Plant-Based Protein Powders: What You Need To Know
In the name of health, many have mistakenly switched from whey protein powders to plant-based protein powders thinking they are more natural, less processed and better for you in general. We can blame this notion on millions of marketing dollars that have been slowly convincing us that a protein powder made from peas, hemp, soy, […]
Kutki: Reviving Ayurveda’s #1 Liver Loving Herb
Early on in my practice, kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa) was the most important herb in my Ayurvedic pharmacy. The many studies on kutki’s effectiveness drew worldwide attention which resulted in severe over-harvesting and over-exploitation, threatening it into near extinction. When it was classified as endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in […]
Episode 57: Protecting Endangered Herbs – An Interview with Prashanti de Jager, Master Herbalist
Nearly 20 percent of all herbs are now considered endangered—this is around 10,000 species that are threatened and/or depleted completely. LifeSpa has proudly partnered with the Dunagiri Foundation to support the protection, preservation and traditional cultivation of the many endangered Ayurvedic herbs today. Our first restoration herb of focus is Ayurveda’s most potent liver, lymph […]
Night Owls Pay a Hefty Price
One of the tenets of all traditional systems of medicine is best represented by an old saying we have all heard, “Early to bed makes you healthy, wealthy and wise.” While I cannot speak directly to the “wealthy and wise” part, there is ample evidence to suggest that getting to bed early will change your […]
Secrets to a Healthy Microbiome Discovered 3000+ Years Ago
As I continue to write about the science that backs up ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, I am regularly amazed by what they knew so long ago about the subtleties of the human body. Without microscopes or any ability to see bacteria or microbes, somehow they were able to describe them in great detail! In this article, […]
Eradicate Ama (Toxins) from your Gut with Trikatu
Ayurveda teaches that up to 85% of all health concerns stem from an underlying digestive imbalance. The result of poor digestion is directly linked to the production of the toxic by-products of undigested food, referred to as ama. Ama includes undigested fats, fat-soluble environmental pollutants, heavy metals, and undigested proteins like gluten in wheat, casein […]
Harmonize Your Wardrobe with Jyotish (Vedic Astrology)
Circadian Medicine, which now has Nobel Prize-winning science behind it, is poised to change the way we live our lives, according to a recent article in Scientific American. (1) Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow daily and seasonal light-dark cycles. The study of circadian rhythms is called chronobiology. (2) Rhythms, such […]
Are your Clothes Affecting your Health?
According to Ayurvedic texts, the clothing we wear should be made of natural fibers that allow the skin to breathe. Of course, when said texts were written, all fabrics were organic as inorganic pesticide solvents hadn’t been invented yet. It was also suggested that cloths always be worn clean to protect the body from bad […]
Why Slow Yoga?
Today, yoga classes are available on a drop in, as-needed basis, but traditionally, yoga was prescribed by the family Vedic guru (teacher) whose job was to teach the children the ways of a Vedic lifestyle. This included the practices of yoga, breathing, and meditation, but also had much to do with Vedic psychology and even […]
Is Embracing Community Responsible for Brain Evolution?
How our brains tripled in size compared to our distant chimpanzee ancestors has troubled anthropologists for decades. Many have argued it was the discovery of fire, cooking, hunting, or meat consumption. Most recently, a study suggested it was a boost in omega-3 fatty acids from fish. While all of these factors may have played a […]
