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As these hormones fluctuate, the neurotransmitters in the brain and the gut will change as well. These neurotransmitters (namely serotonin and dopamine) help regulate mood, so it’s not abnormal to experience anxiety or irregular emotions during this time of the month. If a person is fixated on losing weight or building muscle, the fear of becoming bloated or puffy during their period can be stressful. These changes are biological, though, and part of the normal human cycle....

Future-forward Aquarius is the star sign of collaborations and technology, making Aquarius season 2022 prime time to unite around a common cause—both online and in real time. While Gemini and Libra (the companion air signs) center around twinning and twosomes, Aquarius is the sign of large groups. Three is company, not a crowd; in fact, you might need to upgrade your Zoom account so you can invite more people to be part of your gatherings....

Consider the Law of Divine Oneness, which states that every atom, every thought, every action, and every event in the world is inextricably linked to anything and everything else. Or the Law of Attraction, which states that we attract what we think about and put out to the world. Or the Law of Cause and Effect, which very straightforwardly explains that for every cause there is an effect, which then goes on to have another effect, and so on....

It’s not surprising; trying times challenge your ability to stay collected. The key is to find quick remedies for stress that are easily accessible to you, like squeezing a stress ball, taking a supplement, or treating yourself to some aromatherapy to help ease your mind and calm your senses.* The ancient Egyptians and Greeks used essential oils to for a variety of ailments, and according to the history documented by the International Federation of Aromatherapists, early civilizations even used aromatherapy to ward off evil spirits....

This realization led her to think critically about why that was, and what she could do about it. And thus, Balanced Black Girl was born, created by Les as a safe space for women of color to have candid conversations about wellness, self-care, and self-love. But there was something missing—I wasn’t fulfilled just doing fitness. The first time a woman said she appreciated how visible I was in the wellness space of women of color, I was like, “You’re right, wellness doesn’t feel that diverse....

I’ve been married for almost 10 years to a wonderful man. Over the last five years, we/he has struggled with medical erectile dysfunction. (I hate those words.) We have tried many ways to continue to enjoy sex — orally, manually, using medication, which sometimes helps for a few minutes but more often does not. I fear that since so much time has passed, anxiety is now adding to the problem....

Austin-based holistic doctor Elena Villanueva, D.C., says the body’s natural way of “sweating out a cold” actually occurs when you develop a fever. She says as the body temperature rises, the virus is killed off. “Your body’s immune system will recognize the cold virus as foreign and launch an immune attack,” says Cutler. He continues that mild fever, production of mucus, and fatigue are all signs that your immune system is hard at work....

Today, researchers, longevity experts, and sleep specialists are diving deep into the impact rest and recovery have on every aspect of our lives—with brands like Oura offering tangible solutions for viewing your own sleep data so you can optimize your routine and take better control of your day. And right now, you can grab the Oura ring for $50 off, plus get your first month of membership for free in the brand’s biggest, and only, sale of the year....

Reading people’s cues can help you understand whether someone is comfortable, uncomfortable, nervous, angry, or even attracted to you. While people of all genders tend to have similar behaviors overall, there can be some subtle nuances more common among women. Here’s how body language experts break them down. One of the most common myths is that only women are fidgeting, playing with hair, or adjusting their outfits. People often think of these behaviors as being stereotypically “female,” Oud says, but that’s not the case....

Gemini, for one thing, is the third sign of the zodiac. It’s a mutable air sign ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication. Its symbol is the twins, representing Gemini’s dual nature—and their propensity for adjusting to different scenarios. Sagittarius, meanwhile, is the ninth sign of the astrological year. It’s a mutable fire sign ruled by Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion. Sagittarius is symbolized by the Archer (a centaur), and this sign wants to adventure, explore, and be spontaneous....

This adaptation serves succulents well in the dry, hot landscapes they’re native to. But in households with plant parents who use watering as a love language? Not so much. Every few days, check up on your succulent’s soil. Stick your fingers into the top layer of soil and water your plant if it’s totally dry to the touch. Like, really dry. “You want to make sure—especially with succulents and cacti—that the soil is completely dry before you water it,” says plant expert and chemistry teacher Paul Thompson, M....

Whenever you choose to conduct your blessing, I’d recommend doing a quick cleanup beforehand. Start with a clean slate by clearing clutter, dusting and wiping down dirty surfaces, or burning a sage stick if that’s your thing. “To the Divine Spirit (or Universal Energy, Supreme One, etc.), in lighting this candle, we summon love, harmony, peace, and prosperity into our home. May we be blessed with good health, happiness, success, and abundance....

As an L.A. aesthetician, I have helped so many patients with painful conditions like cystic acne. But no matter what I tried, I simply couldn’t calm my own eczema, which left me frustrated and feeling like my skin care knowledge was failing me! Before I began seeing Dr. McAllister, I didn’t understand what was happening to my body. I had become entrenched in a cycle of treating my symptoms without understanding the actual cause of my skin woes....

There weren’t enough candles in the world that could shift the energy of the space, and at night, my body resisted sleep despite my extreme exhaustion.I’m no stranger to occasional insomnia, but something about 2020 sleep hit differently. It was consistently disrupted, whether it was poorly timed construction sounds outside, temperature regulation issues, one too many post-work glasses of wine, or the need to get that inbox to zero before closing my eyes....

This doctor wasn’t the first one to tell me to lose weight. Twelve years earlier, during my first visit to a gynecologist, while my feet sat in stirrups and my legs splayed apart, my doctor decided it was the perfect moment to tell me that I was “too heavy for a girl my height” (as if I didn’t know). I nonchalantly agreed, all the while wondering how far the vending machine was from this room....

We asked sleep and health experts all about the life span of melatonin, and how it should (and should not) be used. Here’s what to know. Bonney notes that the average person’s melatonin levels will start to rise after sunset (assuming limited inputs from other light sources) and peak around 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. If, for some reason, you are trying to fall asleep outside of your peak melatonin window (say, if you’re traveling to a new time zone or working during daylight hours), taking supplemental melatonin tells your body that it’s time for bed, despite what your environmental cues are saying....

Really, there are no right answers (read: skin care is both a personal and experiential journey), and even some days will look different from others. That said, we can offer a benchmark for what affects your skin and what it means for your wash habits. Just think of the below more as guidelines than hard-and-fast rules: If you have dry skin and find that a morning wash leaves your skin extra parched, you can simply dab some gentle cleanser on the T-zone or forgo the morning cleanse altogether....

“Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring type of sugar that is produced by the body and found in the highest concentrations in our skin, connective tissue, and eyes,” says board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Chwalek, M.D. “It functions to retain water, keep our tissues well lubricated, and our skin looking firm and youthful,” she says. “It also helps to speed up wound healing by regulating inflammation levels and blood vessel formation, and can increase collagen production, which is another way it can help our skin as we age....

But what if you’re looking to expand your arsenal? Or learn more various stones out there? Or what if you have a roller and you’re looking to get into gua sha? For a breakdown, I went to licensed acupuncturist Elizabeth Trattner, L.Ac. She’s developed a very popular acupuncture and gemstone facial and regularly uses gemstones in her practice.

Before you fire up the barbecue and mix your quarantine cocktail of choice, you’ll want to make sure to give your outdoor seating a good cleaning. Whether you’ve been storing yours inside or keeping it in the elements, it has, like us, been through a lot the last few months! Here, two green cleaning experts share best practices for getting your seating ready for the summer ahead. With that, your outdoor space is ready for summertime dinners, even if the table is just set for one for the time being....