Articles in: Herbs & Supplements

Read well-researched articles describing the health benefits of many herbs, nutrients and natural supplements. Our goal is to take the herbal wisdom of the ancients and prove it with today’s modern science.

French Foods are Heart Healthy

by John Douillard on August 27, 2013 | Leave a Comment

It is true that the French are heart healthier than Americans who focus on low cal, low fat, low cholesterol so-called heart healthy foods. Years ago, Dr. Weston Price studied ancient people and discovered the benefits of eating raw dairy, buttermilk, good fats and grass-fed animal meats – all staples in the heart healthy French

True or False: You Need a Multivitamin

by John Douillard on August 22, 2013 | Leave a Comment

Back in 1936, the Department of Agriculture wrote the first report on mineral deficiencies stating that virtually all soils in the US are mineral deficient and that 99% of all Americans are mineral deficient. Since then it hasn’t gotten any better. With the start of pesticides and fertilizers in the 1940’s, a 2001 report in

Healthy Bones Require Calcium, Vitamin K2 and Vitamin D3

by John Douillard on March 17, 2013 | 2 Comments

Bone is a living tissue that is in a constant state of rebuilding. To make new bone, the body must first remove some of the old bone. It is much like the natural removal of dead skin to make way for new skin. Old bone is removed by cells called osteoclasts, and the new bone

Digestive Enzymes Might Be Spiking Your Blood Sugar

by John Douillard on March 3, 2013 | 38 Comments

If you do take a digestive enzyme formula, please check the ingredients and make sure it doesn’t contain enzymes for digestion commonly listed as Amylases. The bad news is that most of them do. In fact, they play a leading role in most digestive enzyme formulas. Amylases are enzymes produced in the pancreas that are

Your Vitamin D Needs Magnesium

by John Douillard on February 3, 2013 | 1 Comment

Vitamin D and magnesium work together to optimize the body’s absorption of vitamin D. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in our bodies. It supports the function of many systems in the body: muscles and nerves heart rhythm immune system blood sugar blood pressure energy protein synthesis bone health Vitamin D and Magnesium Along

Having Trouble Getting Your Vitamin D Up?

by John Douillard on January 15, 2013 | Leave a Comment

By now you are likely well aware of the benefits of taking vitamin D3. But are you still thinking “how do I get vitamin d?” or “what’s the best way to get vitamin d?” Surprisingly, a new report that tested 13,000 folks who supplemented with vitamin D found that 85.7% of them still had vitamin

Turbo-Charge Weight Loss with This Herb

by John Douillard on January 2, 2013 | 1 Comment

About ten years ago, a patient I hadn’t seen in about four or five years came in for an office visit. When I asked her how she has been, she said, “Great! I did exactly what you said and I lost fifty pounds.” I asked her curiously, “What exactly did I tell you to do?”

Does Your Medical Doctor Take Supplements?

by John Douillard on January 1, 2013 | 1 Comment

Interestingly, a 2011 survey in the Nutrition Journal found that it is very common for medical doctors to take supplements for themselves, and also recommend them to their patients. In this survey, 900 medical doctors including 300 cardiologists, 300 dermatologists and 300 orthopedic surgeons were asked about their supplement use. The percentages of doctors taking

Decrease Stress with Ashwagandha

by John Douillard on January 1, 2013 | 1 Comment

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a warm, heavy and sweet root that is harvested in the fall to be eaten throughout the winter. Traditionally, it was added to soups and stews to support immunity, stamina and structural strength during the harsh winter months. It is probably best known as an adaptogen, a class of herbs that

How Stress Can Damage Your Skin

by John Douillard on December 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment

Reducing overall stress may play a significant role in improving the health and condition of the skin (1). Perhaps the most documented mechanism of stress on the health of the skin is free radical damage. While the sun may be the biggest source of free radical skin damage, research has shown that emotional stress can

Trouble Swallowing Pills? Try this Simple Technique

by John Douillard on December 2, 2012 | 3 Comments

A recent Harris Poll revealed that 40% of Americans have difficulty swallowing pills and only 14% actually tell their doctor, leaving many folks staring at a bottle of pills or supplements that they just can’t swallow. With six kids, my wife and I found it an important survival tool to teach them how to swallow

Menstrual Cycle Relief

by John Douillard on November 20, 2012 | 1 Comment

In a study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the role of vitamin D in women with painful periods, or dysmenorrhea, was examined. The study included forty women with low levels of vitamin D3 (below 18ng/ml) who had at least four painful periods over a span of six months. Half the group was given