Cleansing vs Fasting: Risks + Benefits
Cleansing vs Fasting Summary Decades of research has found that a low- or no-fat diet or prolonged fasting can cause the gallbladder to not contract fully, leaving concentrated bile to form sludge and stones. Ayurvedic cleanses employ a low-calorie diet of ghee, to force the gallbladder to fully empty, and a monodiet of kitchari. This
090: Cleansing vs Fasting with Dr. John Douillard
Did you know that the number one cause of gallbladder disease is a low-to-no-fat diet? Considering gallbladder removal is the number one abdominal surgery in the US, I think this is worth talking about!
Science Behind Slow Eating
Eating Slow Feels Good! Years ago, I co-directed an Ayurvedic in-residence wellness center with Dr. Deepak Chopra. We prescribed Ayurvedic treatments and guided patients through 1-3 week detoxification and rejuvenation programs. The organization we worked for had a handful of centers around the country, but ours was for more serious conditions, such as cancer and
Ayurvedic Pregnancy Preparation Tips
Ayurveda + Modern Science for Healthy Pregnancy According to Ayurveda, preparing for pregnancy is as important as getting pregnant, being pregnant, staying pregnant, and delivering a healthy child. Today, understanding these ancient principles is more important than ever. But it is important to understand modern pregnancy risks as well. In this article, I discuss some
Death by Selfie
It is true: there is a growing number of selfie deaths!1,2 Selfie death is typically caused by risks people take to get that perfect selfie. A study in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care suggests that this has become a real problem, with 259 selfie deaths reported from 2011–2017.1 The researcher searched keywords such as
Activate Stem Cells with Amalaki + Brahmi
Cellular Rejuvenation + Longevity Cellular rejuvenation and longevity have been a fundamental branch of Ayurvedic study (called rasayana) for thousands of years. Therapeutic rasayanas are plant-, herb-, and spice-based formulations possessing properties to support health, vigor, rejuvenation, and longevity.1 Today, we can think of rasayana as the proliferation or enhancement of stem cells for health,
The Big Bang! Akashic Records + Ayurveda
Quantum Big Bang Since the days of Albert Einstein, Max Planck, Nikola Tesla, Niels Bohr, and others who introduced quantum physics, scientists have explored the origins of the universe through that lens. The result is a new paradigm replacing the notion that the world consists of bits of matter randomly colliding in space, materializing after
How to Balance Blood Sugar: Become a Blood Sugar Detective
Two Ayurvedic Herbs for Your Thyroid: Ashwagandha + Guggul
Is Iodine Enough? Iodine may be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of healthy thyroid function, but sometimes taking iodine alone isn’t enough. Ayurveda suggests some herbs to support healthy iodine absorption into the thyroid. Guggul for Thyroid In one study, guggul (Commiphora mukul) was shown to increase uptake of iodine into
Cardiovascular Superfruits: Pomegranate + Amalaki (with Recipes)
Did you know there are two time-tested amazing fruits with the ability to maintain digestive health, lymphatic drainage, arterial walls, and your entire cardiovascular system?1,2 Not only are they powerful healers, they’re also delicious! Below I will provide the science of their healing abilities, plus some easy recipes you can try at home. The fruit of
Science of Oil Pulling
Importance of Oral Health The health impact of our mouths is pervasive, according to Ayurveda. New science regularly validates the value of some ancient Ayurvedic oral health techniques, such as oil pulling, tongue scraping, tooth powders, neem sticks for brushing, and much more.10 The mouth acts as the first line of defense against undesirable bacteria,
Vitamin D Benefits for Your Heart + More
My very first patient when I was studying Ayurvedic medicine in India in 1986 was a middle-aged woman with crippling pain all over her body, compounded by obesity, lethargy, and cardiovascular issues. Both Ayurvedic and medical doctors were stumped by the vast and seemingly unrelated symptoms—until a blood test revealed severe vitamin D deficiency. Within
