Beyond aesthetics, some people also claim that these lamps can remove potentially harmful chemical and pollutants from the air. Since salt is a hygroscopic substance, meaning it has a net positive ionic charge and attracts water molecules from the surrounding environment, this may not be a totally crazy idea—but there is little to no scientific evidence to back it up. Proponents of Himalayan salt lamps boast that these purifying salt rocks have the ability to remove pollen, dust, smoke, and many other types of allergens from the air....

That was when I discovered Dr. Andrew Weil and his integrative medicine center at the University of Arizona. Having been trained quite conservatively as a doctor, I was a bit of a skeptic about this more holistic approach to medicine; however, with some careful prodding from my wife (it’s always a good idea to listen to your partner, I’ve learned), I started to read more about some of the lifestyle changes I could make to optimize my wellness and get my health back on track....

I was 41 years old when my husband and I started seriously talking about having kids. Given my age, I decided to visit the gynecologist first to ensure everything was OK. There, my doctor tested my follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, which gives a general read on a woman’s egg supply and fertility. I was told I had a FSH level of 15. Translation: My ovaries were barely producing good eggs—and I had just a 5 to 8% chance of conceiving naturally....

You’re staring at the clock, too wiped out to get up and do something else yet too alert to drift past the twilight into the rest you need. The deadline of morning is looming, and you’re anxious and frustrated. The sun finally rises, and you prepare for the day ahead with a dry mouth and puffy eyes. There are very few people on the planet who haven’t had some kind of undesired up-all-night experience....

pH levels vary throughout the body, for example, a low pH is necessary for optimal digestion in your stomach, making it more acidic, whereas other parts of the body would be better with a neutral or even a higher pH. When it comes to vaginal health, we want a more acidic pH. A normal vaginal pH is between 3.8 and 4.51. If your vaginal pH is too high, your risk of getting a vaginal infection or imbalance increases, like BV (bacterial vaginosis) and yeast infections, which can lead to an unpleasant smell, discharge, and uncomfortable itching....

That acceptance is the letting go. It’s understanding that you’re better off without this person having immediate access to you, if any at all. And from this place of acceptance, you’re able to free up the attention and energy you were giving this person and put it toward things that actually bring you peace and joy. Whether you’ve just experienced a breakup, or you have a feeling you’re about to, finally letting go of that person is never easy....

“Most people have engaged in some sort of virtual sex without realizing it,” board-certified sexologist Jessica Cline, MSW, LCSW, tells mbg. Some people assume virtual sex only refers to having sex on Zoom or interacting with cam girls, she notes, but “the first paid phone sex line was established about 40 years ago. I think it’s helpful to put that into context as a way to normalize fostering sexual connection and pleasure when in-person [sex] isn’t available....