Probiotics & Microbiology | John Douillard's LifeSpa

Articles in: Probiotics & Microbiology

In recent years, research on the topic of microbiology has moved along at an incredible rate, revealing that most every function in the human body relies on the diversity and richness of its beneficial microbes. Such research has taken our understanding of the benefits of probiotics to the next level, suggesting that the business of feeding our good bugs not only affects our digestion, but determines the health of our mood, memory, and countless other processes, among other fascinating discoveries. Read more about Dr. John’s angle on good microbes, probiotics and the Ayurvedic connection in this article category.

5 Ayurvedic Spices to Rock Your Digestive World

by John Douillard on January 9, 2020 | 44 Comments

Don’t Be Shy Do you have occasional digestive discomfort? Did you know that Ayurveda has been using a superherb blend of five common spices, which not only help in the moment, but actually heal the problem at the root? Many people are embarrassed to discuss digestive symptoms, even with their doctor, so often, these important […]

How Circadian Rhythms Impact Your Microbes

by John Douillard on November 9, 2019 | 13 Comments

What are Circadian Rhythms? Circadian rhythms are light-dark cycles, as old as the first life on Earth.1 All life, so it seems, had to be intimately connected to cycles of the sun to continue to evolve. One of the most important tenets of Ayurveda is living in sync with natural rhythms. Daily eating cycles, sleeping […]

Why 74% of USA Reports Digestive Discomfort

by John Douillard on October 5, 2019 | 2 Comments

¾ of USA Living with Digestive Discomfort A recent survey found that 74% of Americans are regularly experiencing gas, bloating, altered bowel function, and abdominal discomfort.1 According to the Mayo Clinic, if you’re in this group, medications are often prescribed to slow bowel function and relax digestion, antidepressants are suggested to calm the nervous system, […]

Top 5 Supplements Scientists Take

by John Douillard on September 26, 2019 | 4 Comments

While researchers and scientists are not known for taking herbal or nutritional supplements, a group of journalists from Inverse queried six scientists to see what supplements, if any, they take on a regular basis.1 Five very important supplements were on top of their lists. TURMERIC The most common supplement taken by scientists is the Ayurvedic […]

Dr. John’s Beauty Secrets for Youthful Skin

by John Douillard on June 29, 2019 | 16 Comments

For years, dermatologists pooh-poohed the idea of vegetable oil on skin, claiming that skin was unable to absorb these oils, and therefore unable to derive any real moisturizing benefits. In Ayurveda, certain oils have been emphasized for thousands of years as crucial nourishment for the skin—just one of the many Ayurvedic beauty secrets that result […]

How to Choose: Whole Herbs vs Extracts

by John Douillard on June 22, 2019 | 5 Comments

When shopping for herbal supplements, few people realize the differences from one brand to the next. New evidence provides deep insight into the differences between herbal extracts and naturally dried whole-herb products. In fact, while extracts have been considered a more concentrated, and therefore more potent, bang for your buck, it has now been shown […]

The GENE-ius of Ayurveda

by John Douillard on January 29, 2019 | 7 Comments

We all know that we inherit genes from mom and dad, but did you know that we also collect and incorporate genetic material from the microbes we come into contact with every day? In very exciting new research, as we continue to prove the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with modern science, it turns out that […]

The Truth About Oil Pulling

by John Douillard on January 19, 2019 | 34 Comments

In 1986, I arrived in India and remember watching a man bathe in a public fountain—something we don’t typically see in the West. Upon closer inspection, while he was quite intent on rubbing every inch of his body, he was not using soap. He was massaging oil on his body—everywhere—and then, he appeared to drink […]

Slippery Elm Prebiotic Tea to Restore Gut Health

by John Douillard on January 17, 2019 | 40 Comments

Do you suffer from occasional constipation, loose stools, mucus in the stool, or heartburn? Or are you interested in rebooting your precious gut microbiome? Read on for a combination of Ayurveda, Western science, and my favorite tea to address all these issues and more. The Gut-Brain Axis The gut-brain axis is the relationship between microbes […]

Cheese: The Good, The Bad, and The Ayurvedic Perspective

by John Douillard on December 6, 2018 | 15 Comments

When we think of cheese, we may imagine cows roaming freely in the Swiss Alps or Europeans picnicking with wine and baguettes. We probably don’t immediately think of Ayurveda. In fact, in general, Ayurveda frowns on the consumption of hard cheeses. But there’s good news: it approves of soft cheeses!7 Fermenting dairy into yogurt, buttermilk, […]

The Miracle of Ritual

by John Douillard on November 27, 2018 | 4 Comments

What are your rituals? A ritual could be singing a song when you wake up or while you make the bed, lighting a candle or smudging, exercising, reading, writing, saying a mantra, prayer, or blessing before a meal (or any time), opening a bottle of wine, a hot bath with aromatherapy—anything that you routinely do […]

Ayurveda’s Solutions to Emotional Eating

by John Douillard on November 5, 2018 | 1 Comment

Your sense of taste and smell is hard-wired to the emotional center of your brain, called the amygdala. We have all had the experience of smelling a fragrance and recalling a childhood memory, like the smell of brownies in the oven, or apple pie cooling on the counter. Staggering new research has brought new light […]