Articles in: Sleep Health

The two major reasons folks have trouble sleeping are deep exhaustion, where the body is too depleted to calm itself down for sleep, and unstable blood sugar. When the blood sugar is unstable, the body becomes dependent on burning carbohydrates and sugar for fuel. Consequently, when it’s time for bed and the body tries to make the blood sugar levels last for 8-9 hours, the blood sugar may crash and we may wake up hungry. To encourage uninterrupted sleep, we must have stable blood sugar and be great fat burners. In this section, learn how to create this for yourself with our list of well-referenced and time tested methods.

The Ayurvedic Guide to the Best Sleep of your Life

by John Douillard on May 26, 2018 | 6 Comments

Introducing our newest mini-eBook… This easy-to-read, colorful guide will become your go-to, bedside resource for getting the best sleep of your life. Those of us who struggle with getting a good night’s rest will try just about anything. Sedatives, be they herbal or pharmaceutical, may only be sedating an already sedated or exhausted person—offering short-term, […]

Best Sleep Position: Ayurveda’s Benefits of Sleeping on Left Side

by John Douillard on January 18, 2018 | 139 Comments

Have you ever wondered what the healthiest way to sleep is? According to Ayurveda, the best sleep position is on the left side! The left side of the body is completely different than the right side. While I know it may sound strange, there is both time-tested wisdom and exciting new science that emphasizes the […]

Rejuvenate, Don’t Sedate: Herbs for Sleep

by John Douillard on January 13, 2018 | 12 Comments

The most widely accepted theory relating to sleep issues is that being too stressed, wound-up, or wired makes it difficult to settle down and get to sleep. This type of sleep-inhibiting stress is commonly associated with high cortisol levels in the evening which, normally, should be winding down as the sun sets. The logical solution […]

Which is Best for YOU? Time Release Melatonin vs. Immediate Release Melatonin

by John Douillard on November 30, 2017 | 8 Comments

Since the 1970s, researchers have been fascinated by melatonin because of its far-reaching benefits throughout the human body. Since then, melatonin supplementation has been pigeon-holed for sleep concerns and jet-lag, but volumes of new circadian medicine research has found strong links between melatonin and the health of the microbiome, immunity, bone, heart, joint, prostate, breast, […]

How to Increase REM Sleep for a Sharper Mind

by John Douillard on October 7, 2017 | 9 Comments

A new study has linked dreaming during Rapid Eye Movement sleep (REM) to long-term cognitive health as we age. REM sleep is one of five phases that the mammalian brain experiences during sleep. The other four phases are referred to as non-REM (NREM) sleep. The five phases occur in intervals throughout the night. During REM, […]

How Sun Exposure Affects Sleep and Melatonin Production

by John Douillard on August 29, 2017 | 11 Comments

In recent articles, I have discussed the importance of sleeping in a completely dark room with no ambient light to support the maximum production of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, and it is MUCH more than just a sleep hormone. Like the janitor who comes in at night to clean […]

Can’t Sleep? De-Stress with Ashwagandha

by John Douillard on June 24, 2017 | 4 Comments

It is estimated that 50-70 million Americans are unable to get a good night’s sleep. (13) As we age, a good night’s sleep becomes more difficult to achieve. Today, the science keeps mounting linking at least 8 hours of sleep a night to greater longevity and optimal health. (1,2) A poor night’s sleep has been […]

10 Ways to Increase Melatonin Naturally for Better Sleep (from Tryptophan, Sun + Superfoods to Blocking Blue Light, Caffeine + EMF)

by John Douillard on June 20, 2017 | 14 Comments

Go Outside for Melatonin + Circadian Rhythms In a study at the University of Colorado in Boulder, researchers evaluated circadian rhythms of a group of healthy Boulder residents. What they found was surprising. Instead of melatonin levels rising only during nighttime hours, about two hours after waking, melatonin levels would surge, causing significant daytime drowsiness. […]

Know Your Melatonin Levels for Gut, Hormone, Bone and Detox Benefits

by John Douillard on June 8, 2017 | Leave a Comment

When you look at the pineal gland sitting at the base of the brain, one cannot help but think that this pearl-sized gland has a special role to play. Rene Descartes called it “the principle seat of the soul.” For years, researchers thought the pineal gland was an evolutionary remnant with no real purpose. In […]

063: Melatonin with Dr. Paula Witt-Enderby

by John Douillard on June 5, 2017 | 13 Comments

While melatonin is most commonly known to treat sleep disorders, many may not know that melatonin is closely connected with the our circadian rhythms – our internal body clocks that regulate hormone levels, metabolism, gene expression, sleep and wakefulness, and appetite. The pineal gland produces melatonin, which keeps these rhythms in check. Disruption of the […]

Artificial Light Now Linked to Sugar Cravings & Melatonin Imbalance

by John Douillard on June 5, 2017 | 4 Comments

In the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, Nikola Tesla lit 100,000 Westinghouse light bulbs and, like never before in history, night was turned into day. That night in Chicago, dubbed the “city of lights,” started the race to light the world and thus began the endless summer of artificial light. (3) Electric lighting slowly filled houses, […]

Vedic Feng Shui for Sleep and Home

by John Douillard on May 23, 2017 | 14 Comments

Average Reading Time: 2 minutes and 10 seconds Almost all traditional cultures lived their lives with great respect for the four cardinal directions: north, south, east and west. In Ayurveda, the study of the four directions and how they influence one’s health and environment was called Vastu Shastra. The basics are simple: North (a northern […]