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.

Turmeric: A Heart Healthy Pre-Workout Alternative

by John Douillard on July 24, 2018 | 11 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 […]

Episode 57: Protecting Endangered Herbs – An Interview 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 […]

The Best Herbs to Cleanse the Lymphatic System

by John Douillard on April 21, 2018 | 107 Comments

The lymphatic system, the largest circulatory system in the body, has been under-investigated for years, due the difficulty in measuring its flow. The good news is that we are learning more every day about the purpose and function of the lymph! In a new study published in Scientific Reports, doctors identified what they think may […]

Find the Best Herbs for Your Digestive Symptoms

by John Douillard on February 22, 2018 | 16 Comments

In this article, I’ll discuss the best way to troubleshoot the digestive system and help you identify the best herbs for your digestive symptoms, with the ultimate goal of restoring balance. With 74% of the American population experiencing digestive distress, (1) I write this with a touch of urgency. Assess Your Elimination You should have […]

Top 10 Benefits of Shilajit: Ayurveda’s Only Panacea

by John Douillard on February 10, 2018 | 54 Comments

Shilajit may be one of the world’s most unique substances. It is formed by the compression of organic material between layers of rock over hundreds or thousands of years. During the summer months, this biomass literally exudes out of deep fissures in the rocks of the Himalayas. Here are the top 10 reasons why everyone […]

Are Multiminerals the New Multivitamins?

by John Douillard on November 23, 2017 | 6 Comments

Americans have been taking multivitamins since the 1940s, when American chemist Carl Rehnborg developed a multivitamin supplement called Nutrilite, which eventually was bought out by Amway. Years ago, I was fortunate enough to visit the original Nutrilite farm as a consultant and became aware of Carl’s original entrepreneurial vision. With the growing number of nutritional […]

Bacopa: Ayurveda’s Memory, Mood and Focus Super-Herb

by John Douillard on November 16, 2017 | 35 Comments

Average Reading Time: 3 minutes and 41 seconds Dealing with bouts of sadness, anxiety, “senior moments,” and kids having difficulty staying on task at school has become a way of life for many Americans. While there are many factors that may be at the root of these problems, there is one herb that has recently […]