This stimulation is due to the compounds hericenones and erinacines2 found in lion’s mane mushrooms. It is notable, however, that the majority of these studies have been conducted on animals, so more research on humans is needed before coming to a definitive conclusion. Additionally, research has found that lion’s mane extract helped reduce anxiety and depression in mice due to the anti-inflammatory impact it can have (more on that below)....

But what is liquid collagen, anyway? And how does it compare to the trusty powder we all know and love? Here, we tapped experts for their honest thoughts. As a simplified overview of what collagen does for the body, it helps make up the structure of our skin, bone, cartilage, and muscle, with the purpose of helping tissues be more elastic and withstand stretching. We get into more thoroughly in this guide to collagen in the body, so read more there if you’re interested in getting into the details....

Like other honeys, Manuka honey features a cocktail of substances like simple sugars, water, enzymes, and vitamins. What makes it so special, though, is its rich content of methylglyoxal (MGO), a medicinal compound with impressive antimicrobial properties. The amount of MGO—which represents the honey’s potency—is indicated by a unique Manuka factor (UMF), a rating listed on the packaging of Manuka honey. The more MGO present, the higher the rating. (A rating below 10 is on par with regular, normal honey....

Core strength is essential to any kind of daily movement—from walking up your stairs to flowing through a workout. A stable core sets up you to stand tall, confident, and pain free. That’s why, this month, I’ll be sharing a new workout each week with elements of core stability woven through. Not only will it help you move more functionally throughout your life, but it will also help you feel a bit more centered as we close out the year....

The thing is…a lot of the quintessential milk chocolate treats are full of less-than-ideal ingredients. Unwrap your average chocolate bar and you’ve got a handful of genetically modified ingredients—like corn syrup, soy lecithin, and even genetically modified cacao itself. Some are even reputed to contain chemicals like butyric acid, plus unnecessary additives and emulsifiers. It’s no wonder we tabled some of our favorite milk chocolate goodies so long ago. Hu (as in human), a lifestyle chocolate and snacking brand, believes that everyone deserves delicious yet simple chocolate… So they did the hard work to make their own....

This tropical tree (not to be confused with the Chinese money plant, or Pilea Peperomioides) is similar to a marijuana plant in shape, but it features a braided stem trunk (that can grow up to 60 feet tall in its natural environment!). Below, three money tree experts share their knowledge on how to care for this unique, symbolic beauty. Summers tells mbg that since the story has been told, “the money tree is often gifted to people when they open a new business or move into a new home… It is seen as a symbol of hope, prosperity, and good fortune....

When it comes to choosing your ideal career, one of the most significant of your seven numbers is the “Life Path Number.” Take this 60-second quiz to calculate your life path number and find your ideal career. Step 1: Add all of the numbers in your birthday together. Be sure to write out your full birth year (i.e., 1969 rather than just 69). Step 2: Keep adding any double-digit numbers together until you get a single-digit life path number between 1 and 9....

The benefits go beyond the culinary and beauty world, though, and extend into health: This popular monounsaturated fatty oil has been shown to support longevity1, plus lower the risk of heart disease, cholesterol, and obesity2. One benefit you may be less familiar with, though: olive oil to help alleviate constipation. Now, before you write it off, let me explain how it works. One study found that patients undergoing dialysis were able to alleviate constipation by consuming olive oil daily....

The practice of orgasmic meditation can offer many potential benefits, but it also has a somewhat controversial history. Founded in 2004, OM was popularized by a company called OneTaste, which trademarked a sequenced clitoral stimulation procedure for their workshops. Around 2009, the company gained massive media attention and many followers—before an FBI investigation sent it crashing down. The defunct organization is now facing accusations of sex trafficking, labor law violations, and cult-like business operations....

Normally, we do our best to avoid sunburns. We apply the right type of SPF for our skin, with the right amount, and do so regularly—especially when outdoors and in the water. Still, burns happen. And we know that burns can look different for everybody (some turn a vivid shade of pink, while others feel tighter and itchy). Yet, there’s one type of sunburn we can all experience, and it’s unfortunately a type that is not very fun: peeling skin....

Here’s everything you need to know to keep this adaptable houseplant happy. “Because of the wide range of habitats that they can be found in, they are fairly easygoing and adaptable to most home environments,” explains Chris Satch, a plant specialist at Horti. Most philodendrons would do well placed near a window that gets a fair amount of light but isn’t scorched by the sun all day. (Remember, these babies thrive in the tropics, so they’re used to a little shade....

As psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and co-founder of Apollo Neuroscience Dave Rabin, M.D., Ph.D., tells mindbodygreen, all that excess heat might actually make it harder to fall asleep and sleep through the night. “Blankets that don’t breathe trap our body heat. Our bodies prefer cool environments during deeper sleep stages, but over time these non-breathing blankets increase our body temperature resulting in more frequent interruptions in sleep and less deep sleep,” he explains, adding that increased temperature means increased sweating as well, “which makes our sheets much less comfy....

Interestingly, prenatal vitamins date back to the early 1970s, when vitamin companies started adding folic acid to their multivitamins and then marketing them specifically to pregnant women. Research on the effects of folate deficiency and birth defects predates that with research published as early as the 1950s. Transparency and confirmation are important factors in choosing the right brand of vitamin. This means the vitamin should list all of its ingredients and the doses on its label....

What does this mean for your yoga practice? It depends. If you have a strong, consistent practice, not much has to change, but being pregnant is not the time to “go big” with new yoga poses that your body has never done before. While I always admire the courage of anyone trying to improve their practice, pregnancy is not the time to be introducing new, strenuous movements or routines into your life....

Anyone with a prostate who is looking to experience new and pleasurable sensations could benefit from prostate milking. “In addition to achieving orgasm, there are several possible health benefits of prostate milking,” Harrison says. “Prostate massage can ease the symptoms of painful ejaculation as it eases fluid blockages in the reproductive system. Prostate massage is also believed to treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow. After all, strong erections are a result of good blood flow!...

Created by renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung and popularized since the 1940s, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) uses tailored questions to find your combination of four sets of opposing traits: introverted versus extroverted; sensing versus intuitive; thinking versus feeling; and perceiving versus judging. As psychologist Kristina Hallett, Ph.D., ABPP, explains, “I think of Sensing as information gathering through the here-and-now physical senses and generally more grounded in practicality.” Among other things, S types are straightforward and literal thinkers who are concerned with facts....

“Shibari originated as an underground form of culturally specific erotic fantasy play, enjoyed by ordinary people, which centers on erotic nostalgia of bygone eras,” Midori explains to mbg. “In the same way that kinky people of European heritage have incorporated legends and tools of medieval European incarceration, such as Saint Andrew’s Cross and shackles, into their sexual shadow play, so have Japanese folks found carnal inspiration from historical fables of their captured maidens and incarcerated heroes....

This means that unlike tropical plants (pothos, philodendron, etc.) that prefer slightly damp soils stuffed with lots of organic materials from decaying bark and leaves, succulents hail from very dry soil that is higher in inorganic materials like rock. That’s what you’re looking to recreate when keeping succulents at home. Here are a few of the materials that you’ll find in a well-balanced succulent mix: E.B. Stone and Espoma make two of Cohen’s favorite organic blends: While Cohen usually opts to buy premade soil, she says the following DIY mix can be great for plants too....

The more you work with your deck, the more familiar you’ll become with its symbolism, but here’s a brief introduction to what each card represents. While the Major Arcana represents broader themes, the Minor Arcana deal with more of your day-to-day circumstances. That’s not to say they’re less important! If the Major Arcana is the season, the Minor Arcana is the weather. Here’s what each suit speaks to: “A reversed card doesn’t necessarily reverse the meaning,” she says....