= <a href="https://aromaticstudies.com/butters-balms-salves-whats-difference/">BUTTERS + VEGETABLE OILS/HERBAL OILS/SPECIALTY SEED OILS +/- ANTIOXIDANT</a>If you put butters into a salve this becomes a body balm or butter, depending on amount of beeswax.<a href="https://thehouseandhomestead.com/homemade-body-butter/">HOW TO MAKE A BASIC BODY BUTTER</a>

Body butter

- are made by steeping herbs in a carrier oil like olive or almond to extract the medicinal plant constituents that will help soothe your skin.<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/diy-herbal-salves#diy-herbal-cream">TO MAKE HERB-INFUSED OILS</a>

Herb Infused oils

- are the softest in texture.- viscous preparation of oils and/or fats, <a href="https://www.skincare.com/article/balm-vs-ointment">a type of lotion used specifically for medicinal purposes</a>. Think of them as topical emollients that directly address only one skin concern.- are typically used for purposes that are antiseptic or geared towards heightened skin conditions, such as excessively dry skin and other medical concerns such as eczema, itchy skin, irritation or rashes.<a href="https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2016/06/making-salves-and-ointments.html?m=1">HOW TO MAKE OINTMENTS</a>

Ointments

= HERBAL OIL/S + BEESWAX* + SOMETIMES OTHER VEGETABLE OILS, E.G. TAMANU OIL- anhydrous(antioxidant, uncommon but if needed feel free to add)- a subset of the ointment category. - are typically softer than balms yet harder than traditional ointments. has lower ratio of beeswax (think more of a 1:4 ratio of wax to oil) or sometimes no beeswax at all- <a href="https://pronounceskincare.com/balms-vs-salves-is-there-a-difference/">absorb deeply into the skin making them great choices for wound healing.</a>- are frequently infused with herbs or essential oils to treat wounds and sores.<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/diy-herbal-salves#diy-herbal-cream">HOW TO MAKE A SALVE</a>

A Salve

= <a href="https://aromaticstudies.com/butters-balms-salves-whats-difference/">BUTTERS + VEGETABLE OILS/HERBAL OILS + BEESWAX OR OTHER WAX + ANTIOXIDANT</a>- combination of oils and water to create a hydrating topical treatment.- If one adds water and/or hydrosols and/or aloe vera gel into a butter formulation, the end product would technically be called an emulsion (water + oil), also known as a cream or lotion, depending on water content. - Creams and lotion are emulsions, meaning a combination of oil and water along with an emulsifier, such as emulsifying wax NF or olivem 1000.- can vary from thicker to more light in texture*<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/diy-herbal-salves#diy-herbal-cream">HOW TO MAKE A HERBAL CREAM</a>

Emulsion

= BUTTERS +/- VEGETABLE OILS/HERBAL OILS +/- ANTIOXIDANT- are basically body butters that have been whipped with a beater/mixer. Whipped body butters do not contain beeswax <a href="https://bydreamsfactory.com/2016/12/homemade-whipped-body-butter.html/">HOW TO MAKE A WHIPPED BODY BUTTER</a>

Whipped Butter 

= BUTTERS + VEGETABLE OILS/HERBAL OILS + BEESWAX OR OTHER WAX + ANTIOXIDANT- anhydrous formulation- can be formulated to target specific areas of the body, like the lips or a handful of concerns- has the same ingredients as a salve, but has a higher beeswax content a. giving them a harder, thicker consistency that is able to keep its shape and not be absorbed completely by the skinb. more protective, forming more of a barrier on the skin, and suitable for deodorant and lip productsc. <a href="https://pronounceskincare.com/balms-vs-salves-is-there-a-difference/">needs to be rubbed in making them ideal for sore muscles</a><a href="https://www.gaiaherbs.com/blogs/seeds-of-knowledge/how-to-make-herbal-balms-a-beginners-guide-and-easy-recipe">HOW TO MAKE BALMS</a>

Balms

Why buy expensive treatments when you can make your own minus the dangerous chemicals

An analgesic salve you can make today with cayenne pepper, ginger, and St. John's wort in a beeswax base. Good for relief of mild to moderate pain.

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Food

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Health

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Science & Nature

On Ointments, Balms, Salves, Butters, Emulsions, Infused Oils and so on

Weight x reps x 0.0333 + weight = estimated 1RM  For example, if you can usually bench 60kg for 6 reps, your 1RM calculation will look like this:60 x 6 x 0.0333 + 60 = 71.988. Round it up to 72kg, and you have your estimated 1RM

How do you calculate your 1RM?

A simple 🏋🏻‍♂️ trick to avoid hitting the plateau. 

Learn how to test your 1RM, how often you should test it, and how to apply it in your training to effectively increase your strength over time.

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Exercise & Fitness

How One-Rep Max (1RM) Can Enhance Your Training

<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headaches#symptoms-and-causes">Migraine-induced headaches </a>cause additional symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, fatigue, visual disturbances and more.According to Dr. Kaniecki, people may also experience “secondary” headaches if there is another underlying illness or cause for the headache.A 2018 study found that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29527677/">one in six people </a>in the U.S. reported having a migraine or severe headache over a 3-month period.What do you do to relieve your headacheBelow are some of the things neurologists personally do when experiencing a headache, and why these go-to strategies work

Migraines

Since it is a dehydration headache it only makes sense that it can be remedied by drinking water.Kristina Lopez, an assistant professor at the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and headache specialist, said that her headaches are typically a signifier that she needs to up her hydration.“I finally took my own advice and started getting a consistent eight hours of sleep and drinking more water,” Lopez said. “It’s wild how much better I feel.” It’s a “cheap and safe preventative and as-needed treatment strategy.” -Dr. Lopez

4. Hydrate

If you are experiencing more severe pain or symptoms, it may be worth a trip to the neurologist to see if you could benefit from prescription medication and to make sure that your headache is nothing to worry about.

8. More Severe Pain Warrants a Trip To a Neurologist

A personal tip from Dr. Kanieki is to break snacks and meals into 5 to 6 portions throughout the day.Low blood sugar may exacerbate headache pain and migraine symptoms. Try swapping up your meal times or breaking down bigger meals into smaller parts that you eat intermittently.

6. Eat smaller meals throughout the day

Understanding your headache triggers can serve as both a preventative and in-the-moment approach to address the pain.“Most of my migraine attacks are <a href="https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/understanding-ocular-migraine/">visually triggered</a> or are triggered when I am ambivalent or worried about a decision or situation. The latter is a bit harder to control, but it’s fascinating to recognize..Red wine can be a trigger for me, so I am careful about not having more than a few ounces.” - Jan Lewis Brandes,Director and founder of the <a href="https://www.nashvilleneurosciencegroup.com/">Nashville Neuroscience Group</a>

3. Find Out Your Headache Triggers

“Sometimes there are no notable triggers to headaches.. A big part of why people get headaches is due to genetics, and I see headaches that run in families.” -- Dr. BegetiHeadache pain can range from mild to debilitating. Try these neurologist-approved strategies until you find what works for you. Establishing a unique, at-home routine is vital to treating these conditions effectively.“It’s important to listen to your body. I find that a headache may resolve if I do that and it certainly prevents it from getting worse,” -- Dr. Begeti

Some Headaches Arent Linked to Lifestyle or Environmental Factor

Worldwide, headache disorders are considered one of the most common — yet under-treated — disorders of the nervous system.“Headache is any pain affecting the head, upper face or upper neck. Headaches are called <a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/care/neurology/services/headache/types">‘primary’ </a>when they arise from biological changes within the brain itself... These include migraine headaches, tension-type headaches, and cluster headaches.” - Robert Kaniecki , Director of the UPMC Headache Center in Pittsburgh

Headache Defined

Sleep disturbances is also a common headache trigger. Contrary to what most believe that headaches are caused by a lack of sleep but Dr. Begeti explained that sticking to a consistent sleep schedule may be more important than the length of sleep you get every night.“This is something that I didn’t know when I was at university, so I would reliably have a headache every single Saturday after staying up late the day before, and sleeping in on the weekend,” - Dr. Begeti

More Headache Triggers

As crazy as it sounds some headaches can be relieved by simply drinking some water. This is call a dehydration headache. This happens to some people when they don’t drink enough water.More scientific research needs to be done to prove with certainty that dehydration causes headaches as there are lots of theories that need to be explored.One of which is that when we are dehydrated,our brain temporarily contract from fluid loss causing it to slightly pull away from the skull,causing pain which results to a headache.Once rehydrated,the brain returns to its usual state,relieving the headache

Dehydration Headache

The medical community however does have a formal classification for hangover headaches, which are partially caused by dehydration.Some of the known symptoms of dehydration headache (reported by research respondents) are:<ul><li>pulsating ache on both sides of the head (like in hangover headache) in that’s aggravated by physical activity</li><li>An aching that got worse when they moved their heads, bent down, or walked around. </li><li>nausea</li><li>a visual aura</li><li>thirst</li><li>dry or sticky mouth</li><li>not urinating much</li><li>darker yellow urine</li><li>cool, dry skin</li><li>muscle cramps</li></ul>

Symptoms of Dehydration Headaches

1. Find a Quiet, Calming Space“If I have a headache, I rest or lie down for as long as I can, and it doesn’t depend on the time of day..With migraines in particular, people usually find that they have to lie down in a quiet, dark room.”- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_brain_doctor/">Faye Begeti </a>, Neurology doctor and neuroscientist in the U.K.2. Use Relaxing DistractionsDr. Burstein, utilizes relaxing distractions when he can’t power nap in the workplace.“As contrary as it may sound, walking can be helpful and reading,” -- Rami Burstein, Professor of Anesthesia and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School

A Calming Space Or A Relaxing Distraction

Believe it or not caffeine can actually be a headache remedy. According to Dr. Brandes drinking a cup of coffee is the first step she takes when combatting a migraine attack, followed by drinking a glass of water and taking medication.Caffeine causes blood vessels to narrow and restricts blood flow around the brain, which can relieve pain.However consuming caffeine on the regular may lead to withdrawal headaches if you suddenly stop drinking your caffeine-laced drink.

5. To Drink Coffee and NOT to Drink Too Much Coffee

Depending on the severity of her headache, Dr. Begeti will take Over-The-Counter(OTC) pain relievers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aka NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. However, be sure to keep track of the number of pain relievers you take: Dr. Begeti limits her monthly intake of OTC pain meds to under 10 days a month to avoid medication-overuse headaches.“I get migraine attacks and will take a triptan — an as-needed migraine pain medication — and a nausea medication when I feel an episode coming on,” - Dr. Lopez.

7. Take Pain Relievers When Needed

Steal this smart advice from the pros the next time you feel a migraine, tension or cluster headache coming on.

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Personal Development

8 Things Neurologists Do When They Have A Headache

Moisturizing oily skin can be tricky. People with oily skin often skip out on moisturizer and load up on mattifying products thinking that with its natural oils, their skin's already got all the juice it needs. However, skipping out on moisture may only be causing dehydration, creating a vicious cycle of excess sebum production."Most oily skin types have dehydrated skin, and that's because people will use very harsh products to dry out their skin, but their skin will produce more oil and break out to make up for the lack of moisture."Taylor Worden, esthetician and founder of Taylor Worden Skin

Dehydrated Oily Skin Leads To A Cycle of Excess Sebum Production

And that's where the benefits of face oils come in. "Oil is attracted to oil so it can balance the skin and work as a moisturizer," says Worden. However, it's emperative that you use the right kind of oil. "Light ones are the best, like jojoba, hemp, starflower, evening primrose, aloe vera, tea tree oil, marula, squalane, and grapeseed are good for oily skin," she says. "Applying less is more, especially with acne and oily prone skin."

The Benefits of Face Oils

Aside from using salicylic acid, washing your face twice daily, using exfoliating and clarifying masks weekly, and, of course, moisturizing. "Don't skip the moisturizer," she says. "If you apply nothing after washing your skin, you will produce more oil, and oily skin needs to be hydrated."

Moisturizer, Moisturizer, Moisturizer

If you're someone with <a href="https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/oily-skin-products">oily skin </a>, chances are you've been conditioned to avoid face oils or any type of oil at all costs. Oily skin is often prone to breakouts because of clogged pores due to excess sebum production, so avoiding products that add more oil to your face makes a lot of sense. As surprising as it maybe, there are benefits to using oil on oily skin as long as you're using the right products, you're doing it right and pairing it with other steps for managing excess sebum.

Using Oils On Oily Skin

And while there are benefits to using facial oil on oily skin, Dr. King emphasizes the importance of incorporating other acne-fighting ingredients that have been tried-and-tested into your routine for maximum benefits, like salicylic acid. "It's an excellent pore-clearing ingredient because it exfoliates the surface of the skin and penetrates pores to remove oil," she says. "This is a great ingredient for people with oily and acne-prone skin, and particularly for treating and preventing blackheads and whiteheads."

Face Oils + Tried And Tested Acne Fighting Ingredients

"For oily skin, face oils may be sufficient to moisturize." She explains it's because face oils have emollient properties, which help soften and smooth the skin. - Hadley King, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, agrees. Aside from its moisturizing properties, some face oils can also help with breakouts. "There are some face oils that have anti-inflammatory properties and therefore may help to reduce the inflammation in breakouts," says Dr. King. "There are also oils with a composition similar to human sebum that may be able to help regulate sebum production."

Oils Can Moisturize and Prevent Breakouts

Because many do not know that skipping on moisturizer can cause dehydration, creating a vicious cycle of excess sebum production and sometimes acne.

Turns out, it can help reduce excess oil production and breakouts.

The Surprising Benefits of Using Face Oil on Oily Skin

5. Once you've located your meridian, hold the tool flat against the face.Move the guasha from your forehead in an upwards direction,applying gentle pressure as you go; then, to the cheeks, moving the device outwards from the nose to the ear in a “swoop” motion. According to Lee, this suggests moving from the yin side to the yang side.6. Finally, flip the guasha around to the 2 curved sections. Moving from the chin, scrape along your jawline to your ear. For best results, do these for about 10 min,scraping in 1 direction at a time to attract more blood and stimulation to a specific area

How to use a guasha tool

Gua sha, or 刮痧, directly translates to “scratch” and “sand” (sand refers to the red bruising resembling sand granules caused by the scraping that eventually subsides after a few days,instead of actual sand). <a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/select/amp/ncna1268956">“‘Sha’ is caused by the bacteria or virus toxins, which break the capillaries and form hyperemia areas, or spots in the skin or mucus, and form sand-like scattered or condensed areas,”</a> said Shaobai Wang, MD, a Chinese medicine expert.

Gua Sha

Traditionally, gua sha could be performed with whatever tool was on hand—an animal bone or horn, a soup spoon, a coin.

Who needs a jade GuaSha tool?

<a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/select/amp/ncna1268956">“The Chinese character for ‘Gua’ (刮) is composed of the character for ‘tongue’ on the left and ’knife’ on the right. The Chinese character for ‘Sha’ (痧) is composed of ’illness’ or ’disease’ on top and ’sand’ on the bottom,” explained Sonia Lee, DACM, LAc.</a>Elaine Huntzinger, a Canada-born accupunturist w/ roots in HongKong, Nv in her atelier in Paris looks at patients' tongues to check for other system imbalances; and gives food recommendations to rebalance the qi—energy flow—which also contributes to a radiant complexion.

The characters for “gua sha” provide insight into the practice

Despite some TikTokers claims that gua sha sculpted their faces, Wang noted that it cant enhance jawlines. Instead, gua sha works by engaging tissue to eliminate fluid build-up in the lymph nodes (which can eliminate the puffiness and give the illusion of a more firm and sculpted face) — IT CAN'T ACTUALLY REMOVE FAT FROM CERTAIN AREAS.

Reality check: GuaSha can't sculpt jawlines

1. Cleansing to ensure your face is free from any impurities that may get into your skin when scraping.2. Lather facial oil to protect your top layer of skin from abrasion.3. Locate and follow the right meridian.4. Once you have located your meridian, hold the tool flat against the face you can use that to guide where the gua sha should be on your face by drawing an imaginary line up

5. CAN BENEFIT PEOPLE WITH WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEMSLee recommends that people with weak immune systems especially those who struggle with seasonal allergies or tend to catch colds easil try gua sha. As Wang explained, this is especially useful for those people because by repeatedly stimulating certain areas, gua sha helps purge non-circulating blood and toxins from the body. Visual signifiers of this purging can be anything from redness to slight bruising.

Benefits of GuaSha..Continued

2. IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF FINE LINES & WRINKLESGua sha “can temporarily improve the appearance for the newly and very gentle ones,” Wang said. However “for long-standing wrinkles, gua sha should not be the first choice.”3. PROMOTE LYMPHATIC DRAINAGEGua sha can eliminate fluid build-up and in turn reduce puffiness.4. RELIEVE MUSCLE TENSION By regularly applying pressure with a gua sha tool, knotted areas are untangled and built-up muscular tension are released.

Benefits of GuaSha explained..continued

Unbeknown to most, gua sha is not just for the face, it can be used on the back and shoulders as well.

GuaSha is not just for the face

1. PROMOTE BLOOD CIRCULATION“From a Chinese medicine perspective, the Tai Yin meridians (composed of the lung and spleen) and Yang Ming meridians (large intestines and the stomach) are responsible for your skin's overall health,” said Lee. “When you gently scrape the skin on your face with your gua sha tool, what you are doing is stimulating your Yang Ming meridians. You are also sending your body a signal that this area needs more blood circulation.” -Sonia Lee, DACM, LAc.

Benefits of GuaSha explained

According to Ping Zhang, DOM, L.Ac, a N.York–based traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) guru and a pioneering acupuncturist in the field of facial rejuvenation the udea that facial gua sha part of the beauty routine of ancient Chinese princesses is "...false. It’s marketing,”. <a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vogue.com/article/gua-sha-history-at-home-self-care/amp">“Gua sha was originally used for 2 conditions: the abrupt, immediate, sudden collapse of the body from heatstroke and seasonal diseases, like a cold virus" </a>and that it was used since the Yuan Dynasty to revive farmers who had collapsed with exhaustion from working under the hot sun--NOT princesses!

History: GuaSha was used on farmers not princesses

Cecily Braden, a holistic esthetician and N.York–based spa educator who has spent her career importing traditional Eastern beauty and wellness treatments (including the proliferationb of Balinese massage at luxury resorts in the US) and translating them for a Western audience claims that as acupuncturists used facial pressure points to treat ailments in other parts of the body, they discovered that signs of aging like wrinkles were dimished as well.

The facial benefits of GuaSha discovered by accident

I feel that this is one of the most effective, affordable and easy forms of at-home self care

Did you know that the mainstream and trendy Gua Shas are actually based on an ancient Chinese healing technique? These flat tools, made of semi-precious stones, facilitate blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, thus making your skin the best version of itself.

On Ointments, Balms, Salves, Butters, Emulsions, Infused Oils and so on

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8 Things Neurologists Do When They Have A Headache

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The Surprising Benefits of Using Face Oil on Oily Skin

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How One-Rep Max (1RM) Can Enhance Your Training

8 Things Neurologists Do When They Have A Headache

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The Surprising Benefits of Using Face Oil on Oily Skin

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