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.

Shatavari: Ayurveda’s Sacred Reproductive Tonic for Women of All Ages (And Men, Too!)

by John Douillard on September 1, 2018 | 13 Comments

My first real introduction to the female reproductive herb, shatavari, known as the “Women with a Hundred Husbands,” was in the back waters of Kerala—in the south of India—during the late 80s. I was visiting one of the last remaining Nampoothiri tribes still living in their traditional pre-colonial ways. The Ayurvedic clinic in the village

Supercharge and Maximize Absorption of CoQ10 with Shilajit

by John Douillard on August 25, 2018 | 7 Comments

CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) is a naturally-occurring free radical scavenger in the body that supports antioxidant activity in the lymph, blood and cell membranes. CoQ10 has a major role in energy manufacturing. It helps the body convert carbohydrate metabolites from our food into the main source of energy for most of its cellular processes, ATP (adenosine

5 Spices to Rock your Digestive World

by John Douillard on August 23, 2018 | 44 Comments

Many people are embarrassed to discuss digestive symptoms with their doctor, and often, they’ll go untreated for years. The most commonly reported symptoms are gas, bloating, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort. (1) Early detection, and not sweeping such symptoms under the rug, is critical—not only for a complete digestive recovery but for long-term health. If you

Brahmi: Ayurveda’s Secret to Boost Collagen Production

by John Douillard on August 22, 2018 | 20 Comments

Collagen is a protein found in the skin, arteries, muscles, tendons, soft tissue and the skin of the digestive tract and respiratory tract. In fact, collagen is the body’s most abundant protein! As we age, we start producing less collagen. This lack of collagen starts to show up in age-related skin concerns that also affects

Ashwagandha’s Anti-Aging Superpowers Backed by AI (Artificial Intelligence) Study

by John Douillard on July 31, 2018 | 16 Comments

Ashwagandha is Ayurveda’s premier adaptogenic herb for stress and longevity. It has a special classification as a rasayana herb. Rasayana herbs are believed to promote longevity, induce nourishment, and prevent the effects of aging. New studies have found that ashwagandha can mimic the bio-chemical effect of calorie restriction—a dietary regimen at the forefront of emerging

Turmeric: A Heart Healthy Pre-Workout Alternative

by John Douillard on July 24, 2018 | 12 Comments

Turmeric has been shown to deliver outstanding support to the heart. So much so that it inspired researchers to compare it to exercise in regard to cardiovascular support. Specifically, they studied curcumin—the constituent of turmeric that gives it its yellow pigment. In the study, 32 post-menopausal women were assigned to 3 groups. One group took

The Best Ayurvedic Herbs for Menopause

by John Douillard on July 12, 2018 | 4 Comments

For some women, just the thought of entering menopause conjures up fears of sleepless nights, hot flashes, weight gain and emotional swings. Hot flashes seem to be the most common symptom, affecting 75-85 percent of all menopausal women in America. (1) Back in the early 90s, I was involved in hosting numerous Ayurvedic doctors from

075: Protecting Endangered Herbs with Prashanti de Jager, Master Herbalist

by John Douillard on June 25, 2018 | 3 Comments

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

Protecting Endangered Himalayan Herbs: RARE Project (Reviving Ayurveda’s Rare Ecology)

by John Douillard on June 25, 2018 | 1 Comment

More than 80 percent of the world’s inhabitants rely on traditional plant-based medicines, according to the World Health Organization. In the US alone, more than 7 billion is spent annually on herbal medicine, and the demand is rapidly outpacing the supply. Herbal medicine sales are growing by more than 7 percent each year. The demand

Kutki: Reviving Ayurveda’s #1 Liver Loving Herb

by John Douillard on June 21, 2018 | 5 Comments

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

Eradicate Ama (Toxins) from your Gut with Trikatu

by John Douillard on June 14, 2018 | 8 Comments

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

Omega-3 Linked to Longevity and Vitality

by John Douillard on May 29, 2018 | 6 Comments

The Framingham Heart Study, which launched in 1948, is an ongoing, large-scale study on the residents of Framingham, Massachusetts. Over the past 70 years, the project has provided substantial insight into identifying the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In February 2018, a report was published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology in which researchers evaluated