life.
You may have noticed this unassuming little pot of salve on the shelf in my office. It may not seem like much, but this stuff is amazing! At the end of a walk recently my toes started hurting and I noticed I had an abrasion on one of my toes that was red and sore. I wondered if a tiny pebble got stuck in my shoe that irritated that area, or if it was more about the sultry heat. I was concerned that it was going to effect my future ability to walk and hike, so I found my salve and rubbed it on a few times. It felt better quickly and the redness went away too. I didn’t skip a beat and continued with lots of walking and hiking.
When my son was a toddler he used to get red spots on his inner thighs that I thought were bug bites. After trying various things that didn’t work I realized it was actually folliculitis, the inflammation or infection of hair follicles, the pores in your skin from which hair grows. His skin was getting irritated from urine. I put some All Heal Salve on there and voila. Since then I have recommended this product to several people for folliculitis and have had some happy customers.
All Heal Salve by WiseWays Herbals contains burdock root, chickweed leaf, calendula flower, comfrey leaf, echinacea leaf & flower, plantain leaf, St. John’s wort leaf & flower, and flower and gem essences in a base of olive oil and beeswax. These herbs come together to produce some impressive wound-healing synergy. It can be used on rashes, cold sores, minor cuts, scrapes and bruises, and other skin irritations. It is safe enough to be used on diaper rash and other sensitive body parts, and can be used on pets and horses too!
A great item for the medicine cabinet and it’s only $10.50 for 1 oz.
Here are a couple Microbiome Labs probiotic products that I carry in my office: HU58 and MegaSporeBiotic. MegaSpore is Microbiome Labs’ flagship product and HU58 is its little sister. I love this company’s top of the line products.
HU58 is a single-strain probiotic with a concentrated dose of Bacillus subtilis HU58, formulated to support healthy immune function and maintain a healthy balance of intestinal microflora. It is a good probiotic to use in cases of gut infections and elevated ammonia levels. This product is gentler than many other more diverse probiotic supplements and is well tolerated by many people. It’s a good place to begin to restore the gut microbiome and then move to MegaSporeBiotic
MegaSporeBiotic is a probiotic blend of 5 Bacillus spores that have been shown to maintain healthy gut barrier and immune function:
Bacillus Licheniformis – Produces proteases that aid protein digestion, Produces full spectrum of B vitamins
Bacillus Indicus HU36 – Produces carotenoids: lycopene, astaxanthin, beta-carotene, and lutein, Produces quinols and vitamins
Bacillus Subtilis HU58 – Produces nattokinase and vitamin K2, Supports healthy GALT development
Bacillus Clausii – Supports immune function
Bacillus Coagulans – Produces L+ optical form of lactic acid, Supports immune function
The function of these strains of bacillus is to shift the pH of the gut and crowd out pathogenic bacteria to create space for keystone species.
Both of these products are spore based. The bi-phasic life cycle of the Bacillus spores allows them to remain dormant in harsh environments such as the stomach until they reach more favorable environments like the human gastrointestinal tract.
Once inside the large intestine, these dormant spores can change into their active, vegetative forms and begin colonizing in the gut. MegaSporeBiotic aims to RECONDITION the gut instead of reseeding with probiotic strains that cannot survive digestion or colonize the gut.
As we’ve been talking about the microbiome, you might be thinking, “how do I know what’s going on in MY gut?” Stool testing is the primary way to analyze the community in your system, and BiomeFx is the testing lab that I use in my office.
BiomeFx is a convenient at-home stool test AND a comprehensive microbiome health assessment tool. It provides us with precise and detailed information about your microbiome’s health, composition, and activities. BiomeFx identifies which microorganisms are in your gut, which are missing, and how their presence (or lack thereof) affects your gut microbiome’s overall health and function. Using BiomeFx test results, we can design a personalized treatment plan that includes diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations to restore balance in your gut microbiome and enhance your overall health.
Exposure to specific risk factors can promote an unhealthy balance in your gut microbiome. These include:
Recent or frequent antibiotic use
Natural antimicrobials, including herbal formulas
Special or limited diet
Low fiber diet
Highly processed food diet
Foods and beverages containing artificial sweeteners
Stress
Poor sleep issues
Environmental toxin exposure
Smoking
Intense athletic training
Excessive alcohol use
If you have experienced any of these and have concerns about how this may impact the health of your microbiome, and your health in general, talk to me about getting this test done.
